Pride In Place Programme - Hillfields Neighbourhood Board Chair
The Pride in Place Programme, which is delivering £20 million of government funding in Hillfields, is seeking a Chair for its Neighbourhood Board.
We expect this role to be voluntary, similar to that of a school governor or charity trustee, with reasonable out of pocket expenses reimbursed.
To open the position up to candidates who might otherwise be unable to put themselves forward, a small basic payment may be provided to remunerate Chair time - this would be discussed at appointment.
Purpose of the role:
To deliver the Pride in Place Programme, Neighbourhood Boards are being set up in every funded neighbourhood across the country. Each Board will be led by an independent Chair – someone who can bring communities together to share their ideas in an open and collaborative way. The Chair’s primary job is to be a champion for their place and to embody the community-led spirit of the programme. The Chair should have a deep connection to the Hillfields area and can be new to this kind of work. What matters most is a commitment to seeing change through and improving the lives of those in their community.
The Board will be responsible for developing the Plan that will set out a 10-year vision for driving positive change in Hillfields and identifying the priority projects/areas of activity for spending the £20m of funding allocated that will result in Hillfields having a stronger community, being a more thriving place, and where the community feels more empowered to shape longer-term improvements to their place.
More detail on what will be expected of Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards and the Pride in Place Programme more generally can be found in the programme prospectus.
The Chair will work closely with the Member of Parliament for Coventry South and local elected representatives and other stakeholders.
The independent Chair is best when they act as a proactive, trustworthy convenor who:
- Is deeply connected to their community and fiercely committed to making it an even better place to live.
- Can bring together different voices from across their community, to shape a collective vision for the future of their place.
- Has local credibility and will be respected as a leader – even if this is their first leadership role.
- Ensures that all voices are heard and that Board discussions are collaborative.
- Is adept at finding consensus, navigating conflict calmly and impartially.
- Brings together community groups and prioritises community engagement as a central pillar of the programme.
- Is clear about their own knowledge gaps and considers how the makeup of the Board complements this.
- Thinks laterally and creatively about solutions to problems and ways to draw in community voices.
- Acts as a public face and represents the Board externally, and brings figures of different political stripes together.
Skills and attributes of a good Chair:
- Fair and balanced, ensuring that all voices are heard
- Good at facilitating conversations, particularly when differences of opinion emerge
- Open to learning, feedback and development, and an interest in mentoring and upskilling others
- Welcoming, open and listens deeply to others
- Calm under pressure and manages conflict well
- Has time to prioritise the role
Important to note:
- The Board should have a range of voices, including ones that differ from the Chair’s
- This is a strategic post, the Board Chair will not be responsible for day-to-day delivery
If you think that this role might be for you:
Please send a short statement (no more than 400 words) explaining why you are suited to the role, including particular skills, experience and other knowledge you may bring, to business@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:business@coventry.gov.uk] by no later than 23:59 on Tuesday 9th June 2026.
Please note that we are interviewing candidates on a rolling basis and aim to move quickly. Our team will keep you informed of your status as we evaluate applicants.