About the role

In 2022 Lord Bichard completed a review of RICS’ purpose, governance and strategy and made a series of recommendations that have laid the foundations for RICS’ future. One of his key recommendations was to broaden the role of RICS President, to also encompass the role of Chair of Governing Council.
This represents a substantial and exciting shift that informs the appointment of our new Senior Vice Presidents at a key time in our development. The office of the President has always been and will continue to represent the pinnacle of the surveying profession. But moving forward, as both Chair of Governing Council and a global ambassador for the whole profession, Presidents will need to have a broader skill set, combining inspiring ambassadorial qualities with strong leadership and chairing experience.

As you progress through the roles of Senior Vice President, President Elect and President respectively, your involvement in RICS will grow and develop, and we will offer whatever support you feel you need to perform effectively. You will benefit in particular from being a member of the Presidential Team, all of whom will help to familiarise you with the RICS’ approach to governance and decision making.

We do not anticipate the time commitment as being too onerous in years one and two. Senior Vice Presidents typically allocate half a day per week to RICS, and Vice Presidents one day per week. It is important to note, however, that we can be flexible about this. What is most important is your ability to commit the required time during your presidential tenure, which requires approximately 2-3 days of your time per week.

The RICS is at a key turning point at which its leadership has never been more important. We need to be bold and appoint passionate, ambitious and challenging people who understand and are respected in the profession and markets we serve, so we hope you will take the time to consider making an important contribution by applying for this role, as we seek to reset our business for future success.

Applicants must be highly effective, innovative members of the profession: prominent, engaging and strategic. The ideal candidates will be able to debate with trust and respect on global issues, inspire the next, more diverse generations, engage with the profession and role model every aspect of professionalism and responsible business. Applicants will need to be robust and at ease talking to senior figures from related sectors, international institutions and governments.

These are high profile roles, so the post-holders will also need to be comfortable being in the spotlight and resilient under pressure. They will be expected to play a key role in opening new market opportunities for the profession and representing RICS at major industry events.

The Senior Vice President, together with the President Elect and the President, will also participate in setting RICS’ strategy and providing oversight as a member of Governing Council. However, it is important to note that the President does not have any day to day operational responsibilities for RICS, as accountability for these and the delivery of the RICS Business Plan sits with the RICS Board Chair, the Chief Executive and the RICS Board.

In 2022 Lord Bichard completed a review of RICS’ purpose, governance and strategy and made a series of recommendations that have laid the foundations for RICS’ future. One of his key recommendations was to broaden the role of RICS President, to also encompass the role of Chair of Governing Council. This represents a substantial and exciting shift that informs the appointment of our new Senior Vice Presidents at a key time in our development. The office of the President has always and will continue to represent the pinnacle of the surveying profession, but moving forward, as Chair of Governing Council and a global ambassador of the whole profession, Presidents will need to have a broader skill set, combining inspiring ambassadorial qualities with strong leadership and chairing experience.

We are inviting applications from individuals, who are either a Fellow (FRICS) or a Member (MRICS) of RICS, to be elected to serve first as Senior Vice President and then progress through the role of President Elect ultimately to become President.  In 2023, as an exception to the norm, we are looking to elect two Senior Vice Presidents, the first of whom will take office with effect from 1 July 2023 for the six-month period until 31 December 2023, and the second of whom will take office on 1 January 2024 for the twelve-month period until 31 December 2024.

The duration of the role for the candidate appointed as 2023 Senior Vice President will be for two and a half years. (The commitment is for three years in normal circumstances). The successful candidate who becomes Senior Vice President on 1 July 2023 will progress to the role of President Elect on 1 January 2024, and become President on 1 January 2025.

The duration of the role for the candidate appointed as 2024 Senior Vice President will be for the usual three years. Their term as Senior Vice President will run for twelve months from 1 January 2024 and they will then become President Elect on 1 January 2025, before serving as President from 1 January 2026.

The Senior Vice President must be a Fellow (FRICS) at the time of assuming office. If a Member (MRICS) is elected to the role, they will automatically become a Fellow upon election as Senior Vice President.

RICS is at a key turning point at which its leadership has never been more important. We need to be bold and appoint passionate, ambitious and challenging people who understand and are respected in the profession and markets we serve, so we hope you will take the time to consider making an important contribution in this role, as we seek to reset our business for future success.

RICS is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

As senior ambassador for the profession the President will be the profession’s principal external representative with senior stakeholders in governments, international organisations, employers, and other professional bodies in the built and natural environments. This will involve:

• engaging with the profession and external stakeholders, ensuring that RICS has increased presence, transparency, and engagement
• providing robust oversight, assurance and associated communication to both the profession, external stakeholders and the general public that RICS remains independent of any bias in its decision making and that the aims and objectives of RICS are being managed appropriately
• being an advocate for RICS’ thought leadership, adding presidential support to debates, proposals etc
• supporting the Chair of the Board, the Chair of the Standards and Regulation Board (SRB) and the Director General in furthering RICS’ strategic objectives and engaging with the profession about these
• ensuring effective communication with RICS Members, including chairing General Meetings
• representing RICS at appropriate official functions and liaising with presidents of related bodies
• inspiring the next generation – liaising with RICS Matrics, or its successor group(s), attending / officiating at award ceremonies
• championing diversity, inclusion, and equity across the profession
• championing sustainability and climate change as a key imperative for the profession

The President also undertakes certain specific duties under the current Regulations, including, but not limited to:

• representing RICS at appropriate official functions and liaising with Presidents of related bodies
• presenting diplomas either in person or virtually
• seeking assurance of the effective functioning of arbitration and dispute resolution appointments

As Chair of Governing Council, the President will:

• Work with colleagues formulating the agendas of Governing Council meetings and planning the schedule of work for Governing Council in consultation with the Chair of the Board and Chief Executive and chair meetings of Governing Council held both physically and remotely
• Guide Governing Council in formulating strategies for the future of RICS and lead Governing Council in its evaluation and oversight of RICS’ performance against these strategies and the associated business plans and budgets
• Lead Governing Council in reaching consensus for the greater good of RICS and the profession, whilst acknowledging and encouraging diversity of thinking and being responsive and sensitive to the thoughts and views of different Governing Council members
• Provide an effective and transparent link between Governing Council and its key sub-boards – RICS Board and Standards & Regulation Board – promoting a culture of openness and debate between Governing Council, other governance bodies and the executive. Ensuring that Governing Council delegates its responsibilities as appropriate, providing effective oversight, whilst respecting the skills, knowledge and ability of the individuals and governance bodies, to which it has delegated responsibilities
• Oversee the performance of Governing Council, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the conditions necessary for overall Governing Council and individual Council members effectiveness, both inside and outside formal meetings. This also involves leading the annual appraisal process for the members of Governing Council, including the Presidential team (President Elect and Senior Vice President), and the Chairs of the RICS Board and SRB
• Ensure Governing Council receives the information it requires to focus on its key tasks and the items delegated to it in the schedule of matters reserved
• Support the induction and development of Governing Council members, facilitated by the RICS Governance team, so they are able to undertake their roles effectively, and ensure all Governing Council members are involved in the work of Governing Council and in assessing and improving its performance
• Ensure the corporate governance of RICS as recommended in the Bichard RICS Review remains fit for purpose for a growing, global professional body ensuring independent delivery of regulation to maintain profession and public confidence
• Seek assurance through delegation to the SRB of the effective functioning of arbitration and dispute resolution appointments