*Closes 29th August*
Dstl is led by a Board of Directors which includes the Chair and five Non-Executive Members (including one MOD NEM). We are seeking an exceptional individual to join the Dstl Board as a Non-executive Member (NEM), with an anticipated start date of 01 December 2024, subject to security clearance.
The key responsibilities of a Dstl Non-Executive Member include:
- To provide an independent perspective to the strategic direction of Dstl’s work
- To encourage and support Dstl’s drive for continuous improvement through objective, constructive challenge and scrutiny of Dstl’s performance
- To make a creative contribution by questioning existing ways of working and encouraging innovation and new thinking
- To share knowledge and expertise with both the Board and individual Executive Directors as appropriate
- To contribute to Board sub-committees and significant change programme boards as appropriate
- To build effective relationships with Board colleagues, internal and external stakeholders
- To actively communicate Dstl’s role to internal and external stakeholders, and to understand any challenges/concerns
- To role model Dstl’s guiding principles
- The successful candidate will be required to undertake Security Check clearance.
- The successful candidate must abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members
Sponsor department – Ministry of Defence
Time Commitment – 30 days per annum
Remuneration – £18000 per annum
Organisation description
Dstl is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the defence and security field.
Board composition
The Dstl Board (in an advisory capacity) exercises strategic oversight of Dstl and provide assurance to MOD, of Dstl in the delivery of its objectives. Its key roles are to:
- Advise on the development of Dstl’s organisational strategies and business plans
- Advise on Dstl’s risk appetite and the controls in place to manage risks and threats to Dstl achieving its objectives, and to address opportunities
- Monitor organisational performance and seek assurance around the effectiveness of mitigations required
- Advise on the health of Dstl’s capabilities and the quality of the S&T
- Advise on, and endorse, investment proposals in support of Dstl’s business plans that are above the delegation of the Chief Executive, before submission to MOD
- Seek assurance that Dstl is operating in compliance with relevant policies and standards
The Board comprises:
- An independent non-executive Chair
- Chief Executive of Dstl
- Independent Non-Executive Members (NEMs). The role of the NEMs is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the Dstl Executive team
- The Ministry of Defence’s formal NEM, representing the Ministry of Defence on the Board, who is consulted on matters that have consequences for the wider Department or Government. The Ministry of Defence NEM will also advise the Sponsor on the strategic direction and performance of Dstl and the effectiveness of the Chair
- Dstl Chief Finance Officer
- Dstl Chief Science and Technology Officer
- Other members of the Executive as agreed between the Chair and Chief Executive
The Board is supported by an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, chaired by a NEM. The Role of the Dstl Audit and Risk Assurance Committee: The Dstl Board has established an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee as a sub-committee of the Board to support them in their responsibilities for issues of risk, control and governance by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances in meeting the Board and Accounting Officer’s assurance needs, and reviewing the reliability and integrity of these assurances. The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee does not have any executive responsibilities nor is charged with making or endorsing any decisions. It takes care to maintain its independence.
The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee advises the Board and the Chief Executive on:
- the strategic processes for risk, control and governance, taking into account related ethical standards, and the Governance Statement
- the accounting policies, the accounts, and the Annual Report, including the process for review of the accounts prior to submission for audit, levels of error identified, and management’s letter of representation to the external auditors
- the planned activity and results of both internal and external audit
- adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity
- assurances relating to the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for Dstl
- proposals for tendering for external audit services or for purchase of non-audit services from contractors who provide audit services
- anti-fraud policies, whistle-blowing processes, and arrangements for special investigations
- its own effectiveness through periodic review, and reporting the results of those reviews to the Board.
Person specification
Essential criteria
Candidates are required to demonstrate:
Strategic Leadership
- Senior leadership experience, derived from a professional career at a senior level, able to contribute to the development of strategy and associated longer-term issues, introduce new thinking and challenge existing ways of doing things;
- Driving delivery and transformational changes to ensure all challenges facing the business are dealt with effectively and at pace.
- Ability to provide a challenging and supportive role to the Dstl Chair, Chief Executive and other senior executives, using sound judgment, analysis and decision-making skills;
- An engaging and collaborative working style, demonstrating leadership and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders.
Professional Expertise
- Thorough and contemporary understanding and knowledge of one or more of the following fields:
- Science, technology and innovation
- Digital, MI, and AI
- Infrastructure and safety
- Transformation and cultural change
Desirable criteria
It is desirable that the successful candidates bring:
- Knowledge and expertise of operating in a technological or scientific environment (not necessarily defence) of comparable scale and complexity to Dstl with a strong emphasis on safety;
- An interest in the challenges of Government and an understanding of the public sector;
- Wider experience of other sectors to foster diversity of thought;
- Mentoring and counselling colleagues to help them realise their full potential.