Independent chair jobs in consett, county durham
The vacancy
We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.
About the GOC
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct. For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.
About the Council
The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services. The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians). At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary.
The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders.
Remuneration and time commitment
Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses). The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.
The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month. Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.
How to apply:
Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org
· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;
· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and
· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.
If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours.
We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.
We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
New Internationalist is looking for a creative, experienced and results-oriented Marketing Manager to help us reach new audiences with our independent campaigning journalism. At a pivotal point in the landscape of independent media, we need someone who is ready to hit the ground running by leading impactful campaigns that grow our global reach, launch exciting new membership products, and build lasting relationships with our loyal readers.
If you're passionate about global justice, value collaborative work, and want your marketing skills to make a real difference, this is your chance to join a pioneering media co-operative that puts ethics, equity, and storytelling at the heart of everything we do.
New Internationalist is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Location: Remote (UK-based) with occasional in-person meetings at our Oxford office
Salary: £32,992 per annum (pro-rata)
Hours: 28 hours per week
Start Date: Mid-August 2025
Contract: Full-time, permanent (with 6 month probation period)
To apply: Please fill out the form linked at the bottom of this job description. CVs will not be accepted.
Benefits include:
- 3% employer contribution to pension
- Flexible working
- Free subscription to New Internationalist magazine plus two free Myriad publications per year
- 30% Discount at the Ethical Shop
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rata)
- Office closure between Christmas and New Year
Key Responsibilities:
New Internationalist is seeking an experienced, proactive, creative, and strategic Marketing Manager to lead our income growth efforts during a critical stage in our organisation’s growth and development. You will be responsible for delivering a bold, data-informed marketing strategy designed to increase UK and international magazine subscriptions in print and digital, launch a new membership product, and drive retention across all income channels.
- Campaign Development & Delivery: Plan and execute marketing and sales campaigns across multiple channels (email, social, web, events) to meet set acquisition and retention targets
- Retention and Customer Experience: Work closely with internal teams to improve retention rates and maximise the impact of customer journey touch points.
- Outreach and profile raising: Identify and target new audiences for both subscriptions and news-stand sales, creating a strategy to convert them to subscribers and regular buyers.
- Product Development: Lead the development and launch of a new membership product including stakeholder consultation, light market research, A/B testing, and pricing refinement.
- Community Engagement: Activate and upsell existing subscribers and supporters through tailored messaging, events, and cross-channel promotions.
- Collaboration & Coordination: Work closely with internal teams to gather ideas, content, and assets. Coordinate and project-manage campaign delivery organisation-wide.
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Analysis & Reporting: Monitor and report on campaign performance, acquisition costs, and ROI to inform real-time adjustments and strategic planning.
The Marketing Manager will become a member of the NI Co-operative and will be appointed as a Director of New Internationalist Publications Ltd (NIP - the company that runs NI’s day-to-day business in a co-operative fashion), following a period of probation of 6 months.
All co-operative members are directly responsible to the NI co-operative and play an integral part in its business. They report to their teams on general work matters.
Co-operative responsibilities, include:
- Attending all Co-op meetings and sharing the tasks of chairing and minute-taking.
- Being a member of other Co-operative specialist groups.
- Taking an active role in the running of the business to ensure that it operates to meet its mission and financial responsibilities.
Essential Skills & Experience:
- Commitment to New Internationalist's mission and aims
- Proven success in marketing, membership, or digital campaigns that increased revenue
- Experience of both target-based delivery and project management
- Strong copywriting and audience engagement skills
- Knowledge of audience and engagement networks appropriate to New Internationalist’s mission
- Familiarity with subscription-based models and donor campaigns
- Knowledge of CMS, CRM systems and email marketing tools
- Experience with email marketing, social media, and analytics tools
- Strategic thinker with practical delivery skills
- Self-starter who can work independently and coordinate across teams
- Understanding of the value and importance of print magazines and independent media
Desirable:
- Experience in publishing, cooperative membership organisations, or social impact sectors
- Multiple languages
Why Join Us?
Be part of a mission-driven, co-operative media organisation committed to global justice and progressive change. Your work will directly support our financial sustainability and expand the reach of our award-winning independent journalism.
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY 28 JULY, 9AM BST.
New Internationalist reserves the right to close the application window early if an suitable candidate is found.
Desired start date: mid-August (subject to negotiation)