Chair of the Board Vacancy Cogent Skills is a charitable organisation with a family of commercially focused companies, committed to our mission of ensuring science and technology employers have the skills needed for success. Owned by key trade associations from the science industry we facilitate strong, employer-led communities for industries including life sciences, chemicals, petrochemicals, nuclear and low carbon. Through our charity, we influence for the good of our sector, harnessing the power of collaboration and provide industry-specific services to create a safe, productive and future-ready workforce. We have been recognised by The Sunday Times, featuring in the Best Places to Work 2024. Our current Chair is stepping down later this year and we are looking to find a new Chair to lead the Cogent Skills’ Board. The new Chair must share our passion for growing the skills base in our sector and recognise its potential for enriching people’s lives. The Board enables the delivery of Cogent Skills charitable objectives and is directly accountable for the commercial business, the charity and parent, as well as providing oversight for its subsidiaries. We’d love to hear from you if you: - Share our excitement about delivering the skills needed for our future - Have experience of chairing a board or a board sub-committee - Are committed to ensuring the science industry can access the workforce talent needed to compete, innovate and grow Person specification Leadership · To line manage, support and mentor the CEO of Cogent Skills, ensuring they are effective in their role. · To provide strategic guidance, support and constructive challenge to the CEO. · To manage performance and employment related issues that arise with the CEO. External engagement · To act as a leading representative of the Cogent Skills Group, setting an example for board members · Where appropriate and relevant attending conferences, speaking at events and undertaking press activity · To promote Cogent Skills’ external reputation and be an ambassador to key stakeholders Experience · Board/Director level experience in a UK-based organisation in the science sector · Ideally extensive industry experience across a range of industries (underpinning our low carbon agenda) · Ideally previous experience as a non-executive and/or Chair · Experience of influencing and working with other organisations and with government Skills and behaviours · Collaborative mindset · Ethical, positive and proactive · Board leadership qualities with gravitas and ability to set strategy · A keen interest in the skills agenda Knowledge · Knowledge of good corporate governance arrangements The Chair of the Board is appointed for a three-year term on a voluntary basis. Where a successful candidate is not currently employed they can be remunerated at £15,000 p.a. (based on the requirement of four board meetings per annum and additional time to fulfil the requirements of the role). Cogent is an inclusive employer and we value the diversity our workforce brings. We welcome applications from all candidates and will consider all applications equally and fairly. Cogent is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. To find out more about this role download our recruitment pack. Please send a letter of application and your CV by 31 st July 2024 outlining your suitability for this post and how you would ensure success. If you have additional needs that you would like us to consider during the application and interview process, please contact Denise Bentley on 01925 515222 to discuss ways that we can support your application. Websites: www.cogentskills.com