Renumeration : £185 day rate (to be reviewed annually, aligned with Federation policy).
Location: Remote (UK only)
Contract: Freelance – 1 day per month (8 hours)
About us
Workers.coop is a grass-roots, member-led federation of worker co-operatives, individual cooperators and supporters across the UK.
Our mission is to strengthen worker ownership as a foundation for economic democracy, fairness, and sustainability. We connect, represent, and support worker co-ops and those who want to start or convert to them.
We currently have over 100 enterprise and individual members, two part-time staff roles, and an active Board and working group network. We work remotely, using open digital tools, and encourage participation from every part of the movement.
About the role
Workers.coop is seeking a Board Secretary to support the effective governance of the organisation. This role helps ensure that the Board meets its legal, constitutional, and governance responsibilities while promoting good practice in cooperative governance.
The Board Secretary provides experienced, independent guidance to the Board alongside light-touch administrative support. Working closely with the Chair and Board members, the role helps ensure meetings are well organised, decisions are properly recorded, and governance processes run smoothly.
By supporting strong governance and clear accountability, the Board Secretary enables the Board to focus on its core responsibilities: providing strategic leadership, maintaining effective oversight, and remaining accountable to the members of Workers.coop.
This is an important role in maintaining high standards of cooperative governance, ensuring that the Board operates transparently, efficiently, and in line with workers.coop values and constitution.
What you’ll be doing
Board Governance
- Attend monthly Board meetings (2 hours, online).
- Support the Facilitator in agenda-setting, ensuring meetings are scheduled, papers circulated on time, and decisions recorded.
- Provide advice and guidance to the Board on the rulebook, FCA requirements, and cooperative governance standards.
- Maintain accurate and accessible Board records (minutes, decisions, action logs).
AGMs and General Meetings
- Ensure AGMs and General Meetings are run in line with the rulebook and FCA requirements.
- Support pre- and post-event processes, including liaison with accountants/auditors where required and filing annual returns.
- Provide practical governance guidance during AGMs (motions, elections, resolutions).
Director Elections
- Support the Board and PPC in preparing and running Director elections.
- Ensure processes are transparent, fair, and in line with cooperative principles and society rules.
Registers and Compliance
- Maintain statutory registers (Directors and Members) in good order.
- Ensure timely submission of returns and compliance documents to the FCA and other relevant bodies.
Required attributes
- Experience as a Society Secretary or governance officer in a co-operative or membership organisation.
- Strong understanding of cooperative governance, FCA requirements, and statutory duties of a Society.
- Clear, accurate record-keeping and minute-taking skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with a member-led Federation.
Desirable attributes
- Understanding of cooperative values and principles, and how these apply in the context of a worker cooperative.
- Familiarity with consent-based decision making.
How to apply
We have developed a CV-less application process designed to make the opportunity as accessible as possible. The application process will involve the following:
Stage 1: Application
Please send an email to ppc@workers.coop outlining why you would be suitable for the role and how your experience meets the requirements of the role.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on the 3 rd of April 2026.
Stage 2: Shortlisting
Shortlisted candidates will be informed by 5pm on 13th April 2026.
Stage 3: Interview
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview that will be held online, dates to be confirmed.
Questions
Can people outside of the UK apply for this role?
No. We need someone that is able to regularly travel and meet with members face to face in the UK.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Further questions and support
If you have any questions about the job or application process, or is you need us to make adjustments to the application process to support you to apply, please email ppc@workers.coop.