Job Description - Non Executive Chair

The non-executive Chair of the MMO will lead the Board, set the overall strategic operational direction of the MMO, ensure good governance and with the Board, hold the Executive to account.

The Chair will be responsible for:

providing effective leadership and strategic direction to develop a cohesive and focused Board which recognises the need to work collaboratively with Government, other delivery bodies and stakeholders to deliver Government objectives effectively and efficiently.
leading the formulation of the Board's strategy, ensuring the Board and the MMO discharges its statutory duties.
leading the Board in overseeing the timely production of realistic and costed business and forward corporate plans, monitoring in-year performance and examining change proposals with rigour to maintain focus on delivery.
leading the Board in scrutinising and holding the Executive to account.
ensuring that the Board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of evidence and any guidance provided by Ministers or the sponsor departments.
encouraging high standards of governance, propriety and promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and resources throughout the MMO.
taking a key role in representing the Board and the MMO in communications with key senior stakeholders and partners.

Key relationships

Ministers - to ensure the organisation can react to developments and deliver Ministerial priorities. The Chair is accountable to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Board - providing leadership and facilitating team work, with full corporate ownership of all decisions.
The Chief Executive and senior management team - holding them fully to account (the Chief Executive reports to the Chair and the Board and one of the first key tasks of the new Chair will be to recruit and appoint a new Chief Executive).
External stakeholders including other sponsoring Government Departments (particularly through the Cross-Government Sponsorship Group) and Non-Governmental Organisations as well as interested parties and those for whom the MMO delivers a service.
Other delivery body Chairs.