Chair

It is essential that we appoint an exceptional individual to lead our Board, as the challenges facing Oxfordshire as a dynamic and growing innovation‐led economy are critical to the success of both the local and national economy. We are particularly interested in applications from individuals whose experience, skills, gender and ethnicity are under-represented on our Board currently.  Our aim is to represent the rich diversity of our Oxfordshire business community and wider society. 

The successful candidate will: 

• Be an influential and persuasive business leader with a high profile in Oxfordshire and ideally nationally
• Have a proven link to and passion for the economic wellbeing of Oxfordshire
• Advocate for growing and scaling up businesses sustainably within Oxfordshire
• Demonstrate strong empathy and be able to work with and influence a wide range of stakeholders and communities, often in sensitive economic and/or political contexts
• Be well-positioned to strengthen and raise the profile of the business community in Oxfordshire on a national platform
• Demonstrate appropriate gravitas in commercial and political environments
• Demonstrate strong business leadership and represent Oxfordshire, nationally and Internationally
• Understand local business needs, have personal credibility, and be able to harness the power of our business community to ensure we maximise Oxfordshire’s potential. 

Time Commitment:

Our Board meets monthly. This involves a minimum commitment of 20 - 30 days per annum with an expectation that as the Board becomes more established the commitment will be decrease. Additional input outside of meetings is necessary, supporting external events, meetings, committee and sub‐group working.

Our Chair will:

• Represent the business interests of the county by leading the Board to set the strategic direction and purpose of the organisation, helping to create an environment in which the Oxfordshire economy will develop to benefit all
• Actively engage in the work of the Board, ensuring that the interests of business are advocated and that the Board and executive teams are united and motivated towards a set of common goals and purpose
• Actively seek to promote the interests and ambitions of Enterprise Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council in high‐level negotiations with key influencers in government, business and community, with the broad aim of driving a positive future for the county and Enterprise Oxfordshire’s role in supporting it.
• Maintain a clear and informed view of the strengths and challenges facing the local and national economy
• Champion our work, our objectives, outcomes and results to relevant partners, organisations, networks and the media; be an ambassador for Oxfordshire inter/nationally 
• Support the executive and wider team to fulfil their responsibilities

Experience and attributes:

Our Chair must be able to demonstrate the following:

• A strong commitment to, and understanding of, the Oxfordshire area, particularly recognising the challenges and opportunities for our local private sector businesses
• A clear strategic vision, with a demonstrable understanding of the drivers of economic prosperity, the challenges and opportunities facing the county and the ability to work with business, local authorities, MPs, national government and other stakeholders to support Oxfordshire’s economy.
• Significant and current experience of leading an SME and/or large business based in Oxfordshire
• A demonstrable track record of engaging and supporting communities
• Empathy, in order to be able to work with and influence a wide range of people, often in sensitive situations
• Be well‐connected, with demonstrable links to other businesses and organisations locally and nationally.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; be articulate and able to influence, broker, build strong networks, deal with media interests, and represent Enterprise Oxfordshire in a local and national context.
• An ability to rapidly process complex topics, develop and propose practical solutions and actions
• Ability to convey our strategy and objectives to widely differing audiences and to identify common goals.

Eligibility criteria:

Eligible applications will satisfy the following criteria. The applicant will:

• either live within or have a material economic base within Oxfordshire
• meet our requirements set out here in the Role Description and person specification 
• have a clear, current economic interest within Oxfordshire.

Terms of appointment:

• Commitment to serve for a minimum three‐year term with an option to extend by agreement of the Board for a further term of up to three years 
• Minimum time commitment of 20 – 30 days a year, including Committee engagement, meetings, event attendance and ambassadorial duties
• the successful candidate will become a Director of the Company and their details will be filed at Companies House. This invokes certain legal duties and responsibilities which candidates are expected to be familiar and comfortable with.
• Commit to our Code of Conduct including adherence to the 7 Nolan Principles of Public Life (see below).

Remuneration:

Our Board positions are not remunerated. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed when incurred on official Board business.  All expense claims will be recorded and published in line with national governance transparency requirements.

Equal opportunities:

Enterprise Oxfordshire encourages applications regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age and is keen to actively engage with those groups currently under-represented on our Board.

The principles apply to all those in sectors that deliver public services, as LEPs are responsible for the management and defrayal of public money we have committed to the application of these principles in all we do. They were first set out by Lord Nolan in 1995 and they are included in the Ministerial Code and are set out below.