Role descriptions

Role description: Secretary/Treasurer (Elect)

The Board of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) seeks to fill the role of Secretary/Treasurer (Elect) to assume the role of Secretary/Treasurer after a transition and orientation period of one year. The IKCC Secretary/Treasurer leads Governance and the financial oversight of the organisation as Chair of Governance, Finance and Risk Committees.

The Secretary/Treasurer as with all IKCC Board positions is a volunteer position.  The Secretary/Treasurer has oversight of the financial management of IKCC ensuring that it complies with all regulatory and legal requirements of the Netherlands where the IKCC is incorporated.  IKCC is a non-profit organisation and the Treasurer must be prepared to engage with the CEO and the external Audit and Finance Officer.

The Secretary/Treasurer shares responsibility for decision-making with other members of the Board.  Therefore, it is an important part of the Secretary/Treasurer’s role to ensure that other Board members fully understand the IKCC financial information, due diligence, and the implications of this information. Like other board members, the Secretary/Treasurer is entitled to make motions and vote on matters before the board.

Skills and experience required:

The Secretary/Treasurer role requires an individual with previous leadership and Board experience who can oversee the financial management of an international organisation and ensure compliance with Dutch regulations. Prior experience on a non-profit board (or responsible for financial reporting to a non-profit Board) and Directorship or leadership experience within a non-profit board or organisation and accounting experience at senior management, director, partner, Chief Financial Officer, or Financial Controller level are preferred.

The successful Candidate will need to demonstrate a mix of the following skills and experience:

• Capability and willingness to oversee the practical operational aspects of the organisation’s finances, including influencing direction
• Experience of current corporate governance relevant to voluntary and non-profit organisations internationally (the IKCC is currently incorporated in the Netherlands)
• Experience in preparing budgets
• Strategic planning, critical thinking and influencing skills
• Experience using small business accounting software
• Sound understanding of Human Resources within an international context
• High level spreadsheet knowledge
• Willingness to uphold IKCC values.

 

Detailed responsibilities	Board Member: Secretary/Treasurer (volunteer position)
Governance	Oversee the financial affairs and human resource aspects of the organisation and ensure they are compliant with legal regulations and within the accounting standards of the country where IKCC is incorporated (currently the Netherlands). Ensure the Board maintains the degree of financial literacy necessary to conduct the business of IKCC. Advise the Board on matters of finance and ensure the Board understands its financial obligations. Identify and bring to the attention of the Board any areas of financial, reputational or other risk. Ensure an audit of the books is prepared each year and that the annual accounts of IKCC are submitted to partner organisations at the Annual General Meeting. Chair the Governance and Nominations committee of the Board. Undertake due diligence in overseeing all nominations for Board vacancies with the Chair and CEO. Ensure that appropriate financial and HR policies and procedures are in place, compliant, and fully documented.
Planning	With the CEO, and in partnership with the Board oversee the production and regular review of IKCC Budget and Business Plan. Appraise the financial viability of plans, proposals, and feasibility studies.
Meetings	Provide financial reports at every meeting of the Board including identifying variances from the approved budget and liaising with the Chair and Board committee chairs as appropriate. Obligated meeting attendance (virtual unless specified as in-person): Meet monthly or as required with the CEO/Finance Officer to review the monthly financial reports. Board meetings as called by the Board Governance and Executive Committee meetings In person attendance at annual IKCC Summit (and AGM) In person attendance at one face-to-face Board meeting per year
Financial oversight	Sign letters or documents on behalf of IKCC as required. With the CEO, oversee the organisation’s investment strategy and report to the Board. Oversee the CEO and Finance Officer to ensure that financial records are adequate, protected, backed up, and accessible. Ensure the organisation’s financial control procedures are adequate and appropriate safeguards against fraud are in place. Ensure appropriate risk management strategies are in place including: insurance policies financial management policies and procedures IKCC banking processes continuously review income and expenditures to the budget Maintain the organisation’s budget/asset register Ensure effective collection, receipt of money due to IKCC and the payments for expenses authorised by IKCC
Legal and regulatory	Ensure IKCC complies with all financial and statutory regulations. Oversee the CEO to ensure IKCC compliance with all applicable tax arrangements of the country where IKCC is incorporated (currently the Netherlands). Oversee the CEO’s preparation and lodgement of returns with authorities. Oversee the CEO’s fulfilment of the financial requirements of funding bodies and other contractual obligations.

Role Description – IKCC Vice Chair (Chair Elect)

The Board of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) seeks to fill the role of an additional Vice Chair in 2024 to assume the role of Chair after a transition and orientation period of one year, or as mutually agreed with the current Board Chair. The current Board Chair will then assume the role of Past Chair.

As incoming Vice Chair, the role will be supported by the Board Chair, along with a Vice Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, and Board of Directors, along with a global Medical Advisory Board, and contract staff members.

As a Board Officer, the Vice-Chair has more responsibilities than board members who are not officers. Along with the Board Chair, the Vice Chair leads the Executive Committee of the Board. Other roles can include chairing a specific committee or project team such as recruitment/nominations, or Board self-evaluation, as required. Like other Board members, the Vice-Chair is entitled to make motions and vote on matters before the Board.

