Non-Executive Director – Information and Digital Board Full Time

House of Lords

We are looking for a Non-Executive Director for Parliament’s bicameral Information and Digital Board. The Information and Digital Board is responsible for shaping the Information and Digital Strategy for Parliament and ensuring that the strategy is delivered. This is an exciting position where you will be providing strategic advice, direction, and support.

As part of the Information and Digital Board alongside your colleagues you will be providing strategic leadership for information, data, and digital matters in Parliament. This is a fantastic opportunity for candidates that are enthusiastic, inspirational and intellectually curious and want to make an impact by supporting the Information and Digital Board with strategies aligned to the organisation.

About the role

The UK Parliament sits at the heart of our democracy and system of Government in the UK. Comprised of two Houses (the Lords and the Commons) UK Parliament works on behalf of UK citizens to check and challenge the work of Government, make and shape effective laws, and debate and make decisions on the big issues of the day.

The Information and Digital Board (IDB) has delegated responsibility from the House of Lords Management Board and the House of Commons Executive Board, they are responsible for reporting to the Boards and escalating risks as required.

The Board provides leadership and governance across information, data and digital strategy, risk and investment.

The Board provides strategic leadership for information, data and digital matters in Parliament. The Board has high-level oversight of “business as usual” information, data, and digital delivery across Parliament, wherever it is commissioned or undertaken. This includes the digital investment portfolio and any other digital investment undertaken within Parliament; and of information, data and digital transformation. The Board is responsible for providing strategic advice, direction and support to Parliament’s Chief Information Officer (who is also the Managing Director of the Parliamentary Digital Service), and the Senior Information Risk Owner for each House in the discharge of their responsibilities. The Board also provides oversight of the work to ensure that Parliament’s digital services are secure and resilient in the face of evolving threats.

Person Specification

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate:

Experience

• Board or Board-level experience within an organisation of comparable scale and complexity in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

• Previous experience as a non-executive director, external member, trustee or equivalent in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

• Relevant experience working in the field of digital, data and/or information within an organisation that is a high-profile cyber security target.

• Experience of providing strategic advice and leadership?relating to digital, data and/or information to comparable?organisations.

• Extensive experience of successfully managing relationships with a range of stakeholders in a complex environment.

• Leadership and influencing experience with a diverse, senior and challenging stakeholder group.

Skills and Attributes

• Demonstrable knowledge of digital, information and/or data, including current external challenges and the ability to explain and make judgements based on this knowledge.

• Understanding of the interdependencies between information, digital and data.

• Demonstrable experience of digital, information and/or data matters within an organisation that is an at scale content creator and publisher.

• Excellent analytical skills that have been proven on complex issues.

• The ability to exercise independent judgement, to listen effectively, challenge constructively, encourage and support collective decisions.

• The highest levels of personal integrity, fairness and impartiality and commitment to public service values such as inclusion and diversity.

• The ability to inspire confidence and respect.

• Tact, discretion, and excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate with clarity and understanding.

Specialist knowledge

It is expected that the external member will be able to demonstrate a blend of expert knowledge, professional experience and strategic skills so they can provide guidance, scrutiny and constructive challenge.

The ideal candidate would have a breadth of specialist knowledge drawing on:

• Digital, information and/or data experience.

• Complex governance issues, in a multi-stakeholder environment.

Desirable criteria:

• Good understanding of Parliament

Additional Information

The IDB meets monthly for approximately 1.5-2 hours. The Board prides itself on its inclusive and reflective style and meetings are typically held virtually, with hybrid and face-to-face meetings approximately every quarter. The Board is supported by a secretariat and papers for meetings are circulated 1 week in advance. It is expected that all members will have read the papers before the meeting to allow good time for discussion and to avoid lengthy presentations.

Terms of Appointment

The position is offered for three years initially, with the possibility of extension for a further 3 years. The maximum term for a NED is 6 years.

Remuneration

A fee of £633 per day will be paid, with a maximum of £9495 per annum. The fee is inclusive of attendance at meetings and for all preparatory work for those meetings. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £1,500 per year.

How to apply

If you wish to apply for this vacancy, please submit the following by 20th October 23:55.

• An anonymised CV (maximum three pages) with your full employment history as well as any unpaid or community achievements.
• A Supporting Statement (maximum three pages) giving evidence of:
• your ability to meet the essential criteria for the role;
• your specialist skills and knowledge.