Progress Together is dedicated to driving social mobility within the UK financial services sector, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed and progress. As we continue to grow and expand our impact, we are seeking three new Board Members who are influential within the UK financial services industry and share our passion for fostering social mobility.
We are particularly looking for individuals with expertise in strategy development, marketing communications, business development or human resources, who can help guide and shape our future direction. As a Board Member, you will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our vision and mission.
Vision: To reach parity within our member firms, so that socio-economic diversity at the top mirrors the workforce at all levels.
Purpose: To level the playing field across UK financial services; where everyone working in it, from all socio-economic backgrounds, archives their full potential.
Our Strategic Goals:
- Be a collaborative peer network where members set a baseline and work towards parity (between senior levels and total workforce)
- Broaden membership to ensure evidence is representative of the UK’s financial services sector
- Be a convenor, collective voice and thought leader
This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference by joining a forward-thinking organisation committed to creating a fairer and more inclusive financial services sector.
The Role
The Progress Together Board play a fundamental role in ensuring the success of delivery and you will provide a critical independent perspective in setting the tone and direction of the organisation.
The Non-Executive Directors will support the management of Progress Together with the establishment and refinement of the strategy, capital management and effective governance. They will actively advocate socio-economic diversity at senior levels for Progress Together to fulfil its purpose across the Financial Services Sector to secure membership and wider across the industry.
Key responsibilities of the Non-Executive Directors will be to:
- Bring your own skills, experience, contacts and influence within the financial services sector to support Progress Together’s Executive team in delivering the overall strategy.
- Reviewing, approving and guiding the strategy, major plans of action, annual budgets and plans; setting performance objectives; monitoring implementation and performance; and overseeing major capital expenditures.
- To serve the best interests of Members and bring independent judgement to issues of strategy and performance.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of Progress Together’s governance arrangements and practices, while promoting the highest standards of integrity and corporate governance.
- Monitoring and managing potential conflicts of interest of management and oversee the process of external disclosure and communications.
We are committed to ensuring that the Progress Together Board benefits from a full range of diverse perspectives and is truly representative of the Financial Services sector. We especially encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, those based outside of London, and those who have achieved success through non-traditional educational routes.
We particularly welcome applications from individuals who:
- Work for organisations with UK headquarters outside of London, or
- Are senior leaders within financial services sub-sectors such as Asset Management, Wealth Management, Investment Banking, or Private Equity
- Hold executive committee roles or are two levels below or are influential figures within UK financial services.
Terms of Appointment
- The Non-Executive Director roles are voluntary and non-remunerated. Board Members will be Board members of the company limited by guarantee from their initial appointment, and the size of the Board will be increased as the Board Members are recruited or decreased as necessary based on the Board’s requirements. Successful candidates will be encouraged to take up their appointment as soon as possible.
- The initial appointment is for either two or three years. Reappointment for additional terms is possible. While the standard reappointment term is three years, the duration may be extended beyond three years based on the needs of the organisation or at the discretion of the Board.
- The appointment will involve a time commitment of up to c2 days per month. This will comprise a mixture of set commitments including attendance at full Board meetings and (where appropriate) meetings and more flexible arrangements for ad hoc events, reading and preparation. The Board will aim to meet 4 times a year (approximately every 3 Months).
- Board meetings will typically take place in London. Expenses will be paid where appropriate, keeping in mind value for members.
- In addition to serving on the main Board of Progress Together, Non-Executive Directors will be expected to take a lead role in one of the following areas: Operations, Governance, Finance and Audit, Risk, Programme strategy, or Communications strategy.
- You will be required to declare any conflict of interest that arises in the course of Board business and also declare any relevant business interests, positions of authority or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies
Person Specification
If you can bring insight, influence and enthusiasm to our discussions, make balanced and informed decisions, work collaboratively with other Board Members and show a strong commitment to Progress Together then this is a great opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.
Essential
You should be able to demonstrate and evidence the following Essential Criteria:
- Knowledge of or passion for socio-economic diversity and experience of engaging Boards/C-Suite/Organisations on the barriers when it comes to progression.
- Ability to provide oversight of and support for the design and implementation of an ambitious and innovative strategy.
- Personal commitment to Progress Together purpose – to level the playing field: to create a financial services sector in the United Kingdom in which everyone working in it, from all socio-economic backgrounds can achieve their full potential.
- Strong communication skills to influence and inspire with impact including an ability to offer challenge in a constructive, straightforward and open manner as well as acting as an external ambassador.
- Commitment to engage communities outside of London factoring nation-wide perspectives into all decision making.
Desirable
We are also interested in the following Desirable Criteria:
- An established diverse network within Financial Services that will support the Progress Together Business Plan across the UK.
- Experience of building networks and collaboration between companies and Membership organisations.
- Experience and knowledge of effective governance at a senior level in complex organisations in the private, public or voluntary sectors.
- A track record in increasing positive diversity and inclusion outcomes (and in particular socio-economic diversity through an intersectional lens).
Application Process
To apply for the roles please send the following to progresstogether@green-park.co.uk:
- CV
- Supporting statement of not more than two sides of A4 setting out how you meet the essential criteria and could add value to our board.
All applications will receive acknowledgement of receipt and asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. Any information collated will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.
Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward.
| Application Deadline | 20 November 2024 at 12PM |
| Shortlisting | 27 November 2024 |
| Panel Interview | 29 November or 2 December 2024 |
| Appointment confirmed | 6th December 2024 |
| Candidates notified of Outcome | 7th December 2024 |
| Public Announcement | TBA |
All candidates are entitled to request reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application process. If you would like to discuss reasonable adjustments prior to submitting your application, please get in contact via progresstogether@green-park.co.uk
