Appointment details

Independent Non-Executive Director (and Chair of Finance & Performance Committee)

Summary
About the appointment
Person specification
Application and selection process
Additional information for candidates
Attachments

Summary

Organisation: College of Policing Board of Directors
Sponsor department: Home Office
Location: London
Sectors: Finance and Audit
Skills: Accountancy, Change Management, Technology / Digital
Number of vacancies: 1
Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
Remuneration: £350 per day
Length of term: 3 years
Application deadline: 11pm on 17 August 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

24 July 2025
Application deadline

11pm on 17 August 2025
Sifting date

25 August 2025
Interviews expected to end on

11 September 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The College was established as a company limited by guarantee on 1 October 2012 as the professional body for policing in England and Wales, with the Home Secretary as its sole member (equivalent to shareholder). It is a Non-Departmental National Body, which is an arms-length body of the Home Office.

The College Board of Directors is led by a Chair who does not have a background in operational policing. The Board includes: the College Chief Executive, who must be a senior police officer; four independent directors from various sectors; a chief constable; a member of police staff; a member from the Superintendent ranks; a member from the Federated ranks; and two Police and Crime Commissioners. All Board members, apart from the Chief Executive, are Non-Executive Directors.

Introduction from the Minister

Foreword from Lord Herbert of South Downs(Chair of the Board)

Thank you for your interest in the appointment of an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Since its establishment in 2012, the College of Policing has played a key role in equipping the police service with the skills and knowledge necessary to cut crime, protect the public, and improve public trust and confidence.

Our Vision

Trusted and effective policing that cuts crime and keeps people safe Policing in England and Wales can only be successful with the support and cooperation of the public. Our ambition is for all communities to feel protected, respected and represented by the police service. We can’t achieve this alone.

Our Mission

Leadership. Standards. Performance.

We exist to support police officers, police staff and volunteers to deliver the best service to the public. Only through high-quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement can everyone in policing reach their full potential. Our mission guides our work with individuals, forces and partners towards our vision.

2025 will no doubt provide the College with myriad opportunities and challenges, particularly following HM Government’s announcement regarding Police Reform and the implications of the Spending Review.

We are seeking a high-calibre individual who will bring fresh perspectives to our Board, help shape our strategic direction, support the executive team, and hold the organisation to account. Your experience will be invaluable as we navigate the complexities of modern policing.

If you are motivated to play a key role in helping the College achieve its mission and contribute to a policing service equipped for both today's demands and tomorrow's challenges, I look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck with your application.

The Rt Hon The Lord Herbert of South Downs CBE PC Chair

Appointment description

Job Title: Independent Non-Executive Director (and Chair of Finance and Performance Commtitee)

Appointment: An initial minimum term of three years

Location: Homebased/Central London

Reporting to: Chair of the Board

Organisation description

The purpose of the College Board is to hold the Executive to account and to ensure the long-term success of the College of Policing. It sets the strategic direction and the values of the College and ensures that the College meets its obligations to the public, police services in England and Wales, policing partner organisations, the Home Secretary, and Parliament.

The Board ensures that the governance and structure of the College has the right level of accountability and transparency to win the confidence of the public, police services, policing partners and Parliament. Board members will shape the values and culture of the College and guide it through the next phase of its development as the professional body for policing.

As a holder of a public office in the College of Policing, Board members are expected to follow the College’s Code of Practice of Ethical Policing, the Ethical Policing Principles and the Guidance for Ethical and Professional Behaviour. Members are expected to observe the highest standards of propriety involving impartiality, integrity and objectivity.

As a Director of the College of Policing Limited, you will be a company director, acting in the best interests of the College, promoting its success and sharing your knowledge, skills and experience.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

▪ Qualification as a qualified member of one of the five bodies comprising the Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies in the UK and Ireland (e.g. the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

▪ Achievement in a board level role in either a public or private sector organisation delivering successful outcomes in complex environments

▪ A track record of operating successfully at a senior level in an organisation

▪ The ability to set strategic direction and oversee related progress and risks

▪ Evidence of leadership, personal responsibility and significant personal achievement

▪ Highly effective communication skills

▪ The ability to build strong interpersonal relationships with diverse stakeholders

Desirable criteria

A strategic understanding of:

▪ Digital transformation, the use of big data and the application of technology to achieve business strategy

▪ Education, training and continuing professional development

▪ Change management and organisational development

Application and selection process

How to apply

1. A comprehensive CV (maximum two sides A4, minimum 11 font) setting out your career history and including details of any professional qualifications.

2. A statement of suitability (maximum two sides A4, minimum 11 font) giving evidence of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the essential criteria for the role. Please provide specific examples to demonstrate how you meet each of the experience, qualities and skill areas identified in the person specification.

3. In addition, please complete the Diversity and Conflict of Interests form.

4. Disability Confident- Please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme.

5. Reasonable adjustments- requests for reasonable adjustment that you would like to the application process (if applicable)

Please include the heading Non-Executive Board Director in the subject box.

Please submit your application documents as three separate attachments.

Completed applications should be submitted to recruitment@college.police.uk

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

[Standard text on a regulated public appointment process will appear as follows; this can be deleted/overwritten for adverts for appointments that are not regulated]

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The recruitment panel will be chaired by Lord Herbert of South Downs, Chair of the Board, and comprises Peter Cheese, Non-Executive Director, Peter Spreadbury, Deputy Director, Police Workforce and Professionalism, Home Office, and Nick Campsie, Non-Executive Director, HM Prison and Probation Service.

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact recruitment@college.police.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to have or be willing to obtain security clearance to NPPV2 level. Pre-appointment checks will also be undertaken on immigration and criminal convictions. If security clearance is not currently in place, it usually takes between 4-5 weeks to obtain the security clearance. The role will be offered on a conditional basis until the successful candidate have passed all checks.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

The College of Policing is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation and transgender.

As part of the application process, we ask candidates to complete equal opportunities monitoring information. This will help us to monitor selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. The information in Annex C will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes only. The form will not be treated as part of your application.

Disability confident

The College is a certified user of the Government’s “Disability Confident” scheme and is committed to ensuring that all recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. Applicants who meet the minimum criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to apply for consideration under this scheme, please complete the form at Part C in Annex B. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability.

Whether you choose to apply under the Disability Confident scheme or not, you can still ask us to make arrangements for you when attending an interview. You can also contact us if you want to discuss the criteria for the role or have questions regarding your application.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
making adaptations to interview locations;
allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully:

any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government;
any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made;
and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported;

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies.

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers. Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

If you have any queries about this role, please contact Kate Fromant, Head of Corporate Governance at kate.fromant@college.police.uk or on 07747 763371.

If you have any queries about the recruitment process for this role, please contact re recruitment@college.police.uk

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

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