A rare chance to help shape a more just future.

For more than a century, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has been one of the most influential forces in the fight against poverty in the UK — shaping the national debate, funding the evidence that drives change, and standing as a fiercely independent voice for a more just society. Few organisations in the sector carry such weight, and fewer still have a greater opportunity to shape what comes next.

We are now seeking a new Chair of our Trustees to help lead JRF Group through a defining period. Our mission is clear: to support and speed up the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, where people and planet can flourish. As Chair, you will steward that mission and the Foundation's legacy for today and tomorrow — leading our Board, working in close partnership with the Group Chief Executive, and helping guide an ambitious, long-term programme of change at a pivotal moment for the Foundation and for the country.

The Chair will guide the Board in stewarding the Group’s mission and legacy with clarity, care and conviction. The role sits at the centre of an organisation navigating complexity, from long-term financial stewardship of its endowment to the onward development of a community based and inspiring Housing Trust, as well as advancing its overall commitments on equity, diversity and inclusion. It calls for someone who can hold the long view while ensuring that the Board remains focused, effective and responsive, creating the conditions for thoughtful challenge, sound judgement and meaningful impact.

The successful candidate will bring the confidence and presence to lead a high-performing Board, alongside a genuine and deeply felt commitment to tackling poverty and inequality. They will be an inclusive and perceptive chair, able to draw together diverse perspectives and guide them into clear, collective decisions. A natural collaborator, they will build trusted relationships across the organisation and beyond, ensuring both support and constructive challenge. Experience of strategic leadership and governance will be important, as will the curiosity, judgement and resilience needed to navigate complexity and sustain momentum over time.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the JRF Group on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference XAGAAC. Alternatively email Belinda.Beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by Tuesday 21st July at 5pm.

Further information can be found here:

https://saxtonbampfylde.maglr.com/joseph-rowntree-foundation