The Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) is a learned society working to advance public education on the Levant through promoting and disseminating research in the humanities, social sciences and related subjects. It works in Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus, with a mission to advance knowledge and understanding of the peoples and cultures of the Levant. It runs two local institutes in the Levant: the Kenyon Institute in East Jerusalem and the Amman Institute in Jordan. CBRL produces and disseminates original, rigorous and independent scholarship in the humanities, social sciences and related fields, whilst investing in the most promising emerging scholars and scholarship in the UK and the Levant. It also facilitates UK-Levantine academic collaborations and partnerships, both individual and institutional, and contributes to shaping debate and understanding through informed public outreach and education.

CBRL is part of a network of British International Research Institutes (BIRI) affiliated with the British Academy, formerly referred to as the British Schools, Institutes and Societies Abroad (BASIS). The BIRI operates across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Whilst valuing its independence, CBRL receives managed grants from these British academies, as well as fundraising and receiving donations from members, and its own revenue from consulting and projects.

As a UK charity, with a history of over 100 years, CBRL was founded and began working in the Levant at a time when the mandated territories of Palestine and, what was then known as TransJordan, were under British control. It now seeks to address the history of British colonialism in the Levant as equal scholars in the realms of social science and humanities, and facilitate equal knowledge exchange and development between people in the region and in the UK.

For more information about CBRL’s history and its work, please see here.

CBRL seeks to appoint one to two Trustees with a strong alignment with its vision and mission who, in addition to formal Board meetings, will be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity and its executive team.

Responsibilities of the Trustee may include:

• Contributing to the Board’s collective role in setting the charity’s strategic direction and providing effective oversight of its operation and governance
• Ensuring that the charity uses its resources in line with its charitable objects
• Carrying out the core responsibilities of charity governance, as set out in Charity Commission Guidance and the Charity Governance Code
• Safeguarding the reputation and values of the charity and have an active concern for diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to increasing the impact of the charity
• Acting as an ambassador for the charity and using its networks to promote its work
• Attending and engaging in training and events as required

CBRL asks that all Trustees who join its Board also sign up to its membership base.

CBRL seeks to appoint two Trustees to its Board. It is looking for enthusiastic, engaged and collaborative individuals to make a distinctive contribution to the continued success of this organisation. It is seeking individuals who are interested in the Middle East, who are well connected and have the passion to advocate for CBRL to guide the growth of this organisation.

In particular it seeks to appoint a Trustee with experience of safeguarding, gained at a senior-level in the charity sector. As safeguarding standards have changed rapidly, and as CBRL focusses its work in a challenging region, this Trustee will need to be able to advise the Board on best practices towards safeguarding the people they sponsor, their staff, and who they advise. CBRL also works closely with vulnerable groups, such as refugees and people within the 18-24 age bracket.

The second Trustee will have senior-level legal experience, gained in the charity sector. They will be able to provide advice on legal matters and will use their expertise to act as a sounding board to the rest of the Board. As an organisation with a long-standing history, this Trustee will be able to advise the executive team to ensure all protocols and legal works are up-to-date and to standard. A major task that this Trustee may also be asked to advise on would be the amendment and updating of CBRL's current constitution.

Trustees for this appointment will act as ambassadors of CBRL, and the charity welcomes applications from individuals who have not previously held non-executive roles before. It values and is keen to increase the diversity of the Board, to ensure it is fully representative of the users of its services. Please see the Diversity section below for more information.

For more information about CBRL’s governance and members on its Board of Trustees, please see here.

This role is unremunerated, but pre-agreed, reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. The time commitment for this role is up to two days per month, consisting of four annual Board meetings (which last roughly two / three hours), roughly an hour-long AGM per year, an additional quarterly HR Sub-Committee meeting for the Trustee with safeguarding experience, and ad hoc engagement where required. The term length for these appointments is four years.

As part of CBRL's constitution, and in accordance with international regulations, successful candidates will need to be UK passport holders, or resident in the UK.

CBRL welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As individuals from ethnic minorities, or of international heritage, are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.