Non Executive Director Technology and Digital Lead
GCHQ is the United Kingdom's intelligence, security and cyber agency, working to identify, analyse and disrupt threats to the UK.
About Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
A UK public body whose statutory function includes foreign-focused signals intelligence. GCHQ uses technical capabilities, analysis and online effects across counter-terrorism, cyber security, serious and organised crime, strategic advantage and support to defence. It has publicly described responsible AI use in its national-security mission.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will contribute to Board decision-making, strategy, direction, performance assessment, governance, and risk oversight. You will provide independent challenge and advice on digital modernisation, technology transformation, AI adoption, and organisational change. You will advise and coach directors, participate in Board committees, attend in-person Board meetings and the annual offsite, and maintain your knowledge of business, risk, regulation, and ethics.
Requirements
- Have recent and extensive board- and executive-level experience in an organisation of scale and complexity
- Have leadership experience in a leading-edge technological environment
- Have significant transformation, digital improvement, innovation, and research and development experience
- Have experience leading large operational businesses through large-scale change
- Have experience mentoring and coaching directors
- Have experience delivering equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives and culture change
- Be a British citizen
- Normally have been resident in the UK for seven of the last ten years
- Be able to obtain Developed Vetting clearance
- Have no conflicts of interest, including portfolio or national-security conflicts
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic advice on future direction and digital modernisation
- Provide independent challenge on large digital transformations and AI adoption
- Advise on major strategic technology challenges
- Contribute to Board decision-making, strategy, and performance assessment
- Provide independent counsel and challenge to the Director and executive leadership
- Oversee executive and business performance
- Ensure operation within the Board's risk appetite and risk management framework
- Participate in and support Board committees and sub-committees
- Support, mentor, and coach directors
- Attend in-person Board meetings and the annual offsite
- Complete mandatory training
- Maintain knowledge of business risks, regulation, and ethics
Benefits
- Reasonable travel and subsistence allowance
Hiring Process
Short eligibility application and Situational Judgement Test → full application with suitability statement, CV, and technical career summary → application sift → telephone interview → virtual Technical Panel Discussion → in-person panel interview → face-to-face discussion with the Director.