Job category: Board of Trustees

The deadline for this role has passed. You can find all of our current vacancies here.

BIOS is very pleased to advertise the role of Vice Chair, taking effect from the AGM in June 2026. This is an exceptional opportunity for an orthoptist looking to develop their strategic leadership skills at the national level and be instrumental in the future of BIOS and the orthoptic profession.

The role of Vice Chair becomes available at this year’s AGM on 19th June, and we therefore require an individual to take on this key role for an initial term of 3 years.

The Vice Chair:

• Term to start from the AGM on 19th June 2026 for a period of 3 years, with a secondment funded at 1 day per week.
• Member of the Board of Trustees and Council
• Supported by the Chair, Trustees, and the BIOS office team

Vice Chair role description and person specification

To apply

Please send CV and covering letter to bios@orthoptics.org.uk explaining:

• how you fulfil the role descriptor;
• what you believe the current challenges are for the profession;
• how you would ensure the sustainability of the profession and BIOS for the next 5 years;
• how you could positively contribute to the delivery of the BIOS strategy 2023-2028

Mark email header Vice Chair Role

Please provide the names of 2 BIOS members who will act as first and second proposers for the position of Vice Chair.

Please also provide a letter of support from your employer for the secondment.

For an informal discussion on the role, please contact either Craig Murray – chair@orthoptics.org.uk or Helen Haggerty – vicechair@orthoptics.org.uk.

Closing date Wednesday 6th May 2026

Selection process – candidates should expect to be interviewed by Trustees on the 11th, 12th or 13th May. If there is more than one candidate, an election process will be held through a ballot of the BIOS membership.

The candidate should also be available, if possible, for the AGM on 19th June in Glasgow.

The deadline for this role has passed. You can find all of our current vacancies here.

BIOS is very pleased to advertise the Chair Designate role taking effect from the AGM in June.  This is an exceptional opportunity for an orthoptist who is looking to develop their strategic leadership skills at a national level and be instrumental in the future of BIOS and the orthoptic profession.

The current BIOS Chair, Craig Murray, will be stepping down at the AGM in 2027.  To ensure effective succession planning of this key role and the sustainability of BIOS, we are looking for someone who would shadow the current Chair for 1 year and then act as Chair from the AGM in 2027 for at least 1 term of office (3 years).

Terms of the role:

• An initial shadow term starting from the AGM in June 2026 for a period of 1 year, which attracts a secondment with funding for 1 day per week
• Non-voting member of the Board of Trustees and Council for the shadow term
• Supported by the Chair, Vice Chair, Trustees and the BIOS office team.
• Takes up the position of Chair from the AGM in 2027, which attracts a secondment with funding for 2 days per week

The role descriptor or the Chair of BIOS can be found here.

To apply

Please send CV and covering letter to bios@orthoptics.org.uk explaining:

• How you fulfil or could the role descriptor;
• What you believe the current challenges are for the profession;
• How you would ensure the sustainability of the profession and BIOS for the next 5 years;
• What changes you would make (in any area/s) to ensure that orthoptics is still a separate profession in 10 years’ time

Mark your email header ‘Application Chair Designate Role’.

Please provide the names of 2 BIOS members who will act as first and second proposers for the position of Chair Designate and Chair.

Please also provide a letter of support from your employer for the secondments.

For an informal discussion on the role, please contact Craig Murray, chair@orthoptics.org.uk.

Closing date: Monday 30th March 2026, 6pm

Selection process: interview panel and presentation. Where more than one candidate applies, there will be an election following normal BIOS election procedures.

Applications for this role are no longer open. You can find information about other roles with BIOS on our vacancies page.

Board of Trustees

Are you interested in the strategic leadership of the professional body and could you provide that leadership in turn to your country or regional members?  A Trustee has a responsibility for the governance and financial running of BIOS and provides the strategic direction for the profession and as such all Trustees are voting members of the board.

BIOS will support those who are successful in a new role by offering trustee training and the opportunity to have access to a funded place on the professional associations Future Leaders course which is currently run by the BDA.

Please note that all Trustee roles are for a term of 3 years, which would start immediately.

This position is open to all members who work in the Midlands and East of England, and understand and contribute to the health system and the specific needs of the orthoptists working in this region.

For further information, please contact:
Helen Haggerty – BIOS Vice Chair – vicechair@orthoptics.org.uk
Craig Murray– Chair of BIOS chair@orthoptics.org.uk

Application Information:

• Submit a CV and a supporting statement demonstrating evidence of the requirement of the role.
• The Trustee Job Description and Person Specification is available here.
• Provide a supporting statement from your Manager.
• Send applications to bios@orthoptics.org.uk and type the role applied for in the email header.
• Trustee roles are voluntary.