Chair of the Advisory Board
The role of the Advisory Board is to undertake a supportive, advisory, questioning and enabling function. It supports the Chief Executive in the discharge of his or her role by providing a safe, challenging forum to bring issues to a well-informed group of Executive and Non-Executive Directors to help him or her reach defensible and well-informed decisions.
The Chair of the Advisory Board has additional responsibilities over and above those of Advisory Board members, particularly in relation to leadership and the conduct of business. The Chair will lead the Advisory Board, ensuring that it has the ability to carry out functions effectively and in accordance with the Principles of Public Life. The Chair will support the Chief Executive in ensuring that all Advisory Board members receive necessary induction, on-going training and development and that Non-Executive Board members receive annual appraisal and feedback on their contribution.
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 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 scrutinise the performance of management in meeting goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance whilst satisfying yourself of the reliability and integrity of risk management and internal control arrangements.
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.
SPS recruitment and selection practice is based on the fundamentals of our Behavioural Competency Framework. This identifies behaviours and standards required both of applicants seeking to join us, and our staff in their respective roles. Assessment of specific behaviours, of which there are twelve, will be determined by the role you are applying for. Whilst it is unlikely you will be assessed on all of them , you will be assessed on these identified as key to role.
Degree level qualification or above in any of the following areas:- Finance, Information Technology, Organisational Development, Equality and Diversity - Desirable
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
This opportunity is closed to applications.
