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The roles

Non-Executive Director Campaign

We are seeking to appoint two non-executive directors (NEDs) to provide succession and strength to our Board during 2026. The positions will have a common set of responsibilities whilst also bringing expertise in one of two specialist
areas 1) Academia 2) Finance and governance.

Terms of Appointment

Duration of appointment

First appointment for 3 years, renewable for a second and third term, up to a maximum of 9 years.

Estimated time commitment

Non-executive directors are required to commit to four two-day Board meetings at quarterly intervals plus strategic meetings equating to an average of 10 days per annum in total. The meeting is held at various venues across the
UK and include an evening dinner with external stakeholders.

Membership of a sub-committee, as outlined above, which involves four meetings a year of two hours each plus preparation time.

Remuneration

NED                                                     £16,000 per annum, payable quarterly

 Travel and subsistence expenses for Board work will be covered. 

Overview of Board Structure and Oversight Responsibility:

Collective Board responsibilities are generally carried out over two-day meetings which are held on a quarterly basis:

  • Day 1 – Governance session (attended by the HVM Catapult Company Directors – currently a Non-Executive Chair, seven other Non-Executive Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance & Operations Officer. A remit to oversee HVM Catapult’s company governance responsibilities.
  • Day 2 – National Strategic Priorities meeting attended by Company Directors (as above) and CEOs of the national centres. This meeting aims to focus on the topics that form part of HVM Catapult’s objective to ‘drive industrial transformation on national strategic priorities’. It provides an opportunity for the HVM Catapult Board to review, challenge, advise and guide the network leaders on collaborative strategic direction and prioritisation with a focus on transformational impact.

Quarterly Board meetings are held at different locations across the UK to enable cross-network knowledge-sharing and collaboration, a mixture of HVM Catapult centre facilities and key partner sites.

The Board is supported by three committees:

  • Remuneration Committee – meets at least twice-yearly to review remuneration policy and process for Directors and senior employees.
  • Audit & Risk Committee – meets on a quarterly basis to oversee financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, external audit and compliance.
  • Nominations Committee – meets at least twice-yearly oversees Board effectiveness, appointments and succession planning

We are seeking to appoint a NED with deep connections across the academic and research landscape. This individual will
bring strategic insight and a strong network within higher education and research institutions to support our ambitions in innovation, talent development, and thought leadership.

 Key Responsibilities:

  •      Provide strategic oversight and challenge to the Board, particularly in areas relating to research, innovation and academic collaboration.
  •      Leverage academic networks to identify partnership opportunities, joint ventures, or research collaborations.
  •          Support the development of talent pipelines through links with universities and research institutions.
  •      Advise on trends in education, research funding, and policy that may impact the organisation.
  •      Contribute to board discussions with a focus on long-term value creation, ethical governance and stakeholder engagement.
  •      Contribute as active and supportive members of the Board, direct the strategic development through decisive leadership, clear plans and targets;
  •      Bring an external, independent perspective, and advise the Board and executive accordingly;
  •      Scrutinise and monitor the performance of HVM Catapult, ensuring that it delivers in line with its strategy and targets;
  •      Challenge and support the CEO, CFOO and executive leadership team in their decision making;
  •      Advise on risk management, internal control frameworks and systems which support the integrity and quality of management information;
  •      Assist in developing key relationships and communicating with industry, government, academia, sector bodies and other key stakeholders;
  •      Work with the fellow NEDs to provide governance and strategic oversight;
  •      Work with the Chair and fellow NEDs to ensure that HVM Catapult is meeting core objectives and that these objectives are in line with its purpose and strategy priorities;
  •      Develop effective relationships with government, relevant public and private sector organisations, academic bodies, the media, and other key external stakeholders in the UK and internationally to maximise engagement;
  •      Act as an enabler and promotor of innovation and technology;
  •      Maintain an awareness of local and national policy and how it impacts HVM Catapult;
  •      Act as an ambassador for HVM Catapult, championing its interests locally, nationally and internationally, representing the organisation effectively to external stakeholders; and
  •      Maintain absolute integrity, independence and professionalism in view of the exposure to delicate and confidential issues at Board level.

Person Specification

 Essential Experience and Attributes:

  •      Senior leadership experience in academia, research, or a related policy environment.
  •      A strong network across UK and/or international academic institutions.
  •      Experience of working with or on boards, councils, or advisory groups in the public, private, or third sector.
  •      Strategic thinker with the ability to challenge constructively and influence at board level.
  •      Experience in commercialising research or leading university-industry partnerships.
  •      Familiarity with funding bodies such as UKRI, Innovate UK, or equivalent.
  •      Insight into diversity and inclusion in academic and research settings.
  •      Track record of building productive working relationships with a variety of industry partners, government, universities, public agencies and regulatory bodies.

