| Location: | Our national office is located at 159-161 Sheriff Street Upper, Dublin 1. The Board meetings normally take place at this location. |
| Vacancies: | The Board of Clúid are seeking to select two Finance professionals to join the Board of Directors. One of the positions is for the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. |
| Remuneration: | These are voluntary, unpaid appointments as Clúid has charitable status. |
| Time requirements: | Attendance at six Board meetings and two strategy days usually on a Saturday in March and October. Meetings are normally held on a Thursday at 3.30pm for 3 hours with additional time for preparation. Board members will also sit on one of the three Board Committees, which normally meet six times per year, aligning with the Board meeting dates. The committees normally meet remotely. The total time commitment is estimated to be approximately 10 days per annum. |
| Term of office: | Appointments are for an initial term of four years. |
Who we are
Clúid Housing (“Clúid”) was incorporated in January 1994; it is an Approved Housing Body (AHB) and registered Charity/not for profit organisation. Clúid Housing develops and manages social rented housing, age friendly social rented housing and cost rental housing for people on low incomes and people with additional needs.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Clúid’s vision is a society where everyone has a great place to live, which we aim to achieve by providing quality housing and services to enable people to create homes and thriving communities. Our values set the standards which underpin the work of Clúid and how it operates. They are leadership, collaboration, responsibility and caring.
Governance & Regulation in Clúid Housing
Our company constitution sets out the main objectives of Clúid and how it is governed. Clúid is governed by a voluntary board which is made up of 12 members. The Board delegates day-to-day management to the Chief Executive and a team of over 300 people. Clúid’s Senior Management Team is responsible for the execution of Clúid’s long term strategy and for overseeing day-to-day operations.
Board members, all of whom are non-executive, are drawn from diverse backgrounds and bring a range of experience and skills to their deliberations.
Clúid Housing operates within a regulatory environment and is answerable to four primary regulators:
- Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) – which regulates Clúid as a provider of social and cost rental housing.
- Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) – which regulates Clúid as a not-for-profit.
- Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) – which regulates Clúid as a landlord.
- Property Service Regulatory Authority (PSRA) – which regulates Clúid as a provider of property services.
Approved Housing Bodies, like all entities, are also required to adhere to tax, health, safety and welfare and data protection obligations and can be subject to independent audits and reviews by Revenue Commissioners, Health and Safety Authority, Data Protection Commissioner etc.
As a Non-Executive Director what will I have to do?
Contribute to setting Clúid’s vision, values, and strategic direction
- Setting Clúid’s strategic direction, supported by ambitious financial and operational objectives, targets and plans.
- Contribute to establishing robust frameworks and systems for delegation and accountability. Delegate certain responsibilities to three main functional committees – the Audit and Risk Committee, the Business Development Committee, and the Nominations & Remuneration Committee.
- Support the executive adding insight to the activities of the organisation
- Review performance considering strategic aims.
- Set the Company’s values and standards.
- Maintain a customer focus.
- Select and appoint the CEO.
Help to achieve the highest standards of governance
- Uphold and promote Clúid’s values.
- Ensure that the Board or Committee fulfils its role as set out in Clúid’s memorandum and articles of association, Charity Code of Governance, Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority standards and other relevant documents.
- Accept individual and collective responsibility for decisions, ensuring that Clúid achieves the highest standards of governance, control, and efficiency; manages risks effectively; and is able to take opportunities which result in Clúid’s objectives being achieved.
- Maintain high ethical standards.
- Play an important role in ensuring the continued effectiveness of the Board, including undertaking performance appraisals, participating in learning and development opportunities.
- Ensure the resident and customer perspective is promoted
- Ensure that Clúid is contributing to sustainability goals.
Ensure strong operational and financial performance; and legal, contractual, and regulatory compliance
- Take individual and collective responsibility, robustly monitor Clúid’s business to ensure its affairs are conducted lawfully and in accordance with generally accepted standards and propriety, accounting to statutory regulators in this regard.
- Ensure Clúid achieves organisational objectives and targets.
- Approve and monitor the risks contained within the Corporate Risk Register.
- Ensure that appropriate action is taken, including holding the Executive Team to account, if the expected standards of performance or results are not, or unlikely to be achieved.
- Ensure that the board provides insight and oversight and in doing so focusing on strategic matters.
Person Specification
The vacancies currently available are for board members who are expected to bring a financial perspective and insight to board discussions and decisions. They will advise on developments in finance and emerging trends in finance and accounting. One of the positions is for the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Candidates are expected to have senior level experience in some or all of the following areas:
- Financial planning
- Financial assessment of business opportunities
- Corporate Finance
- Treasury management
- Financing in a property / real estate environment
- Financial Risk management & assurance
- Audit
- Financial regulation
- Procurement.
Desirable criteria
- An accounting, or equivalent, qualification.
- Previous experience of board membership or reporting to a board.
- Prior experience of membership of an Audit & Risk committee.
- Corporate governance experience and/or qualifications.
- An understanding/experience of the not-for-profit sector.
- Knowledge/experience of working in a regulatory environment.
- Knowledge of the funding of and accounting for Approved Housing Bodies.
Whilst the Board is seeking to add particular perspectives, Board members are expected to contribute across the Board agenda, ensuring Clúid endures as a successful enterprise and continues to meet its social mission. Accordingly, all prospective board members must demonstrate:
- A commitment to social and affordable housing and the vision, mission, and values of Clúid Housing.
- Sound judgement, impartiality, and independence.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to understand complex information.
- A commitment to equality and diversity.
- A willingness to fulfil the statutory and regulatory duties and standards of conduct required of a charity and approved housing body.
- Ability to contribute to discussion and debate at meetings with a willingness to challenge constructively and express opinions while accepting accountability and the collective decision making of the Board.
- Ability to dedicate sufficient time to being a director of Clúid, including coming prepared to meetings and contributing meaningfully.
- Ability to adhere to the Board Members Code of Conduct.
- Commitment to be a member of one or more committees of the Board.
- Ability to consider the wider strategic context of the organisation in discussion and decision-making.
- Commitment to undertake training and development to enhance knowledge of the Approved Housing Body sector and corporate governance.
- Commitment to attend at least one promotional event per year.
Support for Board Members
Clúid Housing values the work of its Board members and aims to support Board members to fulfil their role. As a Board member you can expect:
- A structured tailor-made induction programme to help you learn more about Clúid Housing and its work.
- Meetings with senior staff who will be able to answer questions whilst you become more familiar with specific areas of the business.
- An opportunity to work with a member of the Executive who will act as a mentor/buddy.
- Access to both internal and external training sessions and conferences.
- An opportunity to enjoy the company of highly skilled and committed colleagues at both Board member and staff level, in a stimulating environment where you can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Equality and Diversity
Clúid board encourages applications from diverse, qualified candidates to ensure the Board is a true reflection of Irish society and our residents.
Conflicts of Interest
To qualify for board appointment a person must not have any legal impediment or conflicts of interest likely to interfere with his/her ability to assume the role of a member of the Board. Please consider the possibility of any potential conflict of interest that may exist and address this in your cover letter. The Assessment Panel may decide, based on the perceived level of conflict, not to forward your name for consideration.
How to Apply
Please send your CV, plus a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the role, and how you believe you meet the personal specification, to Therese Allen at companysecretary@cluid.ie by 5pm on Tuesday 20 February 2024. Please also indicate in your cover letter whether you are interested in being considered for the role of Chair of the Audit & Risk committee.