Chair of the Board of Trustees (Non-Executive)
Remuneration: Expenses paid
Time Commitment: Approximately 1–2 days per month
Anderson Knight is pleased to be partnering with Real Life Options to support the appointment of a new Chair of the Board of Trustees in Scotland.
Founded in 1992, Real Life Options empowers individuals with learning disabilities and autism to live more independently, with choice and dignity. Now a leading national provider of care and support, the charity remains deeply committed to its founding values.
The Opportunity
Following the retirement of a highly respected Chair, we are supporting Real Life Options in the search for an outstanding individual to lead the Board of Trustees through the organisation’s next phase of development. This is a rare opportunity to chair a values-driven charity with genuine social impact and to help shape the future of social care at a national level.
About the Role
As Chair, you will provide inclusive, strategic, and forward-thinking leadership to the Board of Trustees. You will ensure effective governance, support and empower the Group Chief Executive Officer to lead operational delivery across the Group, and champion Real Life Options’ mission, values, and strategic objectives.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading the Board to ensure strong governance, accountability, and strategic oversight
* Facilitating constructive challenge and high-quality decision-making
* Acting as a key ambassador for the charity and its work
* Supporting a culture of co-production, safeguarding, and inclusion
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking a Chair who:
* Brings significant board-level and/or senior executive leadership experience
* Has a strong understanding of governance within a complex, regulated environment
(experience in social care is desirable but not essential)
* Is committed to person-centred practice, co-production, and safeguarding
* Can inspire confidence, encourage open debate, and support robust decision-making
* Demonstrates integrity, emotional intelligence, and a genuine commitment to inclusion and lived-experience leadership
As Chair, you will play a pivotal role in guiding a charity that changes lives every day. You will work alongside a passionate Board and Executive Team, contribute fresh thinking to a developing organisation, and help influence the future direction of social care in the years ahead