Independent Chair of a Regional Water Services Enterprise
Portugal·Water & Environmental Services·Water and wastewater utilities· Lisbon·Posted 25 September 2026
Applications close 22 November 2026
Water and wastewater utilities
Partner-sourced
Sourced through a partner search firm or the sponsor's own nomination committee, and verified before listing.
The problem this seat exists to solve
A regional water enterprise must balance service reliability, infrastructure renewal and financial sustainability while maintaining stakeholder confidence. The chair will improve board effectiveness and ensure management’s investment and service plans are subjected to disciplined, constructive scrutiny.
Chair the board through infrastructure renewal
The chair leads the board agenda, debate and executive accountability, working with shareholders through established governance channels. The CEO remains responsible for day-to-day operations.
Set the agenda
You will set a board agenda that connects service quality, asset condition, cash resources and long-term capital needs. You will lead effective board debate and ensure directors receive clear evidence on operational performance and major risks.
Hold leadership accountable
- Oversee CEO performance, succession and accountability for agreed service and investment commitments.
- Coordinate board consideration of procurement integrity, public interest obligations and stakeholder concerns.
- Maintain an orderly relationship among the board, shareholders and executive management during difficult investment decisions.
First ninety days
First 90 days: complete a governance and information review and agree the board’s annual priorities.
Longer term evidence of progress
Within six months: lead scrutiny of a multi-year asset renewal and funding plan. Within twelve months: evaluate board effectiveness and management delivery against agreed service, financial and governance measures.
Background and capacity
The role requires chair or substantial board experience in a utility or public interest organisation; understanding of infrastructure economