The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research is a long-established and successful charity that provides sustainable, long-term funding of medical research into rheumatic and related musculoskeletal, immunological and inflammatory diseases.

Since 1965, the Trust has supported both basic and translational research at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (part of the University of Oxford) in the form of Fellowships, doctoral studentships, Senior Investigator Awards and core funding to underpin central services and facilities. Whilst continuing to support the Kennedy Institute, the Trust has expanded the scope of its funding beyond the Institute in recent years and now supports a range of research activities across a number of UK universities. Its priority is to focus on the funding of strong individuals, particularly early-stage researchers, working in the fields of musculoskeletal and related inflammatory diseases.

The Trust is governed by a Board of eleven trustees, all of whom sit on one or more of its three sub- committees: General Purposes Committee, Research Committee and Finance and Investment Committee.

The Trust’s income has previously been derived from royalties on its intellectual property and a substantial investment portfolio. This royalty income ceases in 2022 and the Trust now relies solely on its investment portfolio which is overseen, on behalf of the Trustees, by the Finance and Investment Committee and managed by professional advisers. The Trust's investment portfolio at the start of 2023 was in excess of £300m.

The Trust is looking to appoint one new trustee to the Board who will also sit on its Finance and Investment Committee, following the retirement of one of its members.

The Finance and Investment Committee is responsible for oversight of the Trust’s medium and long-term financial strategy and for the management of its investments via the Trust’s Fiduciary Manager. The Committee is also responsible for overseeing audit and the relevant governance and risk management arrangements and ensuring that the Trust fully complies with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will bring recent experience as a senior investment management professional or advisor gained within a long-term institutional investment context. Individuals will be recent or current investment professionals (e.g. CIO, fund manager, or investment strategist), or will have experience as a non-executive or trustee with direct investment oversight responsibility. Additionally, a modern understanding of ESG in investment would be of particular interest to the Board.

This individual will bring deep understanding of risk, asset classes and modern portfolio management. Those with specific fixed income expertise are particularly desirable given the current composition of the Board. Candidates should be able to constructively challenge and assess the performance of the Trust’s Fiduciary Managers. Being able to communicate financial concepts clearly to those outside of the FIC is also important. Finally, an understanding of investment management in the third sector is not required for this role but would be useful.

Individuals will bring a collegiate attitude, be able to take initiative, and ultimately be actively engaged in the work of the Finance and Investment Committee. They will be joining a Board that encourages open discussion in order to reach the best financial decisions for the Trust.

Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, Chair
Mr Mark Dighero
Professor Andrew Cope
Mrs Margaret Frost
Mr Christopher Coombe
Mr Edmund Buckley
Dr Paul Satchell
Ms Victoria White
Professor Michael Patton
Mr Richard Punt
Professor Tracey Hussell

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses within the UK will be reimbursed. There are four Finance and Investment Committee meetings and four Trustee meetings each year. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.

Location

Meetings usually take place in-person in Central London, with one Trustee meeting held at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology in Oxford each year. Meetings are typically scheduled for 5pm – 7pm.