Defence and Aerospace Non-Executive Recruitment

NED Recruitment for Defence and Aerospace

Defence and aerospace boards govern in a tightly controlled environment. Their customers include the Ministry of Defence and allied governments, their technology is subject to export controls, their ownership may be scrutinised on national security grounds, and some of their work cannot be discussed outside cleared personnel. A non-executive director on such a board needs the governance skills any board requires, plus an understanding of the sector’s security, regulatory and contracting framework.

NED Capital recruits independent non-executive directors, chairs and committee chairs for prime contractors, tier one and tier two suppliers, aerospace manufacturers, defence technology and dual-use businesses, space companies, and the private equity and family owners that invest in them. Searches are run by our senior search team under founder Adrian Lawrence FCA, a Fellow of the ICAEW and former listed-company finance director.

The Governance Framework for Defence Businesses

Security clearance. National Security Vetting is carried out by United Kingdom Security Vetting. The government’s guidance on security vetting and clearance sets out the levels, from the Counter-Terrorist Check through Security Check, for long-term access to SECRET assets, to Developed Vetting for long-term access to TOP SECRET information. Clearance is requested by a sponsoring organisation for a specific role, not by the individual. For a board appointment this means the board needs to decide early whether the role requires clearance, at what level, and how the sponsorship and vetting timetable fits the search. Not every non-executive on a defence board needs clearance, but those overseeing classified programmes often do.

Export controls. Military and dual-use goods, software and technology are controlled, and exports require licences issued through the Export Control Joint Unit. The government’s beginner’s guide to export controls is a useful starting point for directors new to the regime. Boards are responsible for making sure the company has an effective compliance programme, and non-executives need to know the right questions to ask about classification, licensing, technology transfer and screening.

National security and investment. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 requires mandatory notification of certain acquisitions in sensitive sectors, including defence, military and dual-use technologies, and lets the government call in other transactions for review. The government’s NSI Act guidance explains how it works. Boards considering investment, a sale or an acquisition need to factor this into timetables and deal terms, and our M&A governance page covers the board’s wider role in transactions.

Single source contracting. Non-competitive MOD contracts above a threshold are governed by the single source regime, with the Single Source Regulations Office overseeing pricing and reporting. Directors of businesses with single source contracts need to understand how allowable costs and profit rates are set, and the reporting obligations that follow.

Defence policy and procurement. The government’s Strategic Defence Review 2025 and its Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 set the direction for UK defence spending and industrial policy. Boards need non-executives who can interpret these for the business, understand how procurement through the Defence Equipment and Support organisation works, and challenge strategy accordingly. The trade body ADS Group is a useful source for boards following sector developments.

What Defence and Aerospace Boards Look For

• MOD and government experience: former senior officials, military officers and procurement leaders who understand how the customer works. Their independence and any post-government employment rules need to be checked early.
• Programme and engineering oversight: directors who have led complex, long-cycle engineering and manufacturing programmes, the kind we also recruit for on our manufacturing and engineering page.
• Finance and audit: audit committee chairs who understand long-term contract accounting, single source pricing and programme risk; see audit committee chair recruitment.
• Compliance and ethics: experience of export control, anti-bribery and trade compliance programmes.
• Cyber and security: directors who can oversee information security and supply chain risk; our technology and digital NED page covers this specialism.
• International and growth: experience of export markets, international partnerships and offset arrangements; see international NED recruitment.
• Investor and transaction experience: for PE-backed and growth businesses preparing for investment or exit; see private equity NED recruitment.

Types of Defence and Aerospace Business

Prime contractors and listed groups. Large groups need independent directors and committee chairs who meet the UK Corporate Governance Code and bring defence experience; our listed company NED recruitment page covers the wider listed framework.

Supply chain businesses. Tier one and tier two suppliers, often owner-managed or PE-backed, frequently appoint a first independent director or chair as they grow, professionalise their governance or prepare for investment.

Defence technology and dual-use businesses. Venture-backed and scale-up companies in areas such as autonomy, space, sensors and secure communications need non-executives who understand both the commercial technology market and the defence customer, and who can help the board navigate export controls and investment screening.

Family and owner-managed businesses. Many specialist defence suppliers are privately owned. A first independent non-executive or chair can help the owners prepare for succession, strengthen controls ahead of larger contracts, and give primes and government customers confidence in the company’s governance. Our guide to whether private and family businesses need a non-executive director covers the wider case.

Civil aerospace and aviation. Aerospace manufacturers, maintenance businesses and aviation companies need directors with safety, certification and operational experience; our transport and infrastructure page covers aviation and airports.

How We Run a Defence NED Search

We start by agreeing with the chair which board seats require clearance and at what level, how sponsorship will work, and which conflicts of interest are most likely to arise, for example with customers, competitors or former government roles. We then research the market directly and approach serving directors, former officials and senior executives who combine the right sector background with board experience. Each candidate is assessed for independence, time commitment and the likelihood that they could obtain or already hold the required clearance, and we check other directorships and advisory roles before anyone is shortlisted.

Candidates come from NED Capital’s own research and the shared network of the five specialist firms in FD Capital Group. Our crisis management NED page covers directors who can support a board through a serious incident, and our guide to the NED’s role in corporate risk management sets out the board’s oversight responsibilities.

For Candidates

If you are a defence or aerospace executive, former official or military officer interested in a non-executive role, register in confidence through our candidate registration page. Tell us about any clearance you hold or have held, and any restrictions on future roles, so we can match you to suitable boards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every NED on a defence board need security clearance?
No. It depends on the role and the information the director will see. Directors overseeing classified programmes are more likely to need clearance. The board should decide early which seats require it and at what level, because clearance must be sponsored by the organisation and the vetting process takes time.

Can a candidate apply for clearance themselves?
No. National Security Vetting is requested by a sponsoring organisation for a specific role. Candidates who already hold clearance should tell us the level and when it was granted.

How does the NSI Act affect our board?
If your business works in a sensitive sector such as defence, certain acquisitions of shares or voting rights must be notified to the government before they complete. The board should factor this into any investment, sale or acquisition and take legal advice on whether notification applies.

Can former civil servants or military officers join our board?
Often yes, but there may be rules on post-government employment that restrict the role or require approval. We check this with candidates before shortlisting.

How much are defence NEDs paid?
Fees depend on the size of the company, the role and the time commitment. Our NED salary guide sets out typical ranges.