Job Description

Reporting Group:
Places for People Scotland
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Places for People Scotland are part of the Places for People Group, a registered Scottish Landlord and a Scottish charity.
Places for People Scotland has extensive housing experience dating back to 1972. We have one goal in mind - to create happy, healthy, and inclusive Communities.
Over the years, we've grown and evolved our business across Scotland to reflect the changing needs of our Customers, Communities and the environment.
To us, Community matters - that's why we support Communities across Scotland to reach their full potential. As one of the country's leading housing associations, we provide affordable and quality homes for rent and sale.
Our priorities and the things we care about make us stand out from the crowd. We believe that a quality and sustainable home is a springboard for people and places to thrive. We create joined up Communities, with people at the centre of all we do.
Purpose of Role
We are looking forward to welcoming two new Non-Executive board members to our board in 2026. The individuals will have operated in a commercial environment at a senior level and previous board experience would be preferable.. One of the individuals should have a financial qualification and be able to demonstrate that they have recent and relevant financial experience. Experience in property development, particularly residential, would be desirable.
Places for People Scotland are looking for proven leaders with relevant skills and experience who can quickly get to grips with a complex group structure and bring commitment and enthusiasm to the board.
We are seeking People who can support us to achieve our strategic goals, and who are excited by the range of opportunities and challenges ahead, including those around decarbonisation, safety, property and service quality, and delivering sustainable and positive social impact for our customers now and in the future.
Places for People is committed to achieving high standards of business integrity, corporate governance and professionalism. Our activities are overseen by a board comprising eight Non-Executive and two Executive board members. The Non-Executive board members act independently of management which ensures the highest standards of accountability and transparency are upheld.
Key Responsibilities
Non-Executive board members are expected to participate fully in ensuring that the Scotland Board exercises effective leadership and provides constructive challenge and support to executive Colleagues. In particular we value Non-Executive board members bringing to the board knowledge and experience of other relevant organisations and independence and objectivity of judgement on matters relating to:

• Strategy - constructively challenging and contributing to the development of the strategy of the Group.
• Performance - monitoring performance against objectives, and the reporting of performance.
• Risk - being satisfied that the group has an effective and dynamic approach to all aspects of risk, and ensuring that controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.
• People - contributing to shaping our culture and People policies as appropriate.

Committees
Non-Executive board members may be appointed to a committee of the PFPS board and may be asked to join any subsidiary board. The PFPS board and any committee or subsidiary related to it generally meets quarterly.
Person Specification
All successful candidates will bring:

• Governance experience - Senior Executive and/or Non-Executive board member experience and high standards of probity and an understanding of governance issues.
• Financial acumen - at least one appointee will hold a recognised financial qualification and demonstrate recent and relevant financial experience, with the ability to provide robust oversight of financial strategy, performance, and risk.
• A strategic focus - the ability to look beyond the operational and to focus on the achievement of the strategic objectives.
• Complex stakeholder networks - experience of working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and public affairs in the housing sector and/or housing policies.
• Excellent communication skills - the ability to present arguments with knowledge and understanding of the wider strategic context; ability to promote the organisation and to communicate effectively to ensure its aims and objectives are achieved.
• Ability to work with others - a personal and professional credibility that will command confidence at all levels; has the ability to assess and interpret a wide range of stakeholder interests and requirements and balance them effectively.
• Customer focus - an awareness of the needs and aspirations of our customers, and of the local Communities where they live. We would welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of affordable housing; and
• Understanding of ESG - A clear understanding of, and positive attitude towards, environmental sustainability and the broader landscape around ESG.

Role
We are keen to consider a relatively broad range of candidates who bring experience of leadership roles and who have a track record of operating in a commercial environment at a senior level.
Ideally, we seek one candidate who holds a recognised financial qualification and has recent and relevant financial experience.
Candidates will need to evidence broad strategic leadership where they have operated in like-minded organisations.
Our company is for everyone. In our services, our partnerships and our employment practices, our commitment to equality and diversity is absolute. We are determined to build a diverse board and would welcome interest in these roles from People who bring the broadest possible range of backgrounds and perspectives, and those from underrepresented groups.
Terms of Appointment
Non-Executive board members are typically expected to serve an initial term of three years and for no more than six years in total although, in exceptional circumstances they may be invited to serve for longer. The role is remunerated.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter via our online recruitment platform.
Or alternatively, for a confidential discussion you can contact Moira Sibbald, Chair, Places for People Scotland at moira.sibbald@placesforpeople.co.uk
Please note: The first round of interviews will commence WC 19th January 2026.
Safeguarding
At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.
We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.
By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities
Armed Forces - We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. Places for People will guarantee an interview for any candidate who is serving or has formerly served in the Armed Forces, as a reservist, armed forces veteran (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructor and military spouse/partner and who meets the essential criteria for the vacancy.
Disability Confident - We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme certified as Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This helps us to successfully employ and retain people with disabilities and health conditions. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview. The Equality Act 2010 (Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for NI) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has sa substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to do daily activities.
Neurodivergent - Neurodiverse individuals have highly valuable skills, and we recognise that a traditional interview process sometimes works against them and doesn't allow them to self-advocate. Neurodiverse applicants who meet the criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview.

Skills Required