Board Direction, on behalf of WIRES, is seeking to identify up to four (4) new Independent Board Members with a wide range of governance and executive experience and a passion for animal welfare.
WIRES operates a dedicated Wildlife Rescue Office assisting wildlife and the community across Australia 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing rescue advice and assistance for over 130,000 animals annually, as well as providing full-time mobile Wildlife Emergency Responders operating across Greater Sydney, South-East Queensland and Tasmania.
WIRES is providing significant national support for hundreds of projects to assist with wildlife rescue and rehabilitation across Australia. It is also working nationally with strategic partners to support the long-term recovery of wildlife habitat and the long-term preservation of native species in the wild.
Post black summer fires of 2019-20 WIRES received significant funding from government and international donations which has meant they are able to expand their operations. In comparison to 2009 they now have three times the staff and a volunteer base of 4000 up from 1500 and today operate 29 branches – 11 of which are metropolitan with others being regional.
Members and volunteers are the backbone of WIRES – they have a volunteer base of 4000 people and 29 branches across metropolitan and regional areas.
For more information, visit: www.wires.org.au/about
Why this role
This is an exciting time to join the Board with WIRES going through a significant period of change with a new Constitution and governance structure to support continued growth.
As such WIRES are looking to identify and elect four (4) independent Board Members (External Nominated Directors) to work with five new Member Board Members to bed down processes, drive governance improvements and oversee growth aspirations. The new Board will be elected at an election in March 2025 after which Directors will take up their roles for a term of 1 – 3 years.
Person Specification
Please note that to apply for this role you must not be a current Member of WIRES.
WIRES is seeking to appoint candidates with extensive leadership and management experience, with evidence of working in or serving on the board of an organisation of similar scope or scale.
Successful candidates will also bring a passion for the work of WIRES and a desire to support the organisation through the upcoming period of change and growth.
Candidates with the following Essential Skills and Experience are particularly encouraged to apply:
- Finance/Accounting experience (ideally a qualified accountant), OR
- Legal/Regulatory/Compliance expertise, OR
- Human Resources/People and Culture expertise – with experience leading organisations with a large volunteer base, OR
- Veterinary, animal welfare or wildlife education experience.
Additional skills of value to WIRES include:
- Networks and connections: With government, National Parks Services, Universities, and other relevant NGOs
- Fundraising/Philanthropy skills and experience
- Strategic Planning and Budget Management experience
- Media/Social Media/Public Relations experience
Please note, WIRES is an inclusive organisation. We aim to create a culture where all people are respected and can contribute, regardless of age, culture, disability, family and caring responsibilities, gender identity, Indigeneity, religion, or sexuality. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of diversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Location & Remuneration & Timings
Board Meetings: Meetings are held online, allowing Directors from all Australian locations to participate. All Directors require access to a reliable internet connection. There are occasional board meetings held at the WIRES office in Brookvale, NSW.
Candidate Location: All Australian-based candidates will be considered.
Remuneration: This is a volunteer role. Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed, subject to prior approval.
Other requirements: An External Nominated Director must not be a Member of WIRES.
Shortlisted applications will be required to undergo a National Police Check and apply for a Director Identification Number prior to appointment. See: https://asic.gov.au/for-business/running-a-company/company-officeholder-duties/director-identification-number/.
WIRES is a registered charity. A range of documents are available on the ACNC website: https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/cca90a4d-39af-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60/profile
Timings: (as a guide)
- Applications close: Friday 24th January 2024
- Applications reviewed: Week commencing 27th January 2025
- Short-listed candidates interviewed: Week commencing 10th February 2025
- Successful/Unsuccessful candidates informed: Week commencing 17th February 2025
- Recommended candidates presented to the board: on or before Wednesday, 19th February.
- Successful candidates will be formally appointed at the Election at the Annual General Meeting to be held by 19 March, 2024.
TO APPLY
Please complete the form below and attach your NED CV.
For an informal conversation or more information, please contact Board Direction on ua.mo1737732281c.noi1737732281tceri1737732281ddrao1737732281b@tca1737732281tnoc1737732281.
WIRES NED Application Form
To prevent disappointment should something go wrong, and for future reference, we STRONGLY recommend that you save your responses in a Word document PRIOR to submitting your application.