Chair

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is the estate delivery expert for UK defence, supporting the armed forces by building, maintaining and improving infrastructure. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of the DIO, building on strong foundations.

We are seeking to appoint an exceptional individual to continue developing the DIO as a customer-focused, safety-conscious, expert delivery organisation. The successful candidate will lead the DIO Board in providing support and challenge to the DIO executive leadership team, working in close partnership with the DIO’s sponsor, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The MOD is one of the largest landowners in the country, with an estate equal to almost 2% of the UK land mass and spread over approximately 4,000 sites. The annual budget for the defence estate is around £3.3bn. The DIO manages the estate to ensure its safety, sustainability and rationalisation. The estate is critical to the effectiveness of the armed forces and managing UK defence. It is used for training and accommodation, and provides a base from which operations can be instigated. Additionally, the defence estate has an extensive global footprint, including the Falklands Islands, Gibraltar and Cyprus.

The DIO currently employs around 5,000 people from a diverse range of professions including surveyors, town planners and construction engineers, based across the MOD estate. The DIO is headquartered in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

In addition to a strong record of achievement as a leader in large and complex organisations, the successful candidate will need to have operated at board level, with a strong understanding of governance models, an inclusive and collaborative approach to chairing, and excellent stakeholder management skills. Experience in a relevant sector would be desirable, but is not essential, as would prior exposure to working with government.

The MOD 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 visit: www.rraresponses.com

Please note that the successful candidate must be a British national to take up this post.

The closing date for applications is 23:59, Sunday 24 November 2019.