The Robertson Trust is the largest independent grant-making trust in Scotland, funding and supporting organisations working to alleviate poverty and trauma. It also seeks to influence social change in the third sector, by sharing the insights and solutions emerging from its networks with policy-makers and through partnerships. Its vision is for a fair and compassionate Scotland, where everyone is valued and able to flourish. Currently, 19% of people living in Scotland — just over one million - live in relative poverty. This number includes 24% — or 240,000 — children.

The Trust was established in 1961 by the Robertson sisters — Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel (known as Babs) — who donated their shares in the family businesses founded and developed by their grandfather and father, to the Trust for charitable purposes. The sisters were pioneering women of business and philanthropy, serving the Trust as some of its first Trustees for a combined total of 71 years and ensuring the Trust upheld the principles at the heart of the family: honesty, integrity and a willingness to help people in need.

The family business now operates as the global company Edrington — one of Scotland’s largest private companies and owner of several well-known whisky brands. The sisters’ generosity enables the Trust to use the dividends from its controlling shareholding in Edrington for the benefit of Scotland’s people and communities.

For over 60 years, the Trust has sought to build on the Robertson sisters’ legacy, and will continue to do so in this decade by focusing on helping to improve the lives of people experiencing poverty, trauma or both in Scotland. Since 1961, the Trust has awarded a total of over £300m to charities across Scotland. In the decade to 2030, it will invest at least £200m to achieve far-reaching social change.

The Investment Committee is comprised of both Trustees, who also sit on the main board, and of independent Investment Committee Members from outside the organisation. The role will be the second independent Investment Committee Member.

The Investment Committee oversees investments for the Trust, with the exception of its Edrington holding, which is managed through a separate committee, and the total funds under management are currently c. £300m. The Trust's investment objective is to have a diversified portfolio which will allow for sustainable investment, management and spending. The Committee fulfils a key role on behalf of the Board of Trustees by monitoring and overseeing its financial objectives. The functions of the Committee are to:

• Contribute to the strategy of the Trust’s investment portfolio
• Oversee the implementation of the Trust’s investment objectives
• Set appropriate asset allocation policies designed to meet the Trust’s investment objectives in respect of the Trust’s endowment, restricted, designated, and unrestricted funds as applicable
• Establish appropriate guidelines and restrictions for the prudent management of the Trust’s investments, consistent with the Risk Appetite set by the Board and best practice, and ensure that they are reviewed regularly
• Review and monitor the performance of the Trust’s investments
• Appoint investment managers to carry out the day-to-day management of the Trust’s investments, monitor their management and performance, proactively seek their advice on feasible options, and carry out regular formal reviews of their mandates
• Replace investment managers who the Committee considers are consistently failing to meet their mandate, or for such other reason as the Committee may decide
• Communicate effectively to the Board of Trustees on the Committee’s work, findings, and observations
• Assist the Board of Trustees in whatever way practicable and to perform incidental matters as may be commissioned for the Committee to do by the Board of Trustees
• Spend at a sustainable rate over the medium term, with the actual timing of expenditure being variable, driven by the Trust's risk appetite and quality criteria
• Maintain in real terms the value and purchasing power of the endowment in the longer term
• Reflect the Trust's mission of advancing social change in how it invests

To this end, the Investment Committee is currently reviewing its investment strategy from a social and sustainability impact lens. Regarding its existing portfolio, it is looking to go further in adopting a responsible investment approach by integrating an ESG strategy. Then, looking forward to future investments, it is looking to add an allocation in the portfolio to social investment where market-based returns are not the main metric, and review the potential for further positive impact investment.

The incoming Committee Member will be expected to provide support on these approaches, both formally in Committee meetings and informally in consultation with the Chair of the Investment Committee, to support the Trust in developing its responsible and social investment strategies. Committee Members are invited to offer opinions, but do not give investment advice, as regulated by the FCA.

The Robertson Trust is searching for a Committee Member with first-hand, senior-level general investment experience; likely from a background in fund or portfolio management. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their engagement in, and passion for, social investment most importantly, and responsible investment secondarily.

The new Committee Member will be able to play a leading role advising the Trust in developing its investment approach, including deepening responsible investment methodologies within the investment strategy of the Trust's portfolio. Candidates will bring experience of a relevant scale, such that they would be confident in the responsibility of stewarding funds larger than £25m at least. It is preferred that candidates have multi-asset experience, rather than being a deep expert in one particular asset class, and bring a background in strategic asset allocation.

The new Committee Member will be confident in discussing, and challenging on, matters regarding sustainability and ESG. They may also have had some experience of direct engagement action or voting based on these issues as an investor.

Candidates do not need to have previous non-executive experience. They also do not need to be based in Scotland so long as they share the Trust's values of ambition, integrity and connection, and are fully committed to its mission to fund, support and champion those seeking solutions to poverty and trauma in Scotland.

The Committee is keen to improve the diversity of its composition through this process. Please see the Diversity section for further information.

Investment Committee:
Kevin Troup, Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee
Donald Workman, Trustee
Harry Morgan, Committee Member

Meetings are also attended by:

Jim McCormick, CEO
Jo Cook, Finance Director and Company Secretary

A list of the Trust's main Board of Trustees can be viewed here.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed travel and accommodation expenses will be reimbursed.

The Investment Committee meets on a quarterly basis for around three hours at a time. The aim is to have one or two meetings per year in-person in Glasgow, with the other meetings held virtually. As the new strategy around social impact investing develops, it is envisioned that there will be a number of ad hoc meetings for the new Committee Member to attend, which may be virtual or in-person depending on circumstance.

Meeting dates for 2023 are:

• Wednesday 31st May 10-1pm
• Thursday 31st Aug 10-1pm
• Thursday 23rd Nov 10-1pm

The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

The Robertson Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As women and those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board and Investment Committee, applications from these individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.