Non Executive Chair

Non-Executive Chair

Term: Until 31st October 2027

Remuneration: £500 per day for up to 70 days per year

Role Description

As Non-Executive Chair, you will provide visible, independent and effective leadership to the Government Facility Services Limited Board (GFSL) until 31 October 2027 when GFSL will cease to operate, and its work and staff will transfer to a new provider.

You will guide the Board through a significant period of change, setting a clear strategic direction, scrutinising major decisions and holding the Chief Executive Officer and Executive team to account for the delivery of safe, reliable, high-quality and value-driven facilities services across the justice estate. The role requires sound judgement, political astuteness, resilience and the ability to operate credibly in a high-profile public-sector environment, working collaboratively with Ministers, senior officials, HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice and delivery partners.

You will:

• Provide confident, visible and independent leadership of the Board, creating a culture of openness, constructive challenge, collaboration, diverse perspectives and collective responsibility;
• Lead the Board in setting strategic direction and priorities, ensuring GFSL’s objectives are clear, deliverable and aligned with the needs of HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, Ministers and the wider justice estate;
• Ensure the Board has accurate, timely and high-quality information to enable informed decision-making, effective scrutiny of performance, and appropriate oversight of risk, finance, safety, service quality, commercial delivery, assurance and organisational capability;
• Hold the Chief Executive Officer and Executive team to account for delivery of agreed objectives, while supporting and challenging them to develop a capable, high-performing, values-led and improvement-focused organisation;
• Ensure robust governance, risk management, internal control and assurance arrangements are in place, and that GFSL’s affairs are conducted with integrity, transparency, probity and due regard to public sector accountability and stewardship of public funds;
• Oversee Board effectiveness, including the contribution and performance of Non-Executive Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, ensuring appropriate review, feedback and continuous improvement, while maintaining the distinction between Board oversight and executive management;
• Act as an ambassador for the Board and GFSL, building effective strategic relationships with Ministers, senior officials, HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, stakeholders and delivery partners, and helping to secure confidence in GFSL’s direction, delivery and performance; and
• Chair Board meetings and other strategic fora effectively, ensuring focused agendas, balanced discussion, constructive challenge, clear decisions and timely follow-up.

Essential Criteria

• Recent and relevant experience of chairing or operating effectively at Board level in a complex, high-profile organisation, with impartial judgement and the ability to lead through influence rather than executive authority;
• Proven experience of leading large-scale, complex or operationally critical services, programmes or organisations, preferably within facilities management, building services, infrastructure, estates, public services or another major service delivery environment;
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, risk management, assurance, safety, financial stewardship and public accountability, with the ability to ensure appropriate scrutiny without becoming involved in day-to-day management;
• Evidence of strategic thinking, resilience, sound judgement and the ability to analyse complex information, test assumptions, cope with ambiguity and change, reach pragmatic conclusions and provide clear rationale based on evidence;
• Exceptional communication, political awareness and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to build confidence with Ministers, senior officials, operational, commercial and delivery partners, and to manage differing viewpoints constructively; and

Experience

• Experience of leading or contributing to effective governance at senior level within a large, complex organisation with national reach, ideally in the public sector, an arm’s-length body, government-owned company, regulated environment or comparable private sector organisation;
• Experience of working with central government, sponsoring departments, Ministers, senior officials, public accountability structures or complex stakeholder environments would be beneficial; and
• Previous demonstrable experience as a Chair, Non-Executive Director, Board member or senior adviser in facilities management, estates, infrastructure, operational delivery, commercial services, major programmes or a similarly complex service environment would be valuable.

Apply now for more detailed information.