The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is the independent body that regulates and administers public funding in support of MPs’ parliamentary duties. Created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, we make fair and impartial decisions about MPs’ pay, pensions and business costs. Our purpose is to support trust in democracy with great service, fair rules and wise spending.

This is a pivotal time to join IPSA as we continue to transform our regulatory approach. Our revised model supports MPs to better decide how they want to carry out their parliamentary work within the guardrails set by IPSA. Since 2019, the number of MPs and their staff rating our services as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ has increased by over 30 percentage points, a testament to the commitment of IPSA’s people to our purpose.

Job description

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead IPSA through the next stage of its ambitious development. As CEO, you will provide strong and inspirational leadership to our 98-member team, managing IPSA’s overall operations to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of our strategic objectives. You will be responsible for a £280m annual budget, regulating and administering the business costs and determining the pay of the 650 elected MPs in the UK.

We are looking for an experienced and accomplished senior leader with substantial leadership experience at executive director level within a high-profile, publicly focused organisation. The ideal candidate will be passionate about supporting democracy, with demonstrable ability to lead strategic and transformational change, including cultural change and the application of innovative digital solutions to improve customer experience. You will be an exceptional communicator and negotiator with a strong track record of influencing senior stakeholders, managing sensitive relationships and building trusted partnerships.

Person specification

You will find a summarised person specification below which considers the key experience, skills and personal qualities required for the role, and upon which your application for the role should be based. A full person specification is available here.

Essential

Substantial and proven leadership at executive director level within a high-profile, publicly focused organisation, with accountability to a Board.

• A collaborative and inclusive leader who inspires high-performing, engaged teams across diverse and dispersed settings, underpinned by strong organisational values.

• Demonstrable ability to lead strategic and transformational change, including cultural change, and the application of innovative digital solutions to improve customer experience.

• Exceptional communicator and negotiator with a strong track record of influencing senior stakeholders, managing sensitive relationships and building trusted partnerships.

• Clear evidence of delivering results, driving continuous improvement and achieving key performance indicators.

• Experienced in financial planning, budget management and operational delivery in complex environments.

Desirable

Demonstrable experience of regulation and/or an understanding of modern regulated environments and associated challenges.

• Experience of being an Accounting Officer.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £155,000, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority contributes £44,903 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Hybrid and flexible working, with occasional travel to London for team meetings
• Generous contributions into a ‘Civil Service’ pension.
• 25 days holiday entitlement (+ bank holidays), increasing by 1 day each year up to 30
days.
• Option to purchase additional holiday days each year.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role with coaching opportunities.
• Working in a high-performing organisation which supports democracy with a great team
ethic.
• A culture encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Time in your work to time to participate in our inclusive workplace networks.
• Mental Health First Aid network and access to our EAP
• Enhanced family leave provisions
• Workplace awards programme for living IPSA’s values and innovative ideas.
• Season ticket/rent deposit loans.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Give As You Earn scheme.
• Volunteering days and ‘you’ time.

C1EO