Websites: www.rovco.com & www.vaarst.com

Applications close: 18 July 2022

Remuneration package: £30-35k + options + ability to invest

Sector: Offshore Renewable Energy; Technology

Size: Scale-Up £10m revenue (FY 2021), 84 staff, growing to £100m over 3-4 years

Locations: UK - London and Bristol

Commitment: 2-3 days per month

Non-Executive Group Chair

About the group

Rovco and Vaarst are institutionally backed subsea technology businesses arranged into a group. Vaarst builds 3D vision systems, and autonomy to collect and analyse data. Rovco puts this to work in the renewable energy and decommissioning industry. Our core talents are in computer vision, AI, cloud-based solutions and extreme environment robotics. Our multi award-winning business was formed with the aim of bringing cutting-edge technology into the offshore energy space, using the latest data analysis techniques to create efficiencies in integrity management of high-value offshore subsea assets via robotic control and data management. It is also rapidly becoming the market leader in the provision of robotic services to the offshore wind sector.

Through a combination of a client-centric operations and cutting-edge technology, Rovco has positioned itself at the forefront of their sector. It has won multiple £3m-£7m competitive bids against established blue chip players and recently raised £20m in VC equity investment to scale up.

Role specification

Having achieved 20x growth in the last three years, Rovco is now seeking a Chair to guide the company through the next stages of development as the move the business to being float ready over the next 3 to 4 years. The new Chair will play a key role in maintaining a strong connection between the board and the executive team, which will be critical to achieving the group’s growth objectives in the coming years. The company is looking for someone who will take a hands-on role as and when required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Chairing the Board meetings to ensure these are effective
• Providing constructive criticism and challenge to the leadership team on matters of strategy and direction
• Providing advice, support and mentoring to the executive team, coaching where required to ensure continued improvement in the performance of the executives
• Regularly reviewing the operational performance of the business, providing strategic guidance as necessary to ensure the company achieves its goals and objectives
• Ensuring an effective relationship between all board members and stakeholders / shareholders
• Providing guidance on the company’s fundraising strategy and participating in the implementation of any fundraising process, ensuring future capital requirements are sufficient to meet the long-term goals and objectives of the business

Person specification

The successful candidate will have the gravitas and depth of experience required to chair the Board. Rovco is looking for a great coach and leader who can constructively challenge the team, enabling them to find the correct solutions as they overcome obstacles. Prior experience of deep technology provision and project delivery into the renewable energy or offshore sector will be key to understanding and supporting the company’s future growth.

Because of the cutting-edge nature of Rovco's business, applicants who have specific experience of driving innovation through technology in the energy sector or similar industry would be particularly welcome.

As the business prepares for further development, the Board would welcome a Chair with prior experience of fast growth. Rovco is expected to grow from c.£10m revenue to £100m or more, and from 84 persons to nearer 200 within 3-4 years. We also require the chair to have good experience of working with private equity and VC firms.

Required for this role

• Chair ready Chairing a board involves responsibilities beyond the advisory aspects of being a non-executive director. If you have not previously chaired a board, please demonstrate your chair-readiness by listing the different boards, panels or committees that you have sat on, including details of whether you have either directly chaired or else deputised for the existing chair. If you already have significant chair experience, please detail this.
• Offshore service project delivery and or technology provision within offshore energy sector with a business network at board level in relevant areas.
• Scaling experience. The chair candidate must have previously led a company either as an exec or board member during a similar type of growth stage.

Desired for this role

• Business exit experience Senior experience (at board level) of taking a private equity backed business through an exit event.

Selection Process

This selection process is being run by the business itself. Applications will be viewed us, (the hiring organisation) directly without edits. We therefore advise applicants to avoid using ‘see CV’ or ‘please call me to discuss further’ in your application as it may restrict your chances of successfully progressing to the next round.

Connected parties

We request that candidates do not contact us directly except via the job application process, if you have additional questions please submit your CV alongside those questions. If you know someone at the organisation please mention it in your Reason for Application rather than contact them directly.

Questions & feedback

In the event you have any questions or feedback about the way the role or your application has been handled, please contact info@rovco.com

Role timetable

• Deadline for applications: 18th July
• Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 22nd July
• Candidates can expect the process to be completed by: 31st August