How to write a non-executive director CV (with an example)
Updated 18 April 2023
Non-executive directors are senior, experienced professionals who use their knowledge and expertise to advise on the strategy and operations of an organisation. Candidates for non-executive director roles tend to be well-qualified, experienced and successful in their careers, often rising to executive director level. If you're searching for non-executive director (NED) roles, try updating and amending your CV for non-executive director opportunities. In this article, we explain how to write a CV for a non-executive director position plus we provide a template and example to use as a guide.
The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.
Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
How to write a non-executive director CV
The guide below outlines the steps to writing a non-executive director CV:
1. Consult the job description
Before beginning your CV, consult the job description for an indication of the experience, qualities and skills the employer is seeking. A non-executive director is typically a senior advisory professional who sits on an organisation's board of directors. As such, the job calls for highly skilled, experienced executives with a track record of success and a high standing within their profession. The job description is likely to reflect this. The job description typically lists the key requirements of the role and may include keywords and phrases that you can include in your CV.
Related: How to become a non-executive director (with skills)
2. Add your name and contact details
Start your CV by writing a header with your full name and contact details. If you have a professional title, degree or certification, you can include this after your name. Below your name, write your contact details, including your phone number, email address and any other preferred contact methods. You can also include your location, such as your city, county or region. You might wish to omit your full address from your CV header, as this uses unnecessary space in the document.
Related: What is the role of a non-executive director? (Plus skills)
3. Write a concise, professional summary
Below your CV header, write a short professional summary outlining your experience, skills, qualifications and achievements. The professional summary provides a concise introduction to your CV that gives hiring managers a quick overview of your qualities and what you can bring to the role. For example, for a non-executive director position, you could mention any experience you have in executive roles and your specific area of expertise and knowledge. This information can help the hiring manager assess if you're a likely a good fit to assist the organisation and advise on matters such as strategy, planning and policymaking.
Related: The role of a director in an organisation (plus skills)
4. List your relevant experience
In the experience section, you can list your relevant work experience and achievements in more detail, outlining how they make you a suitable candidate for the non-executive director role. As a candidate for a non-executive director job, employers are likely to expect you to either currently occupy or previously have occupied a senior position. This position might be within an organisation that is in a relevant field or sector to the hiring company. It's unnecessary to list all your previous work experience, but it's beneficial to mention your last two positions.
Underneath each entry in the experience section, list your key responsibilities and achievements before explaining their relevance to the non-executive director role. For example, if you have experience in corporate governance, including company strategy, budgeting, planning, policymaking or other key decision-making, list these responsibilities in this section. You can also summarise your leadership experience, business acumen, vision and dedication in previous roles. The job description can help guide in terms of the competencies to include in this section.
Related: A guide to business executive titles (with jobs list)
5. Add your key skills
The key skills section allows you to mention any specific hard or soft skills relevant to the organisation you're applying to and the non-executive director role. These abilities might include industry-specific knowledge or skills, including technical expertise. Also, list soft skills suitable for a non-executive director position, such as leadership, negotiation, networking ability, presentation and communication skills, attention to detail and strategic thinking.
Related: Board of directors' responsibilities (and selection tips)
6. Detail your educational achievements
Although your educational achievements are unlikely to be a determining factor in the success of a non-executive director application, mention your highest and most recent qualifications if they include professional qualifications or certifications, such as a chartered membership. Employers typically select non-executive directors with excellent career records. Still, a degree in a relevant subject, qualification or certification may increase your chances of success.
Related: 10 examples of charity organisation jobs (plus salaries)
7. Proofread your CV
One of the most valuable things you can do before sending any job application is to proofread your CV. Errors in spelling and grammar or inconsistencies in the content of your CV can undermine your application and reduce your chances of success. As such, make sure you review your CV thoroughly before finalising it.
Related: Executive vs manager: role responsibilities and comparisons
CV template for non-executive director roles
Review the template below for a structure you can use for your non-executive director CV:
[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]
Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]
Experience
(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]
(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]
(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
Skills
[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
Education
[Degree], [Name of School or University]
[City]
Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]
Related: How to become a board member (With skills and tips)
Example CV for non-executive director applications
You can use the example below as a guide when writing your non-executive director CV:
Mark Allen MBA 07484 264143 | Mark.Allen@mail.com | Hatfield
Professional Summary
An accomplished CEO with 25 years of experience leading companies in the financial services industry. A skilled business leader and negotiator with extensive knowledge of commercial strategy and planning, a strong personal network and a wealth of public speaking appearances. Seeking opportunities to use my experience to assist organisations with their growth and development.
Experience
Chief Executive Officer | September 2011–Current
Swift Financial Services Ltd | London
increasing company revenue by more than 50% during my tenure, securing long-term contracts and navigating the financial crisis with sustainable growth
improving profitability through a programme of business reviews, creating new efficiencies in staffing, IT and recruitment
supervising the acquisition of a small, specialist financial services firm to diversify the portfolio and future-proof the company
introducing new working policies to establish a hybrid working model, improving employee work–life balance and job satisfaction
implementing a new professional development programme for the organisation, introducing an online training portal and an updated appraisal system to monitor employee performance and development
Chief Executive Officer | April 2008–September 2011
Magpie Finance Ltd | Hatfield
achieved 20% revenue growth and renegotiated longer contracts with key clients
recruited an experienced senior management team to support company leadership
supervised the achievement of ISO:27001 certification, securing the future of the company against data security risks
Skills
Business strategy: Supervising company mergers | Conducting efficiency reviews | Contract negotiation | Financial planning | Networking
Leadership: Embedding organisational culture change | Developing training programmes | Increasing staff retention | Public speaking
Education
Master of Business Administration | Hatfield Business School
Hatfield
Membership, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – 2004–Current
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