Join the Board of ESAS (Non- Executive) - Volunteer

ESA Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-led organization is seeking a Board Director to shape governance and strategy, influencing systemic change for East and Southeast Asian communities in Scotland. This voluntary role requires a commitment of approx. 29 hours per year, involving quarterly meetings and strategic contributions towards social justice and empowerment. Ideal candidates should be dedicated to inclusivity and possess relevant expertise in governance and advocacy.

Benefits

Reasonable expenses reimbursed

Qualifications

• Commitment to ESAS’s mission.
• Professionalism representing ESAS publicly.
• Dedication to anti-racism and inclusivity.
• Openness to learning about charity governance.
• Personal investment in advocating for ESEA communities.

Responsibilities

• Shape ESAS’s strategy and governance.
• Provide insight, oversight, and strategic support.
• Attend quarterly online and one annual in‑person meeting.

Skills

Governance

HR & Compliance

Funding & NGO landscape

Policy & Systems experience

Human Rights & Advocacy

Cross-sector engagement

Civil society leadership

Research & M&E

Job description

Join the Board of ESAS (Non- Executive) - Volunteer

Join to apply for the Join the Board of ESAS (Non- Executive) - Volunteer role at East and Southeast Asian Scotland.

Help shape the future of East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS). Join our Board to strengthen governance, strategy, and impact, ensuring justice, rights, and empowerment for ESEA communities across Scotland and the UK.

By joining our Board, you will directly shape the future of a community‑led organisation at the heart of justice and empowerment for ESEA communities in Scotland. Your expertise will help ensure ESAS operates with strong governance, financial sustainability, and inclusive leadership. You’ll be part of a team safeguarding the organisation’s future while amplifying the voices of migrants, women, queer people, and those most affected by systemic inequality.

As a Director, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring ESAS can continue providing casework support, peer groups, advocacy, and cultural programmes — creating spaces of safety, dignity, and belonging. Most importantly, your contribution will help us advance long‑term systemic change so that ESEA communities in Scotland and the UK are fairly represented, included, and empowered.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who share ESAS’s commitment to justice, rights, and empowerment for East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. You don’t need to have been a Board Director before – what matters most is your willingness to learn, your personal commitment, and your ability to contribute to our growth.

Qualities we value

• Commitment to ESAS’s mission and to long‑term systemic change for ESEA communities.
• Professionalism and responsibility when representing ESAS publicly or in decision‑making.
• Dedication to anti‑racism, inclusivity, and safeguarding the wellbeing of the communities we serve.
• Openness to learning about charity/CIC governance and the responsibilities of Board Directors.
• Personal or professional investment in advocating for ESEA communities, helping ensure ESAS remains a safe and empowering space.

Skills and experience we’re particularly seeking

• Governance – Board governance, organisational development, or leadership in charities, CICs, or social enterprises.
• HR & Compliance – HR processes, employment practices, or regulatory compliance.
• Funding & NGO landscape – Knowledge of the UK and international funding climate.
• Policy & Systems experience – Practical understanding of UK policy, social, or political systems that shape rights and wellbeing.
• Human Rights & Advocacy – Applying rights frameworks in support of migrants, racialised minorities, or other marginalised groups.
• Cross‑sector engagement – Experience working with councils, NHS, trade unions, or statutory/public bodies.
• Civil society leadership – Experience in charities, NGOs, grassroots groups, or movements.
• Research & M&E – Professional or academic experience in evidence‑based work to assess and demonstrate social impact.

What will you be doing?

East and Southeast Asian Scotland (ESAS) is a community‑led organisation advocating for justice, rights, and empowerment of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. Since 2020, we’ve grown into a trusted voice for migrants, women, queer people, and those affected by poverty, racism, and under‑representation.

We are at a pivotal stage in our growth. ESAS is entering a long‑term capacity‑building phase, developing a 10‑year strategy to strengthen our governance and sustainability. We are seeking new Board Directors who can guide us through this next chapter.

Our current challenges and goals

• Building a stronger governance structure to support organisational sustainability.
• Expanding our Board with a wider range of skills and lived experiences.
• Strengthening accountability, compliance, and financial oversight.
• Embedding anti‑racism, inclusivity, and collective care at the heart of our decision‑making.

The role we want you to play

As a Board Director, you’ll help shape ESAS’s strategy and governance, ensuring we can continue to deliver meaningful impact for ESEA communities. You’ll provide insight, oversight, and strategic support, working alongside other Directors and our Executive Director.

Commitment

This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses reimbursed). Board Directors commit approx. 29 hours per year, including quarterly online meetings, one in‑person meeting in Scotland annually, and a Governance Development Weekend every 5 years (next in Nov/Dec 2025).

Seniority level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

• Volunteer

Job function

• Business Development and Sales

Industries

• Non‑profit Organization Management

We are particularly seeking people from all genders and backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of migration, the UK immigration system, or life at the intersections of race, gender, and LGBTQIA+ identity. We value both professional expertise and personal commitment. This is an exciting opportunity to join a community‑rooted organisation at a transformative moment and to ensure that ESEA communities are represented, supported, and empowered for the long term.