You will have relevant senior-level experience and expertise and will provide informed guidance on how to implement Digital Catapult's strategy and generate tangible outcomes.

Our Non-Executive Directors are advocates and champions of Digital Catapult on the national and international stage and have an extensive network of contacts through which to help to continue to elevate the profile of the important work Digital Catapult is doing in deep tech innovation. It is important that Non-Executive Directors are free from material relationships with the company and its external auditors.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, fostering a culture of robust challenge, transparency, and accountability within the committee.
• Lead the committee in reviewing and challenging the annual financial statements to ensure they are fair, balanced, and understandable
• Oversee the relationship with the external auditor, including their appointment, performance, and independence. This includes reviewing the scope of the audit, the audit findings, and any management actions taken in response.
• Advise the Board on the identification and assessment of the principal risks to the organisation, including strategic, financial, operational, and reputational risks. The Chair ensures these are regularly reviewed and that appropriate mitigation strategies are in place
• Provide input into the organisation's strategic vision, bringing key knowledge and expertise, leadership and guidance to Digital Catapult's Board and Senior Leadership Team
• Have an active interest in the success of Digital Catapult as well as the Catapult Network and UKRI and an appreciation of the wider market opportunities and the growth of the UK economy
• Advise, challenge and support the team to develop innovative ideas for delivering highly complex research-led programmes, with the ability to think outside traditional boundaries and ways of doing things
• Focus on ways to ensure commercial relevance and ensuring organisational governance
• Attend Board meetings, review board papers and provide guidance and input as required

Requirements

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

Technical Capabilities And Experience

• Board-level experience of the leadership of an organisation working in a complex operating environment
• A qualified accountant with experience operating at CFO level and with experience of either chairing or serving on audit and risk committees.
• A strong understanding of risk management frameworks.
• Experience of successful commercial delivery at the highest level.
• Track record of managing complex financial budgets and P&L responsibility, including within a public sector funding setting.
• Experience of leadership in an organisation operating in a complex stakeholder environment.
• Proven experience and understanding of turning vision into tangible outcomes, including commercialisation
• Ability to scrutinise, whilst at the same time being able to demonstrate an ability to support a company to innovate, change, improve and scale.
• An understanding and experience of working in relevant sectors, start-up/ scaleup, policy and academic research.
• A respected individual with a track record of delivery.
• Possess the depth required to win credibility and engage with industry leaders and stakeholders and represent Digital Catapult at the highest level

Behavioural Competencies

• Highly collaborative, a team-player and adept at putting forward compelling arguments as well as being open to taking on board diverse views and perspectives.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to act as an advocate and champion
• A credible and persuasive ambassador for Digital Catapult
• Articulate, dynamic, energetic and delivery focused.
• Self-motivated, committed, optimistic, enthusiastic, results oriented.
• Leads by example, inclusive, open, curious, innovative, and prepared to share expertise, know-how and skills.
• A highly presentable and persuasive communicator at this level

Deadline for application

Tuesday, September 1 2026, 3 pm BST (we do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so you are encouraged to submit your application at the earliest opportunity)

Benefits

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a remunerated NED position of £17,500 gross p.a. Our standard NED fees are £12,500 p.a. and the Chair of ARC attracts a further supplement of £5,000 p.a. Fees are paid on a quarterly basis.

The board meets quarterly for half a day and an evening and Board members contribute another six days in the year.

Digital Catapult is proud to be a member of Inclusive Employers and puts diversity and inclusion at the forefront of our business practices. As such, we welcome applications from all sections of our society and those who will continue to lead by example and who will demonstrate inclusivity and be open, curious and innovative. You will be committed and energetic and willing to share your expertise, know-how and skills to support us in continuing to deliver on our mission. Visit www.digicatapult.org.uk for more information and contact boardpositions@digicatapult.org.uk with any questions you may have.