Position Description

Independent Member, Standards and Regulation board

Scrutinise. Challenge. Safeguard the Public Interest.

You have spent your career operating at the intersection of regulation, governance and the public interest. You understand that independent oversight of a professional body is not a ceremonial function. It is substantive, demanding work and, when done well, it matters deeply to the profession, the public and the communities it serves.

The Standards and Regulation Board (SRB) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors provides that oversight. It is independently led, operates with genuine separation from RICS’ commercial and representative functions, and holds the regulatory framework of one of the world’s most influential professional bodies to account across more than 140 countries. It scrutinises how standards are set and maintained, how standards of entry into the profession are set, assessed and quality assured, and how qualifications and education requirements are developed and applied, and how RICS meets its obligations: to members, to clients and to the public.

RICS is seeking to appoint a senior professional who brings deep regulatory experience, an international perspective and the confidence to exercise genuine independence within a complex global governance environment.

Why this role matters

Regulating a profession that operates across multiple jurisdictions is inherently complex. Standards must remain consistent, credible and legally defensible while operating across different markets and regulatory environments. This requires sustained and expert scrutiny.

The pace of change makes that more demanding. Artificial intelligence, data-driven practice, sustainability imperatives and evolving societal expectations are reshaping professional practice. The regulatory framework must keep pace while remaining evidence-based, proportionate and robust.

These are substantive regulatory questions, not administrative ones. They are precisely the questions the SRB exists to oversee.

What you’ll contribute

As an Independent Member, you will bring independent judgement and regulatory insight to the Board’s oversight and decision-making. This involves:

• Contributing to the shaping and evolution of RICS’ regulatory framework
• Applying rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny to policy, standards and governance processes
• Bringing an international perspective informed by experience across multiple jurisdictions
• Supporting oversight of entry, assessment and professional standards
• Providing independent challenge and assurance in relation to risk, controls and the effectiveness of the regulatory framework
• Contributing to how the profession responds to emerging regulatory challenges

Why now?

The SRB is independently chaired by Nigel Clarke and comprises five RICS members and five independent members. This appointment follows the planned conclusion of an Independent Member’s term and reflects a continued focus on strengthening international regulatory expertise within the Board.

About the Standards and Regulation Board

The Standards and Regulation Board provides independent oversight of RICS’ regulatory functions, operating with clear separation from its commercial and representative activities.

Acting in the public interest, the SRB holds delegated authority from Governing Council for the development and oversight of professional standards, entry and assessment requirements, and the effectiveness of the regulatory framework.
It ensures that regulatory activity is transparent, evidence-based and proportionate, and that standards are applied consistently across the jurisdictions in which RICS operates.

Practical details

• £12,000 per annum
• Approximately 15 days per year
• Virtual meetings with occasional in-person attendance (UK and international)
• Up to three-year term
• Panel interviews via MS teams Tuesday 26 May 2026

Selection Criteria

This appointment is intended to complement the existing composition of the SRB and strengthen its international regulatory capability and global perspective.

We are particularly interested in individuals with experience of operating across multiple jurisdictions and engaging with regulatory frameworks beyond the UK, alongside those who bring insight into how professional standards are developed, applied and assured within complex regulatory environments.

Experience is likely to have been gained within areas such as:

• Professional regulation or regulatory governance
• Standards development or assurance
• Professional education, qualifications frameworks or accreditation, particularly relating to entry into or progression within a profession
• Public policy, economics or consumer protection
• Law, audit or compliance

Above all, your experience will demonstrate:

• Experience operating at board, committee or senior advisory level
• The ability to review complex material and contribute to balanced, evidence-based decision-making
• Confidence in providing independent, constructive challenge within governance settings
• Experience working in environments subject to external scrutiny and public accountability

A clear understanding of the role of professional standards in protecting the public interest, and of the responsibilities of regulatory bodies to the professions they oversee, will be essential.

In particular, we are looking to strengthen the Board’s expertise in professional education, qualifications and accreditation, including how standards of entry into a profession are set, assessed and quality assured. This area of experience will be an important consideration in the assessment process.

Awareness of emerging regulatory issues, including in areas such as technology and data governance, would also be of interest.

The working language of the SRB is English. Candidates should be confident operating at a senior level in written and spoken English, including reviewing Board papers and contributing to discussions and correspondence.
Independent Members are appointed from outside the RICS membership to ensure independence of perspective. Candidates should therefore not be current RICS members.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they do not hold roles that would give rise to a conflict of interest with the work of the SRB. Full eligibility criteria are set out in the Candidate Pack.

How to Apply

How to apply

To ensure independence during this recruitment process, Michelle Paoloni of House Recruitment will be supporting RICS on this piece of recruitment.

Submit a copy of your CV and supporting statement to [email protected]

Within your supporting statement (maximum two pages) please outline how the requirements within the person specification are met, any desirable criteria and any additional information that may support your application.

A full Candidate Pack is available for review on the SRB Vacancy page

Closing date: 17:00 (UK Time) Friday 8 May 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion

RICS is committed to building a Board that reflects the global profession it serves. The SRB has historically benefited from a diverse membership, including gender balance, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and members from a wide range of geographic locations, and is committed to maintaining and strengthening that diversity.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and particularly encourage those currently underrepresented in senior governance roles to apply. Applications are welcomed from candidates based anywhere in the world.

All appointments are made on merit, underpinned by a commitment to fair and inclusive processes throughout.