About the job

Job summary

Appointment Term: initial term of four years with a possibility of reappointment.  

Remuneration: £5,000 per annum. Travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.  

Time Commitment: Between 4-8 meetings per annum, the successful candidate is also expected to be able to commit appropriate time to prepare for the Board meetings and be available for consultation with other members of the executive team and the shareholders as required. 

Location: Meetings are held in person at Diamond Light Source Limited (Harwell Oxford Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire). Travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.  

About Diamond Light Source:  

Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. We operate an advanced particle accelerator, generating intense beams of light, known as synchrotron light, which enable scientists and researchers to investigate the structure and properties of matter at the atomic and molecular level. Our cutting-edge facilities support a wide range of scientific disciplines, from materials science and chemistry to biology and environmental research, fostering innovation and driving discoveries that benefit society. 

More information on the Non-Executive Director position can be found in our candidate prospectus.

Job description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to the executive team, ensuring alignment with Diamond Light Source's mission, values, and strategic objectives. 
• Contribute expertise and insights to board discussions on matters such as strategic planning, financial management, risk mitigation, and performance. 
• Uphold the highest standards of corporate governance, ethics, and integrity, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. 

Person specification

Skills and Experience: 

• Acknowledged success in running a large complex organisation, or division of such an organisation, and/or experience as a senior non-executive director (including experience chairing a major sub-committee, such as a finance and audit committee) of a company or scientific research organisation; whether Government funded, academic or industrial.   

• Understanding of the UK and international research and innovation funding environment, and an appreciation of and an ability to engage with implications of the Government’s research landscape reforms.  
• An understanding of science, innovation, commercialisation and the knowledge economy.  
• A demonstrable ability to think and act strategically and address difficult decisions across a broad spectrum of policy issues.  
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, and an ability to work collegiately as part of a senior committee.  
• Sound judgement, integrity, probity and high ethical standards, with an ability to critically and objectively challenge and probe.  
• Ability to demonstrate significant experience of leading finance, accountancy, audit functions with large complex organisations, such as Universities, public sector organisations or industry, or have Board experience of leading audit and risk assurance committees for other large organisations. 

For further information about the role and requirements, please visit the candidate prospectus by clicking “Apply Now”. 

Benefits

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How to Apply:  

To apply for this position, please submit a CV and a supporting statement/covering letter outlining your relevant experience, qualifications, and motivation for joining the Diamond Light Source Board. Please ensure your CV and supporting statement/covering letter are no longer than 2 pages per document. Please send to Susanna Mitolo (susanna.mitolo@stfc.ukri.org). Please include "Non-Executive Director Application – [Your Name]" in the subject line. The closing date for the receipt of applications is Monday 25 March 2024 (23:59) 

Diamond Light Source is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. 

We would also be grateful if you could complete the following optional EDI questionnaire, to help us understand how we can support candidates throughout the process.   

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.