NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS in London

Remuneration: £10,506 per annum, plus potential uplift for specific committee ‘Chair’ responsibilities.

Time requirements: Equivalent to at least 1 day a month, with some flexibility.

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) provides an impartial and independent Ombudsman service, helping to resolve disputes between consumers and property professionals. We are the only Ombudsman scheme in the property professional sector and, as a not-for-profit organisation, we have been providing our service since 1990. As we continue on our ambitious transformation journey, we have two exciting opportunities for Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to join our Board. We are a small, influential, and friendly organisation and this is an exciting time to join us, with a real opportunity to support our organisation through the next stage of our evolution.

Our Non-Executive Directors are appointed to provide strategic, independent and constructive challenge to enable the Board to achieve its responsibilities. As one of our NEDs, you will provide strategic insight as well as expert advice and oversight based on your knowledge and experience, ideally gained in a property services environment, or regulatory related sector, or from a strong commercial background, where you have demonstrated an ethos of customer service and expertise in enabling organisational growth.

• Industry NED role: For this role we are looking for someone with specific strategic insight gained in the property/housing sector, with either current or past experience that will enable TPO to understand and make the best strategic use of sector knowledge and trends.
• Independent NED role: In this role we are searching for a person who can bring a wider strategic perspective to TPO. Someone with some knowledge of the property/housing market and ADR, aligned to strong values and a solid commercial background with experience of helping organisations develop key strategic partnerships to aid growth.

Experience of working in environments where you can demonstrate a strong track record of placing consumer and member service at the heart of everything you do is vital.

As a member of our Board you will be expected to:

• Ensure the independence of the Ombudsman.
• Contribute to the development of our organisational strategic direction and objectives, considering external environmental factors that could impact on the achievement of those objectives.
• Provide constructive challenge to the Ombudsman and the Executive team as they seek to deliver TPO’s strategic objectives.
• Contribute to the governance of TPO by ensuring that the organisation is sufficiently funded and well run to deliver the Ombudsman service, through independent oversight of operational effectiveness, risk management and financial efficiency.
• Ensuring that high standards of corporate governance are observed at all times.
• Act as an ambassador of TPO at all times to raise awareness of the Scheme amongst stakeholders, industry and consumers.
• Developing and maintaining high-level relations with TPO’s key stakeholders, including those influencing the shape of the property redress landscape to drive forward the organisation’s strategic objectives.

• To attend quarterly Board meetings and meetings of the committees and forums as appropriate.
• To always represent TPO’s interests in the wider external landscape.
• To sit on at least one of our committees or forums; Finance and Performance, Remuneration or Compliance Committees or our Industry and/or Consumer Forum.
• To make decisions in the best interests of the Scheme in conjunction with the Ombudsman, based on recommendations from the Executive Team, the committees and forums.
• To consider and approve the TPO annual financial budget.
• To ensure appropriate governance and internal controls are in place to minimise risks to the operation of the Scheme and support achievement of its strategic objectives.

As a successful NED you are likely to have some of the following:

• Experience of operating in or exposure to a political environment with experience in an industry which can draw strong parallels with TPO, e.g., Property, Legal, ADR, Redress or Consumer related organisations.
• Experience of operating at Board level, or at a relevant strategic level, or equivalent in the public or private sector (or both), with experience of financial oversight, corporate governance and management of risk.
• Experience of providing strategic and commercial insight in whatever roles you have undertaken.
• Experience as a leader with proven success leading within organisations that have driven high performing, customer-service based cultures.
• The ability to build strong relationships at all levels and be able to comfortably engage with ministers, officials and industry sector stakeholders as a TPO ambassador.
• The ability to think logically and objectively to identify key issues/implications, make balanced judgments and effective decisions.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to offer challenge in a constructive, straightforward and open manner on a range of issues necessary to achieve our aims and be able to connect with people effectively at all levels.
• Solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty and an understanding of the value and importance of the role TPO plays in the sector.
• Experience of working in organisations that have demonstrated commitment to building inclusive and diverse workforces and a strong appetite to support TPO in the delivery of our objectives in this area.
• The ability to drive innovation and transformation and experience of guiding or leading organisations through change programmes.
• Experience of multi-site dispersed or remote working organisations would be welcomed.

To ensure the independence of the Board, the post is not open to anyone currently employed by or a partner or shareholder in a residential agency or any other body eligible for Membership of the TPO scheme or anyone whose livelihood is directly linked to such an entity.

We are committed to appointing on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency of process. We are also committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and those that are currently under-represented on our Board. We would also welcome applications from individuals who may have no previous NED experience but who wish to embark on a NED career and feel at this time they can bring exceptional skills and experience to our Board.

To apply, please email your CV, together with a covering letter, stating which role you wish to be considered for, to recruitment@tpos.co.uk. Should you have difficulty in responding electronically, please call Ian Bassett, Head of HR on 07970 003683 to discuss alternative application arrangements. Please also nominate two referees who may be contacted if you are shortlisted for interview. A conflict-of-interest form will be sent out to all candidates on receipt of their application.

Closing date for applications: 23rd May 2025.

Panel Interviews: To take place from Mid-June 25 onwards.