Deputy Company Secretary

Job Introduction

Job Purpose for the role of Deputy Company Secretary

The Chief of Staff/Company Secretary function facilitates the effective operation of NNL and its Board of Directors.   It facilitates and guides the strategic development of the organisation, provides strategic counsel to the CEO and Executive, leads on relationships with the Chair, NEDs and shareholder, and provides an effective system of governance via the Company Secretarial function.

Reporting to the CoS/CoSec the Deputy Company Secretary acts as statutory Company Secretary for the NNL Group and supports the function of the NNL Board and Executive.  The Deputy Company Secretary provides governance and company secretarial expertise, advice and services to the NNL Board and its Committees and NNL Group companies and provides assistance to and cover for the NNL Chief of Staff.

Main Responsibilities

The main responsibilities for the Deputy Company Secretary will be:

Company Secretarial

• Responsible for management of meeting processes by scheduling meetings, preparation of agenda with Chair and CEO, guidance on Board paper content, timely delivery of papers, generating and communicating meeting outputs and drafting of minutes
• Ensure effective forward planning, coordinating Board, Executive and shareholder business and managing information flows
• Responsible and accountable for complete statutory filing at Companies House and ensure company books and other records (e.g. terms of reference) remain up to date.
• Responsible for facilitating the effective function of the Board committees and discharge of subcommittee business in accordance with their terms of reference and best practice

Corporate Governance

• Responsible for development and implementation of practical governance frameworks for NNL and NNL Group companies.
• Responsible for development and implementation of procedures to help director discharge their statutory duties.
• Management of annual evaluation of Board effectiveness.
• Monitor and advise on legislative, regulatory and governance developments with particular emphasis on Public Corporations.
• Monitor and advise on developments in corporate. governance and business conduct including UK Corporate Governance Code requirements.
• Responsible for agreeing changes to the company governance framework with the shareholder.
• Responsible for managing implementation of governance changes and ensuring that they are embedded through the business.

Shareholder Relations

• Responsible for managing formal interactions with the Government shareholder and for efficient & effective delivery of shareholder business to maintain confidence in NNL as a corporate entity.
• Responsible for efficient and effective delivery of shareholder business with UKGI/BEIS. 
• Responsible for leading NNL’s response to BEIS initiatives, representing NNL within the BEIS Partner Organisation structure and acting as single point of contact.

Manage Board Business

• Responsible for the provision of support to the Chair as required preparing briefing material, presentations, and reports. 
• Responsible for managing the Board Risk Register and ensuring due consideration of risk.
• Manage delivery of Board sponsored projects.
• Manage Board development processes including induction and training.

Manage Executive Business 

• Responsible for the provision of support to the CEO as required preparing briefing material, presentations, and reports. 
• Responsible for leading Executive forward programme and managing the Strategic Agenda.
• Ensure efficient and effective delivery of Exec business and facilitate improvements with CEO and Executive team.
• Responsible for managing the Executive Risk Register and ensuring due consideration of risk. 
   

The Ideal Candidate

Essential skills for Deputy Company Secretary

Education, Skills & Experience 

• (E) ICSA Company Secretary (part or full qualification and membership)
• (E) Degree of equivalent
• (E) Good knowledge of the principles of best practice in governance and how they apply to the public sector

Work Experience

• (E) Excellent knowledge of specific areas of law and good governance practice
• (E) Experience of Company Secretarial work 
• (E) Experience of working under pressure in a fast-paced environment to tight timescales
• (D) Experience in interpretation of contractual/legal matters, legislation and regulations

Personal Qualities

• (E) Shares and demonstrates the NNL values & behaviours 
• (E) Ability to work independently and to prioritise complex and competing demands
• (E) Proactive, independent, highly motivated self-starter with ability to work autonomously
• (E) Integrity/ability to build trust with senior internal/external stakeholders
• (D) Diplomat/Mediator – experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships to achieve outcomes that are in the best interests of the business
• (D) Drive, energy and resilience to deliver competing demands to tight timescales
• (D) Credibility and experience of operating with senior government and customer stakeholders

Leadership & Communications

• (E) Ability to assemble & communicate complex information, concepts & advice in an accessible way
• (E) Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, with the ability to draft company secretarial documents and accurate and concise minutes, reports and briefings
• (D) Excellent facilitation skills required to develop and maintain constructive working relationships; ability to advise and challenge senior staff effectively
• (D) Ability to manage, motivate and lead people from across the business to deliver objectives, in particular where there is no direct reporting arrangement 

Programme Management

• (E) Ability to organise (self & others), to chase progress and to deliver desired outcomes & results
• (D) Ability to deliver programmes effectively utilising resources through the business as required 
   

About The Company

Grounded in robust science and decades of experience, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is the authoritative voice in the UK and beyond for technological development within the nuclear power sector.

Our unparalleled understanding of the science, challenges and opportunities makes us an unrivalled authority and partner in the field, providing experts, technologies, and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.

Harnessing potential technologies and translating them into to industry-ready solutions means our pioneering approach spearheads international improvement and technological progress.

We work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with our integrated micro drilling technology, or as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems for spacecraft, based on radioactive materials

NNL has a vision for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (ED&I) where NNL aims to be an inclusive workplace that attracts diverse talent through transparent and equal policies and procedures. We want you and the diverse mix of people that we employ, customers that we service and stakeholders that we influence to feel valued. We encourage a workplace culture where everyone can thrive with a sense of belonging.