Non-Executive Directors x 2 | DG Cities

Peridot Partners; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 7,000 - 9,000; Full time

Job summary

DG Cities is an independent urban innovation consultancy owned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. We seek two Independent Non-Executive Directors to strengthen governance, provide independent judgement and help develop the Company while supporting senior management.

Roles are UK-based with online board meetings and occasional in-person events, emphasising diverse perspectives, public value, and inclusive leadership for social impact.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership or board-level experience
• Strong understanding of innovation and technology in urban contexts
• Experience growing organisations and governing teams
• Strategic thinking with sound judgement and collaboration

Responsibilities

• Provide independent judgement and constructive challenge to Senior Management Team
• Strengthen governance arrangements and strategic direction
• Act as an ambassador to raise the organisation's profile and networks

Job description

Home / Roles / Non-Executive Directors x 2 | DG Cities

Join the Board of a pioneering urban innovation consultancy using technology, data and insight to improve neighbourhoods and deliver real impact for people.

• Location: Virtual / London
• Salary: £8,000 per annum

Who we are

What we do

DG Cities is an urban innovation consultancy specialising in technology, data, and behaviour change to improve neighbourhoods across the UK. We harness the power of technology and data to transform places and people’s lives.

How we do it

We focus on having an impact that creates benefits where they really matter. Our work bridges policy, innovation, and delivery to support real-world change.

Our approach

We combine strategy, research, implementation, and evaluation to deliver people-first solutions that balance commercial rigour with social purpose. We believe that technology is most effective when it is human-centred, evidence‑led, and developed in partnership with the communities it serves.

We work with central and local government, private sector organisations, and local communities to address complex urban challenges — from delivering on net zero ambitions in social housing and developing smart mobility solutions, to unlocking the opportunities of gigabit connectivity, supporting inclusive economic growth, and rethinking neighbourhood planning and public resource optimisation.

Innovation sits at the heart of our organisation — not only in the focus of our work, but in how we work, how we govern ourselves, and the diverse perspectives we bring together to create change that makes a real difference to people’s lives.

We are an independent company created & wholly owned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. To our knowledge, we are the only local authority‑owned urban innovation company of our kind in the UK. To date, we have reinvested all our profits in the company.

About the roles

We are seeking to appoint two Independent Non-Executive Directors to our Board.

As a Non-Executive Director, you will bring independent judgement, sector insight, and commercial and governance expertise. You will support and constructively challenge the Senior Management Team, help strengthen our governance arrangements, support the development of the Company, and act as an ambassador for the organisation and what we stand for.

You will contribute to building a strong, effective Board culture rooted in trust, openness, and shared purpose.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for individuals who bring:

• Senior leadership or board-level experience (as an executive, non‑executive, or trustee)
• Strong understanding of innovation and/or technology‑enabled sectors and their relevance to the urban environment
• Experience supporting companies or organisations to grow/business development.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach
• Confidence to provide constructive challenge with diplomacy and humility
• Commitment to public value, integrity, and inclusive leadership

You will be comfortable representing the organisation externally and helping to build its profile and influence.

We believe that diversity of experience, background, and perspective strengthens decision‑making and innovation. We warmly encourage applications from candidates who are under‑represented at board level, and from those whose career paths may not be traditional but who bring relevant insight and capability.

Time commitment

10-12 days per year.

Board members must be able to attend online board meetings five to six times a year, usually lasting two hours (typically early evening). In this new phase of board development, there are also likely to be additional in‑person meetings/away days (1-2 per year) and/or strategy sessions.

They also need time to read board papers circulated in advance of meetings and to respond promptly to emails about board business.

Board members are expected to make time for relationship building between themselves and with the staff team, and for attendance at events or activities run by the company e.g. report launches.

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Conor Naughton

Thank you for your interest in joining the Board of DG Cities as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

I joined the Board in 2022 and have had the privilege of serving as Chair since May 2026. During that time, I have seen dg cities continue to strengthen its reputation as an innovative and trusted partner to public sector organisations, helping them tackle complex challenges through digital innovation, insight and practical delivery. Today, the company is entering an exciting new phase of its development, making this the right time to broaden the experience and expertise represented on the Board.

We have recently approved an ambitious three-year business plan that will consolidate our position as a dynamic innovation consultancy working primarily with public sector clients across the UK. The plan sets out a clear strategy for sustainable growth, underpinned by significant new investment and a commitment to delivering meaningful impact for our clients and the communities they serve.

