Position Description

General information about the role of Non-Executive Board Members in government is provided in the corporate governance in central government departments: Code of Good Practice.

Non-Executive Board Members exercise their role through providing advice, challenge, and support to the executive. They advise on performance, business operation issues, and on the effective leadership of the organisation. They are members of committees currently covering areas including audit and risk assurance, people, infrastructure, technology and innovation, and finance. The Royal Air Force supports this work by providing appropriate management information and direct access to staff officers and Royal Air Force personnel outside of board meetings.

Broadly, Non-Executive Board Members are expected to contribute to the work of the RAF in the following areas:

• Independence – provide independent support, guidance and challenge on the progress and implementation of the RAF Command Plan.
• Strategy – constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy and business planning, including the setting and development of strategic objectives.
• Performance – scrutinise the performance of the organisation in meeting agreed goals and objectives, and monitor the reporting of performance, including financial targets.
• People – develop and encourage appropriate behaviours and organisational culture to develop people strategy.
• Governance – satisfy that governance, internal control, and risk management systems are effective and capable of delivering relevant, accurate and timely management and financial information to the Board.
• Support the Board in developing skills and tools to help it engage with strategic issues.
• Connect the Board to people and organisations who can provide different perspectives, opinions and expertise which will assist in furthering the organisation.
• Specialist responsibility – specialise in one or more areas of work, supplementing skills and experience already in place across areas such as HR, technology, organisational transformation and change, finance, and audit and risk management.

Selection Criteria

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable and practical recent or current experience in a large and complex organisation, with a strong ethical, compassionate, and inclusive leadership style in line with the RAF’s values and standards, by modelling the highest standards of personal behaviour and conduct.
• An ability to operate at senior Board level, with proven Board experience, to successfully link boardroom decisions to frontline execution.
• An ability to develop a highly functional working relationship with the Chief of the Air Staff and the RAF Senior Leadership Team built on openness, honesty, and trust to form a continuous and supportive dialogue and objective informal feedback, to inform each other’s personal impact and effectiveness.
• Proven ability to constructively challenge existing practices and identify new and better ways of working to deliver improved performance, services, and outcomes.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to mentor senior executives as appropriate, and confidently challenge inappropriate behaviours.
• Demonstratable experience of shaping and delivering largescale digital transformation strategies to modernise services and enhance operational resilience.

• Ability to provide strategic level advice on enterprise digital strategy, investment priorities, AI, digital architecture, innovation, and cyber resilience.

Desirable Criteria

• An understanding and appreciation of the Ministry of Defence and the RAF.
• Experience of working in both the public and the private sector.

How to Apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

1. https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/create-account
2. https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/auth/sign-in

Once you are logged into your account, click on ‘apply for this role’ and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

1. a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. a Supporting Statement

– This should include details of 2 references; full names and email addresses. By providing your referees details, you are giving us consent to approach them should you be successful at the shortlisting stage.

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.
You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.