Darlington Building Society is committed to putting its members first and is proud to say that it has been serving the local community since 1856. The Society was formed as the Darlington Working Men’s Equitable Permanent Building Society to benefit local people from the very beginning. Today, the Society has nine branches spread across the North East, County Durham and North Yorkshire, supported by Darlingtonline the Society’s dedicated online banking service.

The Society offers a range of savings accounts and mortgages designed to help members save for the future and realise the dream of owning their own home. Being a mutual means that its profits are turned into lower mortgage rates, higher savings rates, and support for the local community.

Darlington Building Society’s vision is to be a thriving, independent, regional building society which creates a feeling of pride amongst its staff, members and community. It aims to improve the lives of its members and communities through supporting home ownership and encouraging saving. Its mission is to develop its staff, technology, customers and brand, and place itself at the heart of the communities it serves. The Society will share its funds, people, resources, physical spaces and skills for mutual benefit. With its local market knowledge and presence it aims to create a distinctive offering which its national competitors will struggle to replicate.

The role of an Non-Executive Director is to provide independent advice and challenge to ensure that the Executive delivers the agreed strategy fulfilling the responsibilities imposed by relevant legislation, regulation and the UK Corporate Governance Code always acting in the best interests of members.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategy - Constructively challenging and helping develop proposals on strategy which results in the production of a robust Business Plan supported by annual financial plans
• Performance - Scrutinising the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives, and monitoring the reporting of performance
• Risk - Satisfying themselves on the integrity of financial information and that financial controls and systems of risk management generally are robust and defensible
• People - Determining appropriate levels of remuneration for Executive Directors and having a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, Executive Directors and in succession planning

More generally, Non-Executive Directors will be expected to undertake effective communications with relevant stakeholders and to agree a programme of training and development reflecting the responsibilities of the role, maintaining a rounded knowledge of the business and its market environment. They will also contribute to evaluation of the Board and its Committees to ensure that these are fit for purpose, effective and meet governance requirements.

Darlington Building Society (DBS) is looking to appoint a new Non-Executive Director with specific expertise in marketing and communications. This experience could have been gained in a senior in-house marketing role or as an advisor/consultant. An understanding of financial services products, specifically mortgages and savings products, is required but this person does not need to bring experience of working within a financial services business. Some experience in a regulated business would be helpful.

Candidates must also demonstrate a strong connection and affinity with the communities within DBS's target regions in the North East of England. Being currently based within the North East is not required but candidates should be able to demonstrate their network in and connection to the region and the communities and businesses which reside within it. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of the nature of working with local businesses and community leaders.

Candidates will have either attended or presented to boards - they will either bring prior NED experience, have served on an ExCo or advised/presented to boards as an executive. DBS is open to those candidates looking for their first Non-Executive Director position.

Candidates will have an affinity to the mutual sector and the ability to be an exceptional advocate and ambassador for the Society.

Please note: The Board is committed to continuing to build on improving its gender representation; as such, its commitment to diversity will be an important factor in its process. Please see the Diversity section for further guidance.

Darlington Building Society is committed to ensuring that its composition reflects gender and ethnic diversity and to making meaningful progress in improving female and ethnic minority representation on its Board. It welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This role is remunerated, and reasonable domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board. Directors are expected to attend and participate fully in Board meetings, the AGM and other relevant Board Committees by devoting appropriate time and preparation to effectively dispense duties and responsibilities. The expected time commitment is likely to be at least two to three days per month. In the first year, this is expected to be c. three days per month, reducing to c. two days per month once the induction plan has been completed.