The purpose of the role is to provide leadership to SNG and play a pivotal role in steering the strategic direction for the organisation and ensuring good governance, financial viability and legal and regulatory compliance, in conjunction with other members of the Board.
Our NEDs add value to SNG’s business by contributing experience, expertise and insight to determine strategy, direction and control in the interests of tenants, stakeholders and the wider community.
Key Responsibilities
As a member of the SNG Board, our NEDs have the following key responsibilities:
- to set the values of the overall Group and ensure that the Group adheres to high standards of corporate governance,
- to define the Group’s vision, mission and strategy and ensure that these are upheld and realised,
- to create a positive and supportive climate within the Board and with the Executive Board and their teams to foster constructive challenge between the two bodies,
- to ensure that SNG fully complies with legal and regulatory requirements, and promotes best practice,
- to ensure that SNG have appropriate controls and systems of risk management that are robust and defensible, agreeing delegations, risk capacity and appetite,
- to oversee a framework for approving and regularly reviewing strategies, policies and plans to achieve business objectives and effective governance,
- to approve an annual business plan and budgets, determine appropriate Key Performance Indicators and scrutinise and review the performance of the organisation,
- to approve each year’s accounts prior to publication,
- to ensure that all assets are protected, effectively and efficiently managed, and capacity properly utilised to maintain long-term viability and sustainability,
- to appoint (and, if necessary, remove) the Chair in accordance with the Rules,
- to appoint (and, if necessary, dismiss) the Chief Executive,
- to ensure that there are appropriate policies and systems in place to recruit, develop, retain and remunerate a diverse and skilled workforce,
- to be engaged in a range of activities to support the development of Sovereign and promote its activities.
Additional Information
All non-executives at SNG are expected to:
- be able to attend the agreed programme of meetings plus occasional other meetings and events each year,
- not work for or be involved with any organisation that would consistently produce a conflict of interest. This includes making an annual declaration of interests,
- undertake an annual appraisal,
- be prepared to undertake training as agreed with the Chief Executive, Company Secretary or Board Chair,
- carry out the role in the context of and in compliance with the Equality and Diversity Policy.
Job Description
The Major Projects Committee Chair will provide guidance and oversight, representing it to stakeholders as appropriate and add value to its business by contributing experience, expertise and insight to determine strategy, direction and control in the interests of tenants, stakeholders and the wider community. As such, the Chair should be able to draw upon personal career experience and achievement at the highest level, providing demonstrable credibility and authority.
In particular they will focus on providing ‘critical friend’ support and challenge to the Executive Board and their teams to ensure that SNG’s asset and investment strategies are developed and delivered to meet the needs of SNG’s customers and communities, and SNG’s wider corporate goals and risks, and Long-Term Business Plan for funding strategic management and development of assets.
Key Responsibilities
Major Projects Committee (MPC)
The MPC oversees SNG’s Development programme provides detailed scrutiny of the development aspects of the corporate and business plans, budgets and the Investment Strategy.
It is also responsible for recommendation to the Board for approval of significant development and regeneration schemes. This may include projects involving the regeneration and disposal of existing homes owned by the Group as well as the approval of land acquisitions required to facilitate major new development projects.
The Committee also monitors high level performance of development and asset management related joint venture partnerships entered into by the Group, ensure that regular updates are supplied to the Board and that emerging risks are escalated as required in a timely manner.
Strategic Direction and Leadership
The Chair will:
• Display a demonstrable commitment to the social purpose of SNG to provide good affordable homes, the foundation for a better life in thriving communities,
• Contribute visionary and strategic direction to the Committee and the Board,
• Assure that the Committee members have an appropriate mix of skills and experience to fulfil the Terms of Reference of the MPC,
• Provide independent challenge, support, guidance and oversight,
• Assure that SNG has a viable Investment Strategy that delivers the organisation’s ambitions, placing the customer at the centre at all times.
Relationship and interpersonal
The Chair will:
• Provide appropriate challenge and support to the CIDO within an effective working relationship,
• Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders to ensure an integrated contribution to SNG’s corporate objectives,
• Build consensus in group discussions to enable tough decisions to be made whilst keeping longer term relationships intact,
• Ensure the Committee delegates sufficient and appropriate authority to the Chair, or the CIDO, to enable business to be carried on effectively between meetings; and also to ensure that the Committee monitors the use of its delegated powers.