At the heart of dg cities is a talented, dedicated and highly skilled team. Their expertise, creativity and commitment have been instrumental in the company’s success to date and provide strong foundations for the future. As a Board, our role is to support and challenge the executive team, helping to ensure the business remains focused on its strategic objectives while continuing to innovate and grow.

The appointment of Independent Non-Executive Directors marks an important stage in the company’s evolution and reflects our commitment to strong governance and effective oversight. We are seeking two exceptional individuals whose skills, experience and perspectives will complement those already around the board table. We are looking for people who can provide strategic insight and constructive challenge, while also helping to raise awareness of the company, champion our distinctive approach and bring relevant sector knowledge, networks and expertise that will contribute to our future success.

Our Board is friendly, committed and collaborative. We value openness, respect and constructive debate, and we are committed to creating an environment in which all Board members can make a meaningful contribution. We believe that the best decisions are informed by diverse perspectives and experiences, and we welcome applications from individuals whose backgrounds can strengthen our collective thinking.

Above all, we believe that commercial success and social impact go hand in hand. We are looking for people who share that belief: individuals with a strong commercial mindset who are equally motivated by the opportunity to deliver positive outcomes for society. We are not simply seeking advisers; we are looking for Board members who will actively contribute to the strategic development of the company and help shape the next chapter of its growth.

I hope this information pack provides a useful introduction to the role and our ambitions. If you are excited by the opportunity to contribute to an innovative, purpose-driven organisation with ambitious plans for the future, I encourage you to consider joining us on our journey.

Nick Williams
Chair, DG Cities

About DG Cities

Founded in 2015, we are an independent company wholly owned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. To our knowledge, we are the only local authority‑owned urban innovation company of our kind in the UK.

Stakeholders consistently describe us as offering “the best of both worlds”: the credibility and public purpose of a council‑owned organisation combined with the agility and flexibility of an independent consultancy.

DG Cities is self‑funded – delivering research & development for local government and other public sector clients, participating in Government (Innovate UK) research and innovation programmes whilst also undertaking work with, and alongside, commercial organisations.

DG Cities also has a sister company, Digital Greenwich Connect Ltd, which is a corporate joint venture with ITS Technology Group. Digital Greenwich Connect focuses on installing, maintaining and commercialising fibre infrastructure within Greenwich. It is run separately from DG Cities, and the Non‑Executive Directors’ role does not extend to Digital Greenwich Connect.

In our business plan, we define our core capabilities as:

• Technology & sector‑specific expertise
• Data Science
• The ability to deploy innovation in the public sector in towns, cities & neighbourhoods

We want to continue developing these areas of expertise and delivering to clients across four core themes:

• Mobility Innovation
• Public Health Innovation
• Economic Innovation

We recognise that the role of consultancies is changing rapidly, with clients requiring more specialisation and measurable impacts. We are committed to building offerings that fulfil these requirements and expect the Board to have a leading voice in how we build for the future.

Recent Achievements

Our recent achievements, which highlight the range of activities we undertake, include:

• Securing £5m of Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund funding to support a £20m retrofit programme
• Developing a market‑leading social housing data analysis tool
• Rethinking how public health and housing interventions can be combined to improve outcomes for residents
• Developing neighbourhood analysis frameworks and intervention plans aligned to local strategies
• Influencing national policy through research on autonomous vehicles, public perception, and net zero infrastructure
• Supporting the first public trials of autonomous shuttles and deliveries in the UK and creation of a national real‑world test bed for connected and autonomous vehicles
• Applying Behaviour Systems Mapping to understand complex problems and inform interventions in areas such as digital exclusion

About the DG Cities Board

The current board is currently made up of three representatives nominated by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, as the company’s shareholder, and Company CEO. It is welcoming, collaborative and professional. The current board comprises Nick Williams, Councillor Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Councillor Lewis Hurst and Trevor Dorling (CEO).

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. We are entering a new phase of growth, maturity, and leadership transition in the coming years.

By joining the Board now, you will play a key role in:

• Shaping the future strategic direction of a distinctive, values‑led organisation
• Strengthening governance and commercial capability while retaining strong public purpose
• Supporting the Senior Management Team to scale impact responsibly and sustainably
• Helping position the organisation as a national leader in urban innovation

This is a genuine opportunity to influence how technology and innovation improve people’s lives at place level.

Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 23rd November
Candidates informed of outcome: Wednesday 25th November
Interviews: Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th December

We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.

Peridot and DG Cities are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions.We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.

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