Board Member role profile

Job Description

The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for ensuring the success of North Downs Housing and ensuring compliance with all legal principles and statutory restrictions relating to company law as stated within the Companies Act 2006. The Board:

  • Sets North Downs Housing’s vision, values and standards and ensures that their legal and regulatory obligations are understood and met.
  • Sets North Downs Housing’s strategic aims, ensures that the necessary financial and human resources are in place to meet their objectives and reviews management performance.
  • Provides entrepreneurial leadership of North Downs Housing within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed.
  • Fulfils the functions as outlined in the Articles of Association and Codes of Governance.

Role Purpose 

The role of Board members is to:

  • Provide collective leadership, direction and scrutiny of North Downs Housing.
  • Act in the best interests of North Downs Housing.
  • Ensure effective oversight of North Downs Housing to generate cohesion, shared purpose and actions in the interests of North Downs Housing as a whole.
  • Act appropriately as an ambassador; networking, engaging and forming relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to build an excellent reputation for North Downs Housing.

 Responsibilities of Board Members: 

  •  Challenge, lead, inspire and motivate the Executive Management Team.
  • Support the Chair to ensure an effective Board.
  • Preparation to ensure the efficient conduct of business including at meetings.
  • Establish constructive working relationships with the Executive Management Team
  • To take part in Committees and Boards as appropriate including potentially undertaking the role of Chair.
  • To support and ensure the business of the Board is managed in accordance with the principles of good governance, enabling the views of all Board Members to be heard.
  • To be an ambassador for and represent the organisations as appropriate.
  • To ensure integrity in all aspects of the organisations’
  • To take part in regular reviews of the composition of the Board and the skills and experience to ensure it remains equipped to lead the organisation and achieve the strategic direction.
  • Comply with the adopted Code of Governance, Code of Conduct, Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and any organisational policies relating to Board member activity.
  • To act within and in accordance with the Rules
  • To uphold and promote the core policies, purpose, values and objectives of North Downs Housing (including their commitment to equal opportunities)
  • To contribute to and share responsibility for decisions of the Board (and/or any Committee of which they are a member)
  • To attend induction, training and performance review sessions and other such sessions or events as are reasonably required by the organisations.
  • Board members are required to seek and acquire any commercial qualification necessary to facilitate key business lines, for example SIA non-frontline accreditation.
  • To attend (save in extremis) all meetings of the Board (and all Committees of which they are a member) and to read Board and/or Committee papers (as applicable) before meetings.

Person Specification

PART ONE – Knowledge and Experience (assessed initially at the application stage)

  • Experience of working within an organisation of similar complexity to North Downs Housing, preferably at a senior level, using organisational performance frameworks
  • An understanding and knowledge of good governance
  • Experience of leading teams and managing performance
  • Awareness of and interest in issues affecting the housing sector

Senior level strategic experience within one or more of the following areas gained in either an executive or non-executive role (listed in alphabetical order):

  • Corporate Finance, Treasury and Business Planning
  • Governance: Regulation, Risk, Compliance and Assurance
  • Residential Development/Construction
  • Human Resources and Organisational Development
  • Business/organisational transformation
  • Sustainability

Part Two – Skills and Personal Attributes (assessed at interview) 

  • The ability to make a constructive contribution to meetings through preparation and understanding.
  • The ability to understand complex issues including financial information.
  • Ability to work constructively with others to achieve corporate objectives.
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to work as a member of a team.
  • A commitment to the visions and values of North Downs Housing.
  • A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in employment and service delivery.
  • High standards of personal and professional integrity
  • High level of personal drive
  • Experience of chairing meetings