The Role
Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) provide a key role in the operational and strategic leadership of the Department. Their job is to bring independent advice, support and challenge to the Executive Team to help shape the Department’s work for Ministers, particularly in terms of delivery. The Lead Non-Executive Director directs a team of three to four other Non-Executive Directors to provide collective strategic leadership and objective challenge on strategy and policy priorities, major corporate issues and risks.
Key responsibilities will be:
- Direct a team of three to four other Non-Executive Directors to provide collective strategic leadership and objective challenge on key issues facing the department.
- Contribute effectively to discussions on the leadership and performance of the business at FCDO Supervisory Board meetings, usually held at FCDO’s headquarters in central London (Non-Executive Directors also have an open invitation to attend monthly meetings of the FCDO’s Management Board and support specific pieces of departmental work). The Lead Non-Executive Director may be asked to join the membership of other top-level FCDO governance structures.
- Support the Foreign Secretary to examine and challenge the operational delivery of policy proposals, major projects and programmes, strategic and organisational issues.
- Work with the Permanent Under-Secretary, Directors General and senior leaders to scrutinise the Department’s management information, to ensure that performance and delivery of the Department’s Outcome Delivery Plan and other key objectives are ambitious and achievable.
- Attend cross-Government Lead Non-Executive Director monthly meetings (held virtually), and in-person conferences, chaired by the UK Government Lead NED.
- Bring an independent perspective to the work of the FCDO Board, as well as providing independent scrutiny for the Department upon request.
Location
Predominantly Central London. There is the possibility of occasional overseas travel (typically short visits of three to five days) or travel to FCDO offices outside of London (in Milton Keynes or East Kilbride).