Job Description:

Work with us at Riverford, and join a thriving employee-owned business as a Non Executive Director

A bit about the role…

We’re looking for a Non-Executive Director to join the Riverford Board. The Board's role is to shape and oversee Riverford's long-term success, ensuring we continue to grow sustainably while staying true to the values set out in our Founder’s Wishes.

Riverford is entering an exciting new chapter. We have ambitious plans for growth and are making significant investments across the business to help us get there. Alongside exploring new market opportunities, we're investing heavily in automation, systems and operational efficiency to strengthen our competitiveness and create capacity for future growth. These decisions will shape Riverford for years to come.

 We're looking for a Non-Executive Director who has first-hand experience of helping businesses navigate similar periods of growth, investment and transformation. Someone who can bring practical insight, constructive challenge and real-world experience of making big decisions in growing organisations.

 As a trusted adviser and critical friend to the Board, CEO and CFO, you'll help us think clearly about growth opportunities, investment priorities, capital allocation and long-term value creation, while ensuring we stay true to our employee-owned and values-led roots.

 We're looking for someone who can help us be ambitious in the right places. You'll bring the experience to help us think carefully about where to invest, when to move quickly and when to take a step back.

 This is an opportunity to help shape the next stage of Riverford's growth as we make significant investments across the business while remaining true to ourselves.

Key responsibilities…

Act as a “critical friend”, partnering with the CEO & CFO and the wider executive team to achieve Riverford’s strategic objectives, bringing both support and constructive challenge.
Help the Board make good decisions about borrowing, investment, growth and priorities, bringing an independent perspective to discussions and helping us balance opportunities, risks and long-term value.
Share experience of growing and scaling businesses to support Riverford's next stage of development, helping us decide where to focus our time, energy and resources, and when to move faster or take a more measured approach.
Provide constructive challenge and fresh thinking, helping us spot potential risks early, ask the right questions and make confident decisions that support the long-term success of the business.
Ensure the Board continues to foster a strong working relationship with Riverford’s two other governance bodies, the Trustees and the co-owner Council.
Chair the Remuneration Committee

What we are looking for…

Proven experience as a Non-Executive Director in a similar-sized business and/or in a related industry
Former CEO or CFO or equivalent commercial finance experience, with the ability to contribute well at Board level.
Experience of supporting a business through growth and scaling, ideally from around £100m to £250m turnover. Experience of entering new markets, developing new routes to market, or supporting major investment programmes would be a real advantage. Comfortable backing ambitious growth plans while bringing balanced judgement rather than excessive caution.
Board-level experience in retail. Experience in manufacturing and/or multi-site operations would be a real plus.
Experience supporting store rollouts, network expansion or significant automation investment programmes would be advantageous.
Strong interpersonal skills, low ego, high EQ; a great communicator, who can challenge and encourage us to take risks through infectious bravery.
Well-connected, with the ability to bring relevant external perspectives, contacts and opportunities that can benefit Riverford

Terms of appointment…

Circa 20 days a year
Initial 3-year term, with a possible second term
Start date according to candidate availability. Ideally Q1 2027
Fee £35,198 per year.
Up to 6 Board meetings per year and other ad hoc meetings between Board meetings.
3 Remuneration committee meetings per year (mix of in person and virtual).
Board meetings held in person, usually at Wash Farm, Devon. Occasionally these are held at our other site locations

Application Process: We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert early, so we encourage you to apply soon

AI & Recruitment at Riverford - AI can be helpful for checking spelling, organising your thoughts or communicating clearly. If you use it, please keep your CV and application honest, accurate and true to you—we want to get to know the real you. As part of our recruitment process, AI helps compare CVs with the job criteria, but it never makes hiring decisions.