Non-Executive
How is the National Trust run? Who makes the fundamental decisions that shape our future? As an influential volunteer, it could be you.
A charity, a conservation body, a curator of beautiful places and spaces – and so much more. We’re also a major commercial enterprise, a retailer, a restaurant chain, a visitor attraction. There is no other organisation in the UK like the National Trust. And it’s that exceptional breadth of opportunity and challenge that makes working with us so incredibly stimulating.
Working with us in a non-executive capacity is a wonderfully rewarding experience: it’s an opportunity to have a real say in our current and future operations. In return for your time, knowledge and expertise, you’ll have the chance to shape our work as you help to grow the nation’s love of special places.
Whatever your area of interest, you’ll find a range of appealing non-executive opportunities here. The places we look after are varied and for everyone – we’re keen to reflect this in our non-executive community. We welcome applications from people of all ages, areas and backgrounds who can positively contribute to our work. The details of our appointment or election processes are clearly outlined in each vacancy.
A summary of how our governance structure works is available here.
The principles underlying our non-executive appointments
We recognise that one of the most important means by which openness, transparency and accountability can be achieved is through the appointment or election, as appropriate, of high-calibre volunteers capable of overseeing the governance arrangements of the Trust, ensuring that it remains focused on achieving its mission efficiently and effectively.
The Board of Trustees and the various Nominations Committees of the Council play a key role in the process of non-executive appointments and elections. An external member sits on each of these Nominations Committees to increase the rigour of our procedures.
Before an appointment or election process is initiated for any of the bodies in the governance structure, the relevant committee will take into account:
- the aims and purposes of the body concerned
- the knowledge, skills and experience required for the position in question
- the intention to create a diverse and effective body
- the intention to meet standards of good governance
- the intention to avoid conflicts of interest.
These aims will be pursued in a manner proportionate to the nature of the positions to be filled.
The Committees will ensure that appointment and election processes are:
- conducted in an open and transparent way
- applied in a fair, equitable, objective and impartial manner
- designed to be thorough, robust and expeditious
- applied consistently
- fully explained and readily comprehensible.
Interested in a non-executive volunteering role?
We have a wide range of opportunities to suit different interests, experience and backgrounds. The places we look after are varied – and we’re keen to reflect this in our non-executive community. We welcome applications from people of all ages, areas and backgrounds who can positively contribute to our work. The details of our appointment or election processes are clearly outlined in each vacancy.
Current non-executive opportunities
Here you’ll find information on current and future non-executive opportunities.
Please remember, we welcome applications from people of all ages, areas and backgrounds who can positively contribute to our work. If you don’t find the role you are searching for today, we'd still love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us.