Skills and Qualities:

  •      A passion for all things manufacturing, engineering, technology and innovation.
  •      A current and active personal network which they can actively engage with to drive the manufacturing innovation agenda.
  •      Proven understanding and experience of strategic planning within an innovative organisation.
  •      Ability to understand fully the strategic role of the Board and its accountabilities.
  •      The ability to navigate relationships and quickly grasp the environment and dynamics;
  •      Strong communication and influencing skills, the ability to listen effectively and challenge constructively, supporting collective decisions and balancing challenge with assurance and support;
  •      High credibility with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of individuals, building productive, collaborative relationships; 
  •      An enquiring mind, able to grasp relevant issues and develop creative solutions;
  •      A demonstrable commitment to developing robust and efficient governance mechanisms.
  •      Evidence of significant personal achievements in driving and delivering change and improvements in a fast-moving, innovative environment, ideally involving technology application;
  •      The intellectual rigour to understand complex issues and risk quickly; and
  •      Undisputed personal integrity and a personal style that demonstrates authority, commitment, passion and consistency.
  •      Experience in an area to complement that of existing Board members.
  •      A strong focus on the future skills agenda and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

 Membership of Board Sub-Committees

We will ask the new Board members to sit on one of the Board sub-committees. Currently these are:

  • Audit and Risk Committee: Ensure that the HVM Catapult accounts properly to its Members by presenting a true and fair reflection of our actions and financial performance. Meets four times a year.
  •      Nominations Committee: Lead the process for identifying and making recommendations to the Board on candidates for appointment as non-executive directors and other key roles. Meets at least twice per year.
  •      Remuneration Committee: Responsible for all elements of the remuneration of the team, including pension rights and compensation payments. Meets twice a year.

We are seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Director (NED) with a strong background in finance and/or audit to join our Board. This individual will bring deep expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and governance to support the organisation’s long-term sustainability and growth.

 Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge on financial matters, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
  • Support the Board in ensuring robust financial controls, audit processes, and risk management frameworks are in place.
  • Contribute to the development and monitoring of the organisation’s financial strategy and investment decisions.
  • Serve as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, where appropriate.
  • Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory financial requirements and uphold high standards of financial governance.
  • Contribute as active and supportive members of the Board, direct the strategic development through decisive leadership, clear plans and targets;
  • Bring an external, independent perspective, and advise the Board and executive accordingly;
  • Scrutinise and monitor the performance of HVM Catapult, ensuring that it delivers in line with its strategy and targets;
  • Challenge and support the CEO, CFOO and executive leadership team in their decision making;
  • Advise on risk management, internal control frameworks and systems which support the integrity and quality of management information;
  • Assist in developing key relationships and communicating with industry, government, academia, sector bodies and other key stakeholders;
  • Work with the fellow NEDs to provide governance and strategic oversight;
  • Work with the Chair and fellow NEDs to ensure that HVM Catapult is meeting core objectives and that these objectives are in line with its purpose and strategy priorities;
  • Develop effective relationships with government, other similar organisations, relevant public and private sector organisations, academic bodies, the media, and other key external stakeholders in the UK and internationally to maximise engagement;
  • Act as an enabler and promotor of innovation and technology;
  • Maintain an awareness of local and national policy and how it impacts HVM Catapult;
  • Act as an ambassador for HVM Catapult, championing its interests locally, nationally and internationally, representing the organisation effectively to external stakeholders;
  • Maintain absolute integrity, independence and professionalism in view of the exposure to delicate and confidential issues at Board level.

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Attributes:

  • Senior-level experience in finance, such as CFO, Finance Director, or equivalent.
  • Strong understanding of financial reporting, audit, and risk management.
  • Experience of board-level governance, ideally as a NED, trustee, or committee member.
  • Commercial acumen and the ability to interpret complex financial information to inform strategic decisions.
  • Integrity, independence of thought, and the ability to challenge constructively.
  • Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
  • Familiarity with reporting, impact measurement and financial sustainability in mission-driven organisations.
  • Track record of building productive working relationships with a variety of industry partners, government, universities, public agencies and regulatory bodies.

 Skills and Qualities:

  • A passion for all things manufacturing, engineering, technology and innovation.
  • A current and active personal network which they can actively engage with to drive the manufacturing innovation agenda.
  • Proven understanding and experience of strategic planning within an innovative organisation.
  • Ability to understand fully the strategic role of the Board and its accountabilities.
  • The ability to navigate relationships and quickly grasp the environment and dynamics;
  • Strong communication and influencing skills, the ability to listen effectively and challenge constructively, supporting collective decisions and balancing challenge with assurance and support;
  • High credibility with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of individuals, building productive, collaborative relationships;
  • An enquiring mind, able to grasp relevant issues and develop creative solutions;
  • A demonstrable commitment to developing robust and efficient governance mechanisms.
  • Evidence of significant personal achievements in driving and delivering change and improvements in a fast-moving, innovative environment, ideally involving technology application;
  • The intellectual rigour to understand complex issues and risk quickly; and
  • Undisputed personal integrity and a personal style that demonstrates authority, commitment, passion and consistency.
  • Experience in an area to complement that of existing Board members.
  • A strong focus on the future skills agenda and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Membership of Board Sub-Committees

We will ask the new Board members to sit on one of the Board sub-committees. Currently these are:

  • Audit and Risk Committee: Ensure that the HVM Catapult accounts properly to its Members by presenting a true and fair reflection of our actions and financial performance. Meets four times a year.
  • Nominations Committee: Lead the process for identifying and making recommendations to the Board on candidates for appointment as non-executive directors and other key roles. Meets at least twice per year.
  • Remuneration Committee: Responsible for all elements of the remuneration of the team, including pension rights and compensation payments. Meets twice a year.

Board structure

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