Dairy Non-Executive Director Job Description

This Dairy Non-Executive Director job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as NED, Independent Director, Independent Non-Executive Director or Board Member. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.

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Job title	Dairy Non-Executive Director
Also known as	NED, Independent Director, Independent Non-Executive Director, Board Member
Department	Dairy leadership and board
Reports to	Chair and the Board
Direct reports	None

What does a Dairy Non-Executive Director do?

Serves as an independent member of the Board of a dairy business, bringing objective challenge, wider experience and sound judgement. Helps set strategy, oversees management performance, risk and controls, and contributes to Board committees, without taking part in day-to-day management.

Dairy Non-Executive Director duties and responsibilities

Board duties and strategy

Act in the best interests of the company or co-operative and its members as a whole
Exercise independent judgement, reasonable care, skill and diligence in all Board decisions
Help shape strategy on milk supply, markets, product mix, plant investment and sustainability
Challenge proposals constructively and test assumptions on commodity markets, costs and returns
Declare any conflicts of interest and stay independent of management and of any major interest group

Oversight of performance

Monitor management's performance against the agreed strategy, budgets and objectives
Scrutinise financial results, cash flow, funding and the integrity of financial reporting
Review major capital projects, acquisitions and disposals before approval and after completion
Hold the Chief Executive and executive team to account without managing the business day to day

Risk, control and compliance

Test that risk management and internal controls are robust and working in practice
Oversee key risks such as food safety, milk supply, commodity price volatility, cyber security and climate
Review compliance with the law, the code of conduct and the business's ethical standards
Check that serious whistleblowing concerns reach the Board and are acted on

Board committees

Serve on one or more Board committees, such as audit, remuneration, nomination or risk
Review financial reporting, audit findings and auditor effectiveness when serving on the audit committee
Help set executive pay that rewards long-term, sustainable performance when serving on the remuneration committee
Support Board succession and a broad mix of skills and experience when serving on the nomination committee
Chair a committee when asked, drawing on relevant expertise

Stakeholders and Board effectiveness

Understand the views of shareholders, farmer members, customers, employees and lenders
Visit farms, plants and markets to understand the business at first hand
Take part in induction, ongoing development and the annual Board evaluation
Act as a sounding board for the Chair and executives while keeping independence

Dairy Non-Executive Director qualifications and experience

Essential

Substantial senior leadership experience in dairy, food, agriculture, finance or another relevant sector
Independence from management and from any interest that could affect objective judgement
Sound understanding of directors' duties, fiduciary responsibilities and corporate governance
Strong financial literacy and the ability to scrutinise financial statements and investment cases
Ability to challenge constructively while supporting collective Board decisions
Capacity to commit the time needed for Board meetings, committee work and preparation

Desirable

Previous board or committee experience, ideally as a non-executive director
Recent and relevant financial experience suitable for the audit committee
Experience of co-operative governance or farmer-owned businesses
Expertise in an area such as international trade, food safety, sustainability, technology or people

Skills and attributes

Independent and objective judgement
Constructive challenge and influencing
Financial and commercial acumen
Strategic thinking
Risk awareness
Integrity and discretion
Active listening and collaboration

How success is measured

Attendance at, and preparation for, Board and committee meetings
Quality of challenge and contribution, as assessed in the Board evaluation
Effectiveness of the committees served on, including completion of their annual work plans
Board oversight of key risks, controls and progress against strategy
Completion of induction and ongoing director development

Working conditions and safety

Part-time appointment involving regular Board meetings, committee work, preparation, an annual strategy session and some site visits. More time may be needed during major transactions or difficult periods.

Lead by example on health, safety, food safety and animal welfare
Uphold the code of conduct and all legal and compliance requirements
Raise concerns and report incidents promptly

Dairy Non-Executive Director interview questions

Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Non-Executive Director role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.

How do you understand your duties as a non-executive director?
What a good answer shows: Acts in the company's best interests, uses independent judgement, care and skill, avoids conflicts, and shares collective responsibility for decisions.
How would you get to know a dairy business quickly after joining its Board?
What a good answer shows: A structured induction, farm and site visits, meetings with executives, members and auditors, and study of strategy, risks and finances.
What questions would you ask about a proposed investment in a new milk powder plant?
What a good answer shows: Milk supply security, market demand, product returns, capital cost, funding, delivery risk, commodity price sensitivity and alternatives to building.
Which risks should the Board of a dairy business oversee most closely?
What a good answer shows: Food safety, milk supply, commodity volatility, customer concentration, climate, cyber security and people, against a clear risk appetite.
You think management is presenting an over-optimistic forecast to the Board. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Asks probing questions, requests evidence and sensitivities, raises concerns with the Chair, and challenges constructively without taking over management.
An executive asks you to step in directly to fix an operational problem at a plant. How do you respond?
What a good answer shows: Offers advice as a sounding board but does not manage day to day, keeps the Chief Executive informed and protects independence.
What makes an audit committee effective?
What a good answer shows: Independent, financially literate members, good relationships with auditors, robust challenge of judgements and controls, and private sessions with auditors.
How would you protect your independence if you had links to a major customer or farmer member?
What a good answer shows: Declares the interest, steps out of related decisions, follows the conflicts policy, and considers whether independence is compromised.
How do you challenge executives without damaging trust?
What a good answer shows: Asks open questions, focuses on issues not people, gives credit, raises sensitive points privately where suitable, and supports agreed decisions.
How would you contribute to the work of the remuneration or nomination committee?
What a good answer shows: Links pay to long-term performance and values, plans succession, seeks a broad mix of skills, and considers employee and member views.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Dairy Non-Executive Director do?

What qualifications does a Dairy Non-Executive Director need?

Employers usually look for: substantial senior leadership experience in dairy, food, agriculture, finance or another relevant sector; independence from management and from any interest that could affect objective judgement; sound understanding of directors' duties, fiduciary responsibilities and corporate governance.

Who does a Dairy Non-Executive Director report to?

A Dairy Non-Executive Director usually reports to the Chair and the Board.

Can I use this Dairy Non-Executive Director job description for my own vacancy?

Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.