ABOUT THE PLSA

Our mission is to help everyone achieve a better income in retirement. We work to get more people and money into retirement savings, to get more value out of those savings and to build the confidence and understanding of savers.

We represent the defined benefit, defined contribution, master trust and local authority pension schemes that together provide a retirement income to 20 million savers in the UK and invest £1 trillion in the UK and abroad. Our members also include asset managers, consultants, law firms, fintechs and others who play an influential role in the governance, investment, administration and management of people’s financial futures.

Diversity at the PLSA

We are proud of the gender diversity of our senior management team and our boards: 50% of our senior management team, 58.8% of our Policy Board, 37.5% of our PLSA Board, and 50% of our independent/non-executive directors are women. We are working to incorporate good diversity practices into what we do every day, for example by trying to ensure diversity of speakers at our conferences. We have recently created a Diversity and Inclusion Group to coordinate our efforts and to improve diversity at the PLSA.

The PLSA Board are mindful of the value that diversity can bring to the board. The Board remain committed to attracting individuals whose gender, ethnicity, age, experience, and perspective bring a different outlook to board discussions

Non-executives on the PLSA Board play key role in developing and overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation.

WHAT OUR NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DO

1. Provide independent judgement and creative vision to help develop the strategic direction of the Association.


2. Provide objective and informed views on areas of development for the products and services we provide for our members.


3. Ensure the PLSA sets appropriate and challenging objectives and scrutinise the performance and conduct of the Chief Executive and the executive team in meeting them.


4. Monitor the financial and operational performance of the PLSA and oversee the Association’s financial and risk controls.


5. Ensure the PLSA’s governance, business structure and resources are appropriate for meeting its objectives.


6. Hold the CEO and Executive Directors to account and scrutinise their performance.


7. Support the Chief Executive and the executive team in recruiting, reviewing, developing and retaining talent and building leadership succession.


8. Support the PLSA in recruiting, retaining and engaging members.


9. Comply with their duties as a directors.


10. Serve on Board committees as required.

HOW OUR NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DO IT

1. Through regular attendance at and an active and constructive contribution to Board meetings and other Board engagements.


2. By joining or chairing Board committees and being available to the senior executive team as required.


3. By acting in accordance with our values: optimistic, helpful, expert, and welcoming.


4. By bringing independent judgement and experience from outside the PLSA and applying it to the benefit of its members and the wider sector.


5. By acting as ambassadors for the Association, its work and its values in their interactions with members, the Government and other stakeholders.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Board regularly audits its own skills and experience as the basis for developing its effectiveness. Non-executive Board members are senior leaders in their businesses and are expected to apply theirs skills to the work of the PLSA and to develop new skills to support that work.

Skills and knowledge

The PLSA Board aims to ensure it has skills and knowledge in the following areas: We are seeking to add expertise for this appointment in the following area:

Commercial strategy to monitor the financial and operational performance of the PLSA.

The PLSA Board aims to ensure it has the skills and knowledge in the following disciplines:

Strategy
Government affairs and communications
Commercial
Technology/digital
Corporate financial management
Investment
HR
Corporate board and governance.

It is equally important that the Board benefits from diverse perspectives in all of these areas.

Personal attributes

PLSA Board members are:

Personally credible with a professional demeanour that generates the trust and confidence of our      members.
Able to challenge senior executives effectively and constructively.
Committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and accountability.
Persuasive and influential, with strong communication and negotiation skills.
Able to take the initiative and be proactive when appropriate.
Strong relationship managers.

TIME COMMITMENT

Four Board meetings per year, usually held in London
Board awayday, usually one per year
Attendance at Board sub-committee meetings as required
Attendance at major PLSA conferences and the AGM
Board dinners with political and regulatory stakeholders, 2-4 per year
Occasional attendance at smaller PLSA events, roundtables etc
Occasional meetings with members in an ambassadorial capacity
Very occasional speaking engagements at PLSA local groups, member events, etc.
Overall time commitment is 18 to 20 days per year.

Please note that member directors are unremunerated.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV and covering letter to nedplsa@boyden.com. Ref: PLSA/MNED.

The deadline for applications is close of business on 31 August 2020. Thank you for your interest.