RNLI Trustees

About us

The RNLI is one of the world’s leading lifesaving organisations: a dynamic, large and complex charity powered by kindness for over 200 years. Independent from government and supported almost entirely through voluntary donations, our mission is simple but vital: to save lives at sea.

With an income of £247 million, a fleet of over 400 lifeboats, lifeguards patrolling 230 beaches across the UK and Ireland, and more than 26,000 volunteers and staff, the RNLI operates at remarkable scale. We are evolving to remain fit for the future — modern, resilient, and ready to meet the challenges of a changing world.

We are now seeking up to four new Trustees to join our Board at a pivotal time. We want strategic, values-driven leaders who can bring breadth of perspective, diversity of thought, and the ambition to help shape the RNLI’s next chapter.

You will bring previous non-executive or trustee experience and the ability to contribute at a strategic level, keeping sight of the bigger picture and the interconnected nature of our work. Commercial and financial acumen are important, as too is a deep appreciation of the RNLI’s brand, heritage and public trust.

We are particularly interested in candidates who bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Audit & Risk – ideally a finance-qualified professional, with experience of risk oversight in complex, operational organisations, and potential to Chair the Audit & Risk Committee in future.
• HR & Organisational Change – a senior people leader with hands-on and strategic experience of cultural transformation, organisational design and safeguarding.
• Digital Transformation – a digital leader with experience of delivering transformation at scale, helping us to improve volunteer and staff experience and organisational efficiency.
• Engineering & Infrastructure – a strategic leader in engineering, with experience guiding significant capital investment in estates, and long-term resilience planning.

We’re committed to building a Board that reflects the diverse communities we serve. The RNLI is strongest when our leadership represents a broad balance of skills, perspectives and experiences. We have made important progress on this journey, but we know there is more to do. That’s why we actively encourage applications from individuals who can bring fresh perspectives and help us build an even more diverse and inclusive leadership for the future.

If you have the expertise and the passion to help save lives and shape our future, we’d love to hear from you.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the RNLI on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference XLNK. Alternatively email [email protected]. Applications should be received by 9am on Monday 3rd November.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.