GOC begins recruitment for two new lay Council members

GOC begins recruitment for two new lay Council members

The General Optical Council (GOC) is seeking to appoint two new lay Council members.

The new members will begin their terms in October 2024 or April 2025. They will replace Sinead Burns and Michael Galvin, who come to the end of their eight-year tenure as lay members in September 2024 and March 2025 respectively.

The GOC’s Council sets the organisation’s strategic direction. Successful candidates will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance and making high-level policy decisions in order to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in the optical professions.

Applicants should be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; and inspire confidence and support amongst the GOC’s stakeholders. They may have experience as a charity trustee, or as a non-executive in a public body or private company.

This is a particularly important few years for the GOC as it begins the process of consulting on its next five-year strategic plan (2025-30), and Council members will play a critical role in ensuring this plan is delivered.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply, both to make sure that Council’s membership reflects the communities the GOC serves as a regulator and because the GOC believes decision-making is better when there is an inclusivity of thought and experience.

The role requires a time commitment of two to three days per month and includes remuneration of £13,962 per year (in line with the GOC’s member fees policy and member fee schedule) as well as travel and subsistence expenses.

For more information about the role and the recruitment process, and to apply, view the candidate information pack and application form.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 14 April 2024.

Please note, these positions are for lay members and are not open to individuals who are (or ever have been) on a GOC register, or directors of body corporates on a GOC register.

Should interested candidates have any queries about the positions, they should email appointment@optical.org quoting reference GOC02/24 on all correspondence