Non-Executive Director in Luton

As a Non-Executive Director, you will work alongside the Chair, Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors as an equal member of the Board. Together, you will be responsible for strategic leadership, development and overall performance of the Trust. This is a significant opportunity to play a central role in shaping the financial and operational success of a high-performing and ambitious organisation.

You will provide visible and independent leadership as the Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee, supporting the Board in maintaining strong financial stewardship, driving operational excellence, and ensuring robust oversight of performance against the Trust's strategic objectives. The Trust values diverse leadership and believes Boards should reflect the communities they serve. Applications from all backgrounds, including ethnic minority, LGBTQ+, disabled people, and women, are encouraged. If you are a senior leader with a strong track record and a commitment to inclusive, values-led leadership, we welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

Key Functions and Responsibilities

• A Non-Executive Director will typically bring senior-level experience in areas such as finance, audit, commerce, legal, government, the third sector or health.
• Your primary responsibility is to contribute as a member of the unitary board, rather than as a specialist adviser.
• A key responsibility is ensuring financial and performance risks are identified, managed and escalated appropriately, while seeking assurance on internal controls and working collaboratively with other committees to provide comprehensive oversight.
• You will build strong relationships with Board members and executives, bringing independent judgement, external perspective and constructive challenge, while actively supporting the Trust's values, strategy and objectives.
• All Non-Executive Directors are expected to uphold THRIVE values, maintain confidentiality, participate in appraisal, comply with policies, regulations, and the Constitution.

About us

With over 9,000 passionate and dedicated staff, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a full array of acute and some community services to the local communities of Luton and Bedfordshire. Serving a diverse population of over 620,000 people, we are proud to be rated 'Good' by the CQC, having successfully merged Bedford and Luton & Dunstable hospitals to create our Trust six years ago. We have undertaken significant investment into our infrastructure and people in recent years, including the £168 million Acute Services Block build that opened in July 2026, and have created a shared set of values for our organisation, THRIVE, to unify the organisation and give a clear mission and pledge to those we serve.

We have an annual turnover of £800 million, and as an anchor organisation and a very important employer within Bedfordshire, we are committed to combatting health inequalities and deprivation and to support local education training and job opportunities. We are a key partner within the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes which forms part of Central East ICB and we work closely with a range of health and social care partners to improve and better deliver outstanding care and reduce ill health through preventive measures. The health and wellbeing of our staff remains a fundamental priority within our strategic developments, and we recognise their commitment, passion and dedication to our patients and local population.

Job responsibilities

Essential Criteria

• A UK-recognised professional accounting or finance qualification, supported by substantial and relevant senior-level experience within a large and complex organisation.
• The credibility, expertise and leadership capability to chair the Finance, Investment & Performance Committee and, potentially, the Audit and Risk Committee in the future.
• Experience at a senior leadership level, at or close to Board level.
• Experience in working within large, complex commercial, public or voluntary organisations.

Desirable Criteria

• Strong understanding of financial management, with the ability to balance the competing objectives of quality, operational performance and finance, and the ability to develop an understanding of how this works in a health and care setting.
• Excellent understanding of finance and audit committee practice, risk management framework.
• Strategic and innovative thinking, particularly in the context of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
• Sound knowledge of good governance principles, particularly within public bodies.
• Experience building effective partnerships across organisations, communities and stakeholders.

We Are Also Seeking Individuals Who Can Demonstrate

• Strategic thinking and the ability to monitor delivery and performance.
• The ability to build trust and credibility with patients, staff, partners and local communities.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Strong teamwork, constructive challenge and effective Board-level collaboration.
• The ability to learn quickly, demonstrate the behaviours expected within the NHS Board Leadership Competency Framework, and commit sufficient time to fulfil the role effectively.

The successful candidate is required to be or become a Foundation Trust Public member of the Trust and be a resident in Bedfordshire or its surrounding counties.

Person Specification

Residency

Residency within the catchment areas specified in the Trust Constitution, namely Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, or Northamptonshire.

Qualification

A relevant UK-recognised professional accounting or finance qualification.

Experience

• Substantial and relevant experience within a large and complex organisation, with the credibility, expertise and capability to chair the Finance, Investment & Performance Committee.
• Experience at a senior leadership level, at or close to Board level.
• Experience in working within large, complex commercial, public or voluntary organisations.
• Experience of building strategic external partnerships and collaborating with different communities and partner organisations, with an understanding of the Trust's role as an anchor institution within our local communities.

Knowledge

• The ability to bring creative and strategic thinking, especially considering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
• Ability to formulate and develop strategy, and effectively monitor its implementation.
• Robust understanding of the principles and practice of good governance, notably in public bodies.
• Strong understanding of financial management, with the ability to balance the competing objectives of quality, operational performance and finance, and the ability to develop an understanding of how this works in a health and care setting.
• Excellent working knowledge of finance and audit committee practices and risk management frameworks.

Skills

• Ability to present information clearly and coherently in a written application.
• The ability to demonstrate personal actions and behaviours, such as those set out in the NHS Board Leadership Competency Framework.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.