Trustee with Legal experience

Leitrim Arts Development CLG trading as The Dock is seeking a Trustee to strengthen its governance capacity and strategic expertise in legal matters. The Trustee will work with the board to develop of a policy for managing a legacy bequest.

Time commitment: 6 meetings per year.

Term: 3‑year term.

The Board

The Dock is a registered charity governed by a Board of Directors. We comply with the Charities Governance Code to work legally, ethically and sustainably, for the benefit of our stakeholders, including artists, communities, customers and visitors. The Board continually seeks to improve governance standards and to promote transparency and accountability. The Board is stable, balanced, and governance-strong, with a clear succession plan in place.

Funding context

The Dock is funded by Leitrim County Council and The Arts Council of Ireland. Operational costs are funded through an annual grant from Leitrim County Council approved on an annual basis by elected representatives following an annual report and submission of intent, in line with a Service Level Agreement. The Artistic Programme is supported through a competitive application process administered annually by the Arts Council of Ireland. Our community activities are largely funded by Creative Leitrim and Creative Ireland. The Dock team manages grant applications and identifies relevant opportunities for additional fundraising to diversify our income streams for programming.

General duties include:

• Complying with the charity’s governing document and ensuring that the organisation operates within its charitable objects and relevant legislation.
• Ensuring the charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit, particularly in relation to access to, and participation in, the arts.
• Acting in the best interests of the charity, making decisions collectively and independently of any other interests.
• Acting with reasonable care and skill, drawing on your professional expertise where relevant and asking questions where needed.
• Managing the assets of the charity, ensuring that resources (financial, digital and physical) are used effectively and safeguarded.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Inputting to the strategic direction, contributing with insight, oversight, and experience of strategy formulation in other sectors.
• Assisting on legal aspects of the organisation in keeping with best practice.
• Assist with the creation of strategic plans which will comply with current legislation and practice.

Person Specification

We are seeking applicants who can demonstrate professional experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with at least five years’ experience.
• Expertise in areas such as employment, probate, and estate administration law would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of risk, governance, and compliance, ideally within the not-for-profit, public, or regulated sectors.
• Commitment to The Dock’s mission, values and the wider arts and cultural sector.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and constructively as part of a Board.
• High standards of integrity, sound independent judgement, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and manage conflicts of interest.
• Over 18 and not disqualified from acting as a company director or charity trustee.

Commitment

The Board meets approximately 6–8 times per year (virtually and in person in Carrick-on-Shannon). The position is voluntary and unremunerated, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Directors are appointed for a term of three years.

How to Apply

Please apply by submitting a short expression of interest (max. 500 words) and brief CV outlining your relevant experience through Boardmatch, the Irish charity specialising in not-for-profit board recruitment. 

Please note, we are seeking Trustees based in Leitrim or the surrounding counties. Informal enquiries are welcome in advance of applying to Joanne Laws, Chairperson, at thedockboard@gmail.com.