Job description for the position of ECU Board Secretary

Function
Provision of Secretary General service to the European Chiropractors’ Union 

Reports to 
The Secretary General reports to the board of the ECU. 

Supported by
The ECU contracts additional support, which is managed by the Secretary General: administrative support, communications and marketing, convention planning and management. 

Location 
As an independent contractor, the Secretary General works out of their own premises. 

Duration 
The appointment is offered on a consultancy basis for a period of two years, renewable for further terms thereafter, subject to approval by the ECU board. 

Contract terms 
The Secretary General will be recruited on a consultancy basis to provide services for an average of 3 days per working week. (S)he will be retained subject to the usual confidentiality clauses and taxation requirements of the jurisdiction in which (s)he resides. 

Purpose of the role 
The Secretary General is responsible for all operations of the ECU including co-ordinating and managing the work of the Secretariat, and all matters of governance and compliance with the ECU Constitution. (S)he is the principal adviser to the ECU board. 

Key responsibilities 

Operational 
•    To support the President and members of the board, including management of regular board meetings. 
•    To represent the ECU at the EU level, including attending high-level meetings and engaging with European policymakers, including MEPs and Ministries.
•    To represent the ECU and the chiropractic profession at international and interprofessional events.
•    To represent the ECU on various committees and sub committees, including providing support to the Chair and Board of the European Academy of Chiropractic
•    To liaise with the ECU accountant in ensuring good financial governance, with timely issuing of invoices and collection of outstanding dues. 

Strategy and policy
•    To support the implementation of ECU strategy. 
•    To advise and support work on European policy and regulatory issues
•    Develop and support stakeholder engagement

Corporate Governance
•    Take overall responsibility for corporate governance of the organisation and measures to enable the ECU to achieve its core objectives. 
•    To prepare items for board and General Council meetings, produce agendas and records of the meetings and brief the President on the conduct of the meeting. 
•    To keep under review the ECU Constitution, Bylaws and other standards of governance and to ensure compliance with them. 
•    To provide monthly updates/newsletters to members of the General Council
•    To liaise with members of the General Council and help ensure that their concerns are properly handled. 

Communications
•    To agree and implement a communications strategy, in conjunction with the communications advisor and the board.
•    Responsible for ECU presence on social media in conjunction with the communications adviser. 

Event management
•    Responsible for the overall management and delivery of the ECU convention, with the support of a convention organiser and academic programme organiser (every 2 years)
•    To ensure that meeting venues and the logistics of meetings – in particular twice yearly General Council meetings - are forward planned and well run. 

Member support
•    To serve as a central access and communication point for ECU member organisations, including to disseminate information on issues relevant to chiropractic in Europe. 
•    To deal with issues in relation to individual chiropractors’ enquiries on matters that are not usually covered by ECU member associations. 

Personal description

A successful Secretary General requires a specialised skill set, including the ability to acquire good knowledge of the chiropractic profession in Europe quickly, sensitivity to the relationship between officials and elected officers, strong organizational skills, experience of serving in an international context, and of operating in a political environment. (S)he should demonstrate experience of senior management and the ability both to undertake complex administrative tasks and build effective relationships with disparate organisational cultures. Strong diplomatic skills are highly valued, as is being a 'people person', able to manage diverse relationships effectively and diplomatically. (S)he will be committed to equality of opportunities and able to work effectively and sensitively in a multicultural environment. 

The post requires the ability to identify strategic challenges and propose workable solutions; an enquiring mind; vision and creativity in responding to changing environments; initiative and adaptability; conflict resolution, confidence and persuasiveness orally with strong presentation skills. (S)he must demonstrate independence of mind combined with a supportive and constructive approach. The successful candidate must also be comfortable with technology and the effective use of IT and social media.

Candidates must be prepared to work some unsocial hours (occasionally at weekends) and to travel, mainly in Europe. The candidate must also be ready to engage in high-level meetings with key policymakers, including ministries, Members of the European Parliament, and other officials. Deadlines can be tight. English is the working language of the Union and successful candidates will need advanced fluency both written and spoken. Knowledge of other languages is desirable, as is facility with social media and the effective use of information technology. 

Education 
Candidates must be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience). 

Equal opportunity statement 
The ECU aims to ensure that no prospective or actual employee or contractor is discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, employment status, class, disability, age, religious belief or political persuasion, or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement, which is not demonstrably justifiable.