Independent Governor - Westminster Foundation for Democracy
- Body
- Westminster Foundation for Democracy
- Appointing Department
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, International
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Accountancy, Audit and Risk
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- The position is unpaid. Reasonable travel costs within the UK to attend meetings and events will be reimbursed. From time to time Governors may also be invited to undertake some travel or other activities on behalf of the Foundation, for which they will be reimbursed expenses incurred.
- Time Requirements
- The successful candidate will be expected to attend four Board meetings a year in London. These meetings normally last between two and three hours. Governors also serve on at least one of the Programme Quality, Audit and Risk Assurance, or Terms and Conditions Committees during their tenure. This could mean attending 8-10 WFD meetings per year plus ad hoc events and travel.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
25/09/2017
-
Closed for Applications
12/11/2017
-
Panel Sift
w/b 27th November
-
Final Interview Date
13/12/2017
-
Announcement
Early January 2018.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Richard Jones
- Added
- 25/09/2017
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Head, Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Anthony Smith
- Added
- 25/09/2017
- Positions
- CEO and member of the Board of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Philippa Drew
- Added
- 25/09/2017
- Positions
- Former Director Global Issue, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is seeking to appoint a new Independent Governor.
Established in 1992 to support the newly emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), is a leading UK organisation supporting the development of political parties and democratic institutions around the world. WFD designs, develops and implements long-term political party and parliamentary strengthening programmes globally. It works with and through all the Westminster-based political parties, both on a sister party and cross-party basis and has projects and programmes in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
The WFD works to support representative, multi-party democracy in developing and transition countries. It is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The principal role of the WFD Board of Governors is to consider, decide on, and review matters of policy, direction and strategy, and to ensure that the resources available to WFD are being properly applied in accordance with its purpose, goals and objectives.
- to approve WFD’s Accounts, Strategic Framework, Corporate and Business Plans.
- to review implementation of the WFD Strategic Framework, including through its three subsidiary Committees on Programme Quality, Audit and Risk Assurance, and Terms and Conditions.
- to ensure that WFD is administered and managed effectively in keeping with its Memorandum and Articles of Association, the FCO/WFD Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, and the Cabinet Office’s Code of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies.
- to oversee the work of the Chief Executive and his/her staff.
- to promote the organisation through relevant networks and by advising on strategic direction.
Person Specification
Essential
Senior level experience and competence in financial accounting or auditing relevant to strategic oversight of a public body.
Knowledge of the principles and practice of democracy-strengthening, corporate governance and political reform, including in developing or transitioning countries.
An understanding and experience of governance in a corporate body.
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and personal integrity, party-political impartiality and a commitment to the highest standards in public life.
A commitment to promoting diversity, including in WFD’s employment and working practices.
Desirable
An understanding of relationships between NDPBs and their sponsoring department.
Previous work in a grant making or grant-receiving body.
Previous membership of an Audit Committee.
A track record of significant achievement in the professional, academic, commercial, public or voluntary sectors.
An interest in world events and political systems.
The ability to absorb and analyse complex information and to demonstrate sound judgement, identifying priority areas and potential problems.
Additional Information
All Governors serve in a personal, part-time capacity for three-year terms, renewable up to a maximum of two further terms.
Applicants must confirm and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (see Appendix), and the Cabinet Office’s Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which is available at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/public-bodies-and-appointments.