The Vice Chair role is suitable for an individual with previous senior organisational leadership and Board experience with a passion for addressing the unmet needs of kidney cancer patients globally. Candidates with professional career experience in a research or multidisciplinary cancer care setting are encouraged to consider this role, along with international patient advocates and patient organisation leaders.

As a leader, spokesperson, and representative of the organisation globally, the Vice Chair requires an in-depth knowledge of cancer from a global perspective, including a demonstrated interest in GU cancers, specifically kidney cancers. Given the nature of IKCC as a global coalition of patient organisations, candidates require an interest and appreciation of the vital role that patient organisations play to promote quality care worldwide.

The IKCC seeks a Vice Chair with a solid professional reputation, being an individual who commands significant gravitas as a leader, advocate, and respected member of the global health community.

Please note that this is a voluntary position. Expenses for necessary travel to attend Board meetings and other meetings as required will be reimbursed based upon IKCC guidelines.

Skills and experience required:

As a lead representative of the IKCC Global Coalition, the ideal candidate combines significant career leadership experience with a strong interest in addressing the unmet needs of people affected by kidney cancers worldwide.

Mandatory Professional Experience:

• Leadership in cancer research or clinical care of kidney cancer or recognised global kidney cancer patient advocate
• Prior experience in a leadership role with a non-profit association or commercial organisation at the national or international level
• Proven abilities to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders including medical societies, granting bodies, patient organisations, and other global organisations such as WHO.
• Along with sound professional skills and knowledge, the ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and an excellent communicator who demonstrates the following personal and professional attributes:

• Strong visionary and analytical skills.
• Ability to guide the Board’s development and alignment around its long-term strategic goals.
• Ability to guide changes to Board culture necessary to support its long-term strategic vision.
• An ability to evaluate various opportunities and challenges facing complex international organisations.

• A strong international perspective with the ability to understand the different regional, social, and cultural contexts.
• Deep understanding of diverse health landscapes, and national healthcare variations.
• Understanding the concerns of people affected by cancer, especially those in underserved populations.

• Ability to formulate a balanced and impartial view independently of organisational positions.
• Ability to clearly express and defend opinions while remaining objective.
• A commitment to speaking openly and respectfully.
• Transparency to declare upfront potential conflicts of interest.

The IKCC Board welcomes interest and conversation regarding this role and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the global landscape of kidney cancers. For more information about this leadership role please email: Michael Jewett, IKCC Board Chair, michael@jewett.ca

Detailed responsibilities	Vice Chair / Chair Elect (voluntary)
Operations	Oversee successful implementation of a 5-Year Strategic Plan, ensuring staff and volunteers remain strategically focused to achieve long-term goals of reducing the global burden of kidney cancers.
Governance	Along with the Chair, oversee the Human Resource aspects of the organisation and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within the accounting standards of the Netherlands or country of IKCC incorporation.
Planning	With the CEO, and in partnership with the Board oversee the production and regular review of IKCC Budget and Business Plan. Appraise the financial viability of plans, proposals and feasibility studies.
Meetings	Obligated meeting attendance (virtual unless specified as in-person): Meet monthly or as required with the CEO to review organizational priorities. Board meetings as called by the Board Governance and Executive Committee meetings In person attendance at annual IKCC Summit (and AGM) In person attendance at one face-to-face Board meeting per year
Financial oversight	Sign letters or documents on behalf of IKCC as required. Review and evaluate all financial documents presented by the CEO, Secretary-Treasurer and Auditor with a view to maintain sound financial management.
Legal and regulatory	Along with the CEO and Secretary/Treasurer of the Board, ensure IKCC complies with all financial and statutory regulations.
Term of Office	Three-year term, renewable once.
Compensation	This is a voluntary role. Necessary travel as required as Vice Chair will be reimbursed according to IKCC Travel Guidelines.

Position Description: IKCC Board General Director

The Board of Directors of the IKCC seeks an additional Board General Director to join the Board in 2024. This role is a full board position with no initial portfolio responsibilities.

This role involves participating in board meetings, providing input on key decisions, and contributing expertise or guidance on matters relevant to the organisation’s mission and objectives.

General Director members play a critical role on the Board of Directors. Having no permanent set of duties, they are available to take on tasks as the Board’s strategy evolves or urgent matters become apparent.

The importance of a General Director lies in their ability to offer broad perspectives and diverse insights to the Board. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and skills from various backgrounds (see below), which can enrich discussions, enhance decision-making processes, and ensure the Board considers a wide range of viewpoints whilst working to implement the vision and goals set out in the 5-Year Strategic Plan for the IKCC.

Skills and Experience Required
The IKCC Board welcomes expressions of interest from all interested candidates who share our passion to reduce the global burden of kidney cancers. Candidates should have prior non-profit Board experience, ideally in health-related non-profit organisations at the national, regional, or international level.

Preferred skillsets may include any of the following:

• Health policy experience, including global cancer policy, national cancer plans, advocacy for health policy change at the national, regional, or international level
• Experience working in and across health systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)
• Business development and global philanthropy expertise
• Fundraising (oversight), including stewardship and global campaigns to support fundraising efforts of non-profit organisations such as IKCC partner (affiliate) organisations
• Digital technology leadership to support global outreach
• Understanding of cancer research in general, including research of kidney cancers and clinical trials with perspectives on the unmet needs of patients and carers globally.

Length of Term: 3 years, renewable once.