Board Directors (Voluntary) – Flexible Location

APply to join Soils for Life’s board!

Help our energetic team support Australian farmers to regenerate soils and landscapes.

Soils for Life is an independent, non-profit organisation that works to support Australian farmers to regenerate soils, for resilient people, communities, businesses and landscapes. We are an energetic and passionate team of soil scientists, agroecologists, researchers, and communications and engagement specialists. Due to some of our long-serving Board Directors looking to step down in the next 18 months, our Board is seeking a number of new Directors to help steer the organisation and help us to achieve our important mission.

Our impact

Since our founding we have helped put soil on the national agenda, and driven the growing movement towards regenerative approaches to agriculture. Our more than 50 world-leading case studies have uncovered the stories of the pioneers of regenerative farming in Australia, and inspired farmers around Australia and the world to become better stewards of the land and the soil. In 2021, the Federal Government released Australia’s first ever National Soil Strategy, an achievement to which Soils for Life is proud to have contributed.

Our strategy

We are now turning our attention to supporting the next wave of Australian farmers to regenerate the nation’s precious soils and landscapes. Changing practices involves risk and requires investment – of time, energy and money. Farmers need support to get to the point where they have confidence to take those risks and make those investments. In the years ahead, we will focus on building this confidence, to remove barriers and smooth the path for regenerative farmers. Find out more about our plans for the future by reading our Strategic Plan.

Our values

Soils for Life takes a collaborative approach to our work that puts the farmers we work with, and our partners, at the centre. We prioritise humility, constructiveness and credibility in all we do and say. Our organisational values guide all of our work:

• We see soil as a fundamental resource that underpins our food system and makes all life on earth possible
• We value farmers’ knowledge and capacity for innovation, and aim to complement and support this
• We take care to ensure that our work is credible, informed by the best available science while recognising that soil science is rapidly evolving
• We take a holistic approach that values people and communities, the environment and the economy

What’s involved?

Soils for Life’s Board provides oversight of the organisation as a whole, with support from the CEO and Management Team, including:

• Contributing ideas, guidance, connections and other support;
• Promoting and advocating for the organisation;
• Approving the organisational strategy and key policies, and major changes;
• Overseeing the CEO;
• Ensuring appropriate governance processes, including for finance and auditing.

Board Directors are appointed for two or three year terms, and are expected to proactively participate in the activities noted above, including attending, preparing for and participating in Board meetings (4 per year), and participating in at least one Board Subcommittee (either Impact and Fundraising, or Risk, Finance & Governance). The time commitment for Board Directors is expected to vary between 4-6 hours per month. These positions are voluntary / non-remunerated, but travel costs for in-person attendance at Board meetings are reimbursable (dial-in is also an option).

Who are we looking for?

Soils for Life operates in a complex environment, and there are a wide range of experiences and skill sets that would be useful to bring into the Board. We understand that each individual brings their own unique mix of skills and qualities, and no one individual will be able to provide everything we need for a successful Board, and so we encourage you to apply if you think you might be a good fit.

Our recent Board skills assessment identified the following priorities for recruitment:

• Strong need:
  • Financial planning and monitoring
  • Governance issues and practices
  • Philanthropic and grant funding and partnerships
  • Ability to foster and facilitate healthy Board culture
• Moderate need:
  • Networks of influence
  • Soil-related science/research
  • Impact measurement
• Low need (nice-to-have):
  • Strategic planning
  • Non-profit management
  • Food and agriculture knowledge and networks

A prerequisite for any Board candidate is support for and commitment to our mission, alignment with our values, and time/availability to meet the expectations of the role.

Soils for Life supports diversity of skills and backgrounds within the organisation including on the Board. We encourage farmers, younger applicants, female applicants, and Indigenous applicants to ensure our Board reflects the communities we engage.

How to apply?

Applications can be made by submitting a quick Expression of Interest via the “Apply Now” button, or by submitting this form to [email protected]. We do not expect this to take you more than an hour to complete. Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] using the subject line: Board Directors (Voluntary) – Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

More info on how to apply here.