Chair of the Risk Monitoring and Audit Committee

The role of the Chair of the Risk Monitoring and Audit Committee (RMAC) is to provide assurance and strategic advice to the Accountable Officer on Risk, Control and Governance within SPS and will bring an independent judgement to bear on setting strategic goals, scrutinising performance and oversight of risk.

You will ensure the activities and decisions undertaken by RMAC supports the agreed strategic plans and organisational delivery by in establishing clear practices and processes for the monitoring of risk and improvement within the SPS, and respond appropriately with any changes that are required. 

You will support, and challenge where appropriate, the Chief Executive and Directors of the SPS to ensure that the leadership team conforms to the highest standards of corporate and quality governance and makes appropriate decisions to ensure the best use of financial resources to maximise benefits.  

You will provide an open, challenging and well-informed forum to which the Chief Executive and senior leaders can bring issues, supporting them in reaching informed, well-considered, well-founded and defensible outcomes whilst providing a clear understanding of the financial, legal and accountability framework within which SPS operates along with the main risks to the business and control measures we use.

You will have the opportunity to play a part in delivering against the wider justice strategy for Scotland and beyond and will keep informed of the views of our key external stakeholders including: The Scottish Government, HMIPS, MSPs and media and take a proactive approach to understanding the Justice context within which SPS operates and the interdependencies within the Justice sector. You will also develop an understanding of the growing complexity of the prison population with a broad understanding of the competing demands on balancing acute health needs, human rights, risks and safety.

You will uphold the Values of the SPS and support us in promoting these values throughout the organisation working with our Non-Executive Directors to support and promote the role of SPS within the Scottish Justice system. This includes promoting equality, diversity and respect amongst our staff, stakeholders and those in our care.

Strategic Experience: Experience ideally at a senior level across a wide range of business delivery with a core skill in any of the following areas:- Finance/Corporate Governance, Digital Transformation, Organisational Development, Equality and Diversity - Essential 

CHANGE MANAGEMENT: Experience of leading and supporting complex change programmes, balancing competing demands and achieving positive outcomes. - Essential 

POLITICAL AGILITY: Ability to exercise political agility and understand the environment within
which the SPS operates and engages with Scottish Government, the wider justice sector, the voluntary and community sector, NHS and other public services and other stakeholders. - Essential 

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY: Understanding of diversity and equality as business critical issues in a modern society - Essential

ANALYTICAL SKILLS: Ability to interpret complex information with the ability to reach sound, independent, reliable and defensible positions in a team setting - Essential 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with evidence of an ability to be succinct in your communications and convey complex information to a variety of audiences in order to inform and influence decisions with active listening skills. - Essential

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Ability to build positive relationships founded on the SPS values with colleagues and stakeholders both within SPS and externally to work effectively on often contentious issues while demonstrating integrity and political acuity. Essential