Trustee and Staff Roles

Governance

Trustee and Staff Roles

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Contents of this page:

• Trustee roles
  • Structural roles
  • Advisory roles
• Staff Roles
  • Publishing Manager
  • Publishing Assistant

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Trustee Roles

Each member of the Board of Trustees brings different experience and expertise to the trustee group. They support the charity’s objectives and responsibilities in different ways. Some members hold formalised roles, while others’ knowledge, skill sets and interests enable them to advise on particular ‘pillars’ of the project.

Structural roles

Chair of the Board of Trustees

• Acts as a link between the Board and the Publishing Manager
• Line manages the Publishing Manager on behalf of the trustees
• Co-leads planning and facilitation of trustee meetings
• Ensures that trustees comply with their duties and that the charity is well governed
• Holds a casting vote if a vote on a trustees’ decision is tied
• May act as a spokesperson for the charity
• Reports on activities and achievements to the charity’s members and supporters at an Annual General Meeting

Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees

• Co-leads planning and facilitation of trustee meetings
• Supports the Chair with their responsibilities when requested
• Deputises the role of Chair when the Chair is absent

Finance Manager

• Ensures the charity keeps proper accounts
• Reviews the charity’s financial performance
• Reviews policies for finance and investment
• Ensures that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place
• Liaises with the charity’s independent payroll provider, accountant and auditor
• Liaises with the Publishing Manager to administer payments to freelancers and day-to-day spending
• Reports on financial matters to the charity’s members and supporters at an Annual General Meeting

Advisory roles

​These members advise the Board, and collaborate with the Publishing Manager on specific aspects of activity or special projects.

Technical Advisor

• Supports the Board in evaluating infrastructure
• Facilitates big-picture discussions of technical growth and maintenance
• Assists and advises on the implementation of technical priorities

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Staff roles

Staff employed by ProgHist Ltd and volunteer members of the Project Team are accountable to the Board of Trustees.

Publishing Manager

The Publishing Manager is responsible for the administration, production and development of publishing, educational and outreach services for Programming Historian

• Acts as a link between the Board and the Publications
• Reports to the Chair of the Board of Trustees

Manages publications:

• Devises, documents, implements best-practice workflows
• Liaises with the Managing Editors to ensure project management processes are efficient, appropriate and simple to use for all contributors
• Coordinates sustainability and accessibility services (including copyediting for all original texts, typesetting, generation of archival links, and the lesson maintenance programme)

Manages staff:

• Line manages the Publishing Assistant
• Line manages freelance copyeditors and lesson maintainers
• Manages recruitment and training of new staff and volunteer contributors
• Develops training materials for staff, editors, authors, translators and reviewers

Manages and develops partnerships:

• Act as first contact, representative, and advocate for the project
• Manages the supporters’ community, including coordinating membership renewals
• Initiates new partnership opportunities through direct approaches and networking
• Liaises with the Finance Manager to administer invoices, payments and renewals for Institutional Partners

Manages educational and outreach services:

• Liaises with the Managing Editors and Supporters to develop workshops and events

Supports the Project Team and contributors' community:

• Ensures the creative and effective facilitation of Project Team and Managing Editors’ meetings
• Co-leads planning, facilitation and reporting for the charity’s members and supporters at an Annual General Meeting

Supports the Trustees:

• Informs trustee decision-making by providing due-diligence, information and advice

Publishing Assistant

The Publishing Assistant supports the provision of publishing services for Programming Historian.

• Reports to the Publishing Manager

Provides support to publications

• Processes new submission materials (file management, reviewing metadata)
• Contributes to sustainability services and accessibility checks (including copyediting, typesetting and lesson maintenance)

Contributes to record-keeping

• Takes clear and timely meeting minutes
• Supports the administration and maintenance of public-facing and internal documentation

Assists with communications

• Contributes to the creation of engaging and accessible content across a range of platforms
• Assists with community-building initiatives and events
• Helps to promote and disseminate Programming Historian resources