The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) was founded in 1952 and is the professional membership body within the UK for general practitioners, with over 50,000 members. Its purpose is to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice.

The College supports GPs throughout their careers — from medical students who are considering general practice, through to training, qualified years and retirement. The College represents and supports GPs on important issues, for example licensing, training and clinical standards.

Despite any challenges which may arise, the College's aim and mission for its Members, Fellows, and all GPs, remains to support GPs as personal doctors at the heart of our Health Service, to ensure high standards of practice, and to contribute to the academic life of medicine.

The Nominations Committee is responsible to the Trustee Board for leading the process for appointments, ensuring that plans are in place for orderly succession to both the Trustee Board, Council and their committees, and for overseeing the development of a diverse succession pipeline.

As a Lay Member of the Nominations Committee, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Be a full and active member of the Committee, providing an external and independent viewpoint
• Implement those tasks within the College’s Strategic Plan and the Committee’s Terms of Reference which have been delegated to the Committee to undertake
• Take a pro-active interest in the work of the College
• Ensure that the nomination and appointment arrangements of the College comply with best practice on corporate governance

The RCGP is looking for someone with experience of overseeing board-level appointment processes to ensure that a strong, diverse succession pipeline is in place.

Applicants will have in-depth experience of recruiting at board level, perhaps as an Human Resources Director, Head of Governance or Company Secretary. They will also be used to working with those at committee or board level. Experience of working with or appointing senior voluntary officers in membership-based organisations is welcome but not essential.

The successful candidate will be:

• Committed to the aims of the RCGP in ensuring delivery of the highest standards of patient healthcare in the UK
• A strong team-player, with proven examples of personal achievement
• A skilled communicator, with excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral
• Able to demonstrate independent judgement, and the ability to think analytically
• Visionary and innovative, with strategic planning skills and the ability to drive change
• Committed to the College’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Plan 2020-23

This role is unremunerated but all expenses incurred (travel, subsistence, hotel accommodation, taxis etc) are reimbursed, up to the College’s expenses limits and policy.

The Committee meets four times per year, year, mainly virtually with the occasional face-to-face meeting, for no more than two hours. There will be occasional business by email or teleconference between meetings and, occasionally, extraordinary meetings may also be called. Preparatory reading for meetings is required.

The appointment is for a three-year term, renewable once at the Board’s discretion.