Associate Non Executive Director

Closing date: 16 April 2026

Associate Non Executive Director

The Associate Non-Executive Director role is to support both Board succession planning and to ensure that the right balance of skills and knowledge are available on the Board of Directors. Associate Non-Executive Directors are not Directors of the Trust or Board members and do not have the associated rights or liabilities. Instead, they have the opportunity to learn and develop to allow them to operate as a full member of the Board of Directors in the future.

The Associate Non-Executive Director will work alongside the Non-Executive Directors, the Chair of the Trust and Executive Directors to ensure they are able to develop the relevant knowledge of the organisation, utilising their existing skills, knowledge and expertise, to allow a smooth transition into a full Non-Executive Director role.

The Associate Non-Executive Director will attend any relevant Standing Committee of the Board of Directors as required for the role.

The Associate Non-Executive Director will demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct.

Main duties of the job

The main responsibilities for the Associate Non-Executive Director role are as follows:

• Prepare for, attend and contribute to Board meetings, standing committees and development sessions.
• Provide independent insight into the Trust strategic objectives and decision making, informed by lived experience of health or care services.
• Engage constructively with governors, stakeholders, staff, patient and community to amplify patient and service-user voices.
• Support high standards of governance, quality and safety within the Trust.
• Contribute to reviews of performance, risk and organisational culture from both a governance and lived experience perspective.
• Regularly attend Standing Committee meetings as agreed with the Chair.
• Attend Board of Director meeting and relevant development sessions as required.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
• Season ticket loans are interest free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

The fixed commitments to the Associate Non-Executive role, include:

• Regular meetings with the Non-Executive Director team and any individuals/groups relevant to the role.
• Attendance at Standing Committee meetings; and
• Attendance at Board of Directors meetings in an observer capacity.

In addition, all Non-Executive Directors (including the associate non-executive director) will meet periodically with the Chair in the absence of the Executive Directors including the Chief Executive to discuss issues of interest or concern.

Person Specification Experience

• oA proven track record of operating at the highest level in at least one of the following areas: oNHS Board and/or Public/Voluntary Board level experience oUnderstanding, ideally with actual experience, of working across and influencing complex political environments
• Lived experience of NHS health or care services - as a patient, carer or service user
• oAwareness and understanding of the requirements of the NHS operating environment as set down by NHS England

Experience

• Experience of developing successful alliances and working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of working with diverse local communities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Part time, Flexible working, Home or remote working