Executive Opportunities

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National Energy System Operator
Non-Executive Director, Strategic Challenge & Market Design

United Kingdom
2503-023L

At National Energy System Operator, our mission is to meet the challenges of the future and deliver cleaner, affordable electricity. We constantly strive to do this better by using technology and innovation to transform the way we work.

Launched on 1st October, 2024, NESO is taking a whole system approach, looking across natural gas, electricity and other forms of energy to fulfil our primary and secondary duties as described in the Energy Act. We are engaging participants in all parts of the energy ecosystem to deliver the plans, markets and operations of the energy system of today and the future. These participants as NESO's customers and they include industry, communities, consumers and other stakeholder groups.

As we continue to build the skills within NESO and enhance the organisation’s governance, we are seeking a new non-executive director (NED) to join the board. As well as playing a key role in driving the organisation’s overall mission, values, and strategic direction, this NED will specifically bring the “investor mindset” to the board, underpinned with specific expertise on the changing energy market dynamics, and will therefore bring a focus and perspective on investment across the sector. They will offer critical support and challenge on NESO’s planning and recommendations, which in turn will deliver much-needed long-term certainty and stability for investors and accelerate the growth of the UK’s clean energy industries.

The NED will play a central role in shaping the board’s recommendations and decisions that underpin the substantial investment required to transform the country’s energy system. NESO has already recommended, and the Government has accepted, proposals to achieve a Clean Power electricity system by 2030 and the need to secure over £40bn in annual investment. The NED will play a pivotal role as the board oversees how these investment recommendations are optimised, through careful design, to attract investors, whilst minimising impacts on communities and ensure that their wider benefits are seized upon.

NESO has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please view the Position Specification available below.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday 21st April 2025.

Position Specification

National Wealth Fund
Chief Executive Officer

United Kingdom
P2502-189L

The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is at the forefront of investing public money for our future.

The NWF will have £27.8 billion of financial capacity. It will have an increased risk appetite with up to £7 billion in economic capital to hold against investments. Its mandate is set out in its Strategic Steer from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, although it will operate with a high degree of operational independence in its day-to-day activities, especially with regards to investment decisions. Through its leadership role, the NWF provides markets with the long-term certainty to build and supports investor confidence. It invests in key projects to reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, improve the UK’s economic security and support regional and local authorities to invest in their areas.

To date the NWF, and its predecessor organisation, has invested £5 billion, mobilising £12.5 billion of private finance and created 18,600 jobs. The Chancellor set the ambition to go further over this parliament, entrusting NWF with additional capital to be deployed over and above the original commitment.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer wishes to appoint a CEO for the National Wealth Fund. Leadership of the NWF involves leading a growing organisation of up to 400 staff, managing the evolving portfolio of debt/equity investments and guarantees, developing a multi-billion pipeline into active projects and companies, and building strong relationships with central, regional and local government.

The CEO is responsible for the ultimate executive leadership, day-to-day management and performance of the NWF – including ensuring the NWF delivers against the strategy and targets set by government and the board. In addition, the CEO will have public facing responsibilities and will be expected to manage the bank’s relationship with HM Government, act as its ambassador, and ensure it delivers in line with its mandate.

Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) has been retained to support this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please view the Position Specification available below.

The closing date for applications is 23:55 on 22nd April 2025.

Position Specification

UK Health Security Agency
Chief Executive

United Kingdom
P2502-035L

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases and the impact of chemical, radiological and other environmental health hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods. It plays an important role in the science of health protection, the innovation and growth of the UK life sciences industry, and the UK’s contribution to global health security. In fulfilling these missions, it interacts with and serves the public, the NHS, the government and scientists across the world.

The UKHSA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and they are now seeking a Chief Executive. They will lead the agency and will be accountable for its strategy and operations, as well as the effective and efficient use of public funds. Key responsibilities include: building the vision and plan that supports the ambition for UKHSA to be a scientific and operational leader in health security; providing strong leadership to a multi-disciplinary organisation of 5,500 people, by translating Ministers’ ambitions into a clear vision to staff, setting a direction for that vision and ensuring the agency is organised, resourced and motivated to deliver its priorities; leading the emergency preparedness and response to health security threats, ranging from infectious diseases, CBRN, antimicrobial resistance to emerging zoonotic diseases and environmental hazards. In addition, they ensure that the scientific capabilities are in place to support health protection systems and support opportunities to contribute to economic growth and the development of the UK’s life sciences industry.

The Chief Executive is accountable to Parliament, as Accounting Officer, for the UKHSA’s performance, acting as ambassador and representative for UK health security and protection, working with multiple stakeholders, including national and global peers, as well as with the devolved governments, local authorities and health systems. The Chief Executive will manage a core budget of approximately £400m revenue and £80m capital, plus additional funding of circa £900m for COVID-19 vaccines.

The role of CEO of UKHSA is therefore a challenging but also a fascinating one, with no two days the same. Whilst candidates for this prominent Permanent Secretary-level role do not have to be scientists or public health professionals, they will need to have worked extensively in one of those fields, demonstrating a high level of leadership credibility. It will be essential to possess sufficient breadth and depth of experience to lead and represent the UK’s health protection interests with confidence, including the communication and influencing skills to work effectively with health and science experts, Ministers and a wide variety of external stakeholders. The ability to direct and motivate a large, widely distributed team, translate strategy into delivery and manage large and complex budgets will all be important characteristics. The resilience to work under sustained pressure and scrutiny; and lead through ambiguity will also be critical to the Chief Executive’s success. Familiarity with technology as an enabler of efficiency and innovation, and experience in a commercial environment, would be helpful.

Diversity is vital to the success of this role, and to the Civil Service as a whole. We actively welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, with different experiences and perspectives - and we are committed to ensuring that we work in an inclusive way that means everyone in the Civil Service can perform at their best.

UKHSA has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please the position specification below.

The closing date for applications is 23:55 on 2^nd April 2025.

Position Specification

Crown Commercial Service
Strategy Delivery Director

United Kingdom
P2501-131L

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has a huge role to play in enabling the government’s missions and supporting the ‘Plan for Change’ - and in doing so supporting the government to achieve the best outcomes for the UK. The role of Strategy Delivery Director is pivotal in achieving the mission we have set for ourselves over the next five years to be a truly customer-led organisation.

We are procurement experts. We help the public sector maximise every pound so precious resources can go where they’re needed most. We do this by establishing and managing outstanding customer focused commercial agreements for common goods and services. Our category expertise and procurement capability mean that our customers can buy effectively and efficiently.

Would you like to lead transformation delivery in the UK’s largest public procurement organisation? Do you want to shape and execute a strategy that drives value for our customers, delivers operational excellence and ensures better outcomes for the public sector?

We’re seeking an exceptional leader who will support the CEO to take the organisation into its next stage, by playing a pivotal role in accelerating the delivery of CCS’s mission to become a world class, customer centric, commercial and procurement organisation.

The successful candidate will lead the Strategic Delivery Directorate, which is a new directorate that will provide a unified framework for managing transformation across CCS. It will connect strategy and investment decisions, guiding them through to delivery in an enterprise wide execution plan. It will ensure the Digital Services Directorate receives the necessary business information for consistent digital improvements, while considering non-digital changes to achieve tangible results for CCS and customers. The Strategy Delivery Director will serve as a key member of the CCS executive committee, and will therefore be collectively responsible for the management of the whole organisation.

CCS has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 30^th March 2025.

Position Specification

British International Investment (BII)
Chief Investment Officer

London, UK
2501-056L

British International Investment (BII), the UK's leading development finance institution, is dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth in underserved markets. BII is seeking a visionary Chief Investment Officer (CIO) to lead its investment strategy and asset allocation, ensuring alignment with BII’s dual mandate of delivering development impact and financial returns.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CIO will oversee BII's investment strategy and asset allocation, be responsible for the governance and processes surrounding the firm’s investments and portfolio, and chair Investment Committees. The CIO will drive a high-performance investment culture, ensuring rigorous governance and the optimisation of BII’s diverse portfolio across various debt and equity instruments. The CIO will collaborate with sector leads to align sector strategies with BII’s overarching goals. As a key member of the senior leadership team (ExCo), the CIO additionally has a shared responsibility for broader leadership of the firm.

Candidates for the role will have a proven track record in private equity or credit, ideally with experience in emerging markets. They should possess exceptional strategic thinking, risk management, and people management skills. A deep commitment to BII’s mission, high ethical standards, and a willingness to engage with the regions BII invests in are essential.

BII is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or educational background.

BII has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday, 31^st March 2025.

Position Specification