Chair of the FCDO Services Board

FCDO Services; England; On-site; GBP 34,000; Part time

Job summary

A UK governmental agency is seeking a Chair for its board, tasked with overseeing governance and leading a significant transformational program. The ideal candidate will possess strategic thinking and a deep understanding of the FCDO's mission. This part-time role offers a salary of £34,000 and is set over a four-year term. Candidates will need proven board experience and the vision to shape the future of an organization crucial to UK national security. The closing date for applications is midnight on January 5, 2026.

Qualifications

• Proven board experience in a similar role.
• Deep understanding of FCDO's mission.
• Experience in a commercial environment desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the oversight and governance of FCDO Services.
• Guide through a transformation programme.
• Ensure the delivery of value to the FCDO.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Foreign policy expertise

Corporate governance

Job description

Chair of the FCDO Services Board

FCDO Services

Reference number: 437580

Salary: £34,000

Approximately 40 days per annum.

Contract type: Fixed term - Part-time

Length of employment: 4 years

Location: Hanslope, South East England, MK19 7BH - City of Westminster, London (region), SW1A 2AH

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 opportunity online.

If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

Closing date: Midnight 5th January 2026.