Chair of FCDO Services Board

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a new Chair to lead FCDO Services through a transformative strategic phase, ensuring effective operations and governance. The ideal candidate will possess deep foreign policy understanding and board-level experience, capable of managing significant organizational challenges while engaging with senior government officials. This role, critical for the agency's mission, does not fall under civil service regulations and offers an opportunity to shape the strategic direction of an essential institution supporting national security.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the needs of FCDO Services' clients.
• Proven credibility to engage with government officials.
• Ability to manage governance arrangements effectively.

Responsibilities

• Guide FCDO Services through strategic challenges.
• Ensure the organisation operates effectively.
• Contribute positively to FCDO's mission and objectives.

Skills

Understanding of foreign policy matters

Board-level leadership experience

Ability to engage with Ministers and officials

Managing corporate governance arrangements

Complex problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Job description

FCDO Services is an executive agency and trading fund, owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Our work supports diplomacy, security and defence for the UK Government and global partners, including the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office, Global Affairs Canada and the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are also home to the UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping (UK NACE), the UK's technical security experts, Lead the oversight, development and governance of a vital global organisation.

This is an opportune moment for new leadership. Our new five-year strategy is launching, positioning us to strengthen our critical role supporting UK diplomacy, defence and national security. With annual revenues of approximately £260 million and a global footprint spanning four continents, we are investing significantly in innovation to meet the evolving challenges of the security and technology landscape.

The next Chair will guide FCDO Services through an ambitious transformation programme, ensuring we deliver maximum value to the FCDO whilst maintaining our commercial agility and operational excellence. This is an opportunity to apply your strategic thinking and foreign policy expertise to an organisation that operates at a unique intersection of government and commercial delivery.

We are seeking a successor with deep understanding of the FCDO's mission, proven board experience, and the ability to manage corporate governance arrangements to help us realise our strategy of Protect the Platform, Strengthen Value, Transform Partnerships and Accelerate Change. Experience of operating in a commercial environment is desirable but not essential.

If you have the vision to shape the future of an organisation vital to UK national security, you can find out more about the organisation on our home page FCDO Services - Home, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

This role is not an appointment into the Civil Service and therefore the success profiles will not be used to assess Experience and Technical skills you should refer to the detail in the candidate pack and person specification for more information.

The panel will assess and score your application to select those demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering both the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the 'Person specification' section and the detail within your CV. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to provide two references. Referees will not be contacted without a candidate's consent.

Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to speak with the Chair/ Chief Executive in FCDO Services prior to the formal interview to find out more about the opportunity and the organisation. This will not form part of the formal assessment process.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a panel interview (to include a presentation), to have an in-depth discussion of previous experiences and professional competencies in relation to the criteria set out in the 'Person specification'.

The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board members of public bodies (2019).

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

• A strong understanding of foreign policy matters and the needs of FCDO Services' clients, including the diplomatic and security environment in which they operate.
• A track record of Board-level leadership and proven credibility to engage with Ministers, senior government officials and other stakeholders.
• To be able to manage robust corporate governance arrangements through sustained, impactful leadership ensuring the FCDO Services Board continues to operate effectively and makes a positive contribution to the organisation.
• The ability to deal systemically with complex issues, including the ability to guide the organisation through strategic challenges.
• A strong ability to communicate, lead and represent an organisation.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A strong understanding of foreign policy matters and the needs of FCDO Services' clients, including the diplomatic and security environment in which they operate.
• A track record of Board-level leadership and proven credibility to engage with Ministers, senior government officials and other stakeholders.
• To be able to manage robust corporate governance arrangements through sustained, impactful leadership ensuring the FCDO Services Board continues to operate effectively and makes a positive contribution to the organisation.
• The ability to deal systemically with complex issues, including the ability to guide the organisation through strategic challenges.
• A strong ability to communicate, lead and represent an organisation.

This role is not an appointment into the Civil Service and therefore does not qualify for benefits within it.