This is a role unlike any other non-executive position: one in which you would engage with some of the most important contemporary issues facing Scotland including Covid recovery, health, economy, climate change, communities, children and families, good government and more. Our Non-Executive Directors provide challenge, advice and assurance to the Permanent Secretary and leadership team based on their experience and insight. They promote good governance and the improvement of Scottish Government performance, encouraging diverse and innovative ways of working, thinking and problem-solving, drawing on their unique perspectives.
Our Non-Executive Directors provide advice, support and challenge in the following areas:
- strategy and policy delivery process – challenging how policies are made, implemented and communicated
- risk management – ensuring risk is managed, monitored and evaluated
- audit – providing assurance to the accountable officer in relation to finance, risk and performance management
- performance monitoring – evaluating and improving performance through effective use of systems, management, staff engagement, resources and policies
The role of Scottish Government Non-Executive Director is different from acting as a Board member for a business or charity, where you are collectively accountable for the strategic decisions which govern the organisation. Our Non-Executive Directors are not responsible for the decisions taken about the SG. As Principal Accountable Officer, the Permanent Secretary is ultimately responsible for how the SG discharges its responsibilities and the Non-Executive Directors provide challenge, advice and assurance based on their experience.
As a Non-Executive Director, you would be expected to:
- serve as a member of the Scottish Government Audit and Assurance Committee (SGAAC), enabling it to fulfill its remit of providing the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO) with advice and support in discharging their responsibilities in relation to risk, control, governance and assurance through the provision of constructive challenge and helping to ensure continuous improvement;
- promote good governance and the improvement of organisational performance through membership of strategic Boards, providing the necessary guidance, challenge and advice within and outside meetings to help the Scottish Government discharge its functions effectively;
- provide strategic advice, support and challenge to your paired Accountable Officer(s) and other senior staff, playing a pivotal role in supporting and improving leadership across the Scottish Government by drawing upon your external experience, perspectives and knowledge-base; encouraging innovative ways of working, thinking and problem-solving; and acting as a “critical friend” in formal governance mechanisms;
- participate in collective peer-to-peer NXD engagement in order to provide the strongest possible advice on cross-cutting governance and assurance issues to the Principal Accountable Officer and other Accountable Officers, and
- engage with the wider Scottish Government and public sector governance landscape (for example Senior Civil Service recruitment; Scottish Government staff engagement; Scottish Leaders Forum; liaising with NXDs from other devolved administrations)
Our Non-Executive Directors need to take a whole system approach to their role, recognizing that complex, dynamic issues require collaborative and innovative responses. They need to be comfortable challenging and being challenged, sharing their unique experiences and perspectives, and supporting and encouraging others to do the same. By taking an open, values-based and constructive approach, our Non-Executive Directors win and maintain the confidence of senior leaders and, in doing so, help to create space for creative thinking, new ideas and challenge within the Scottish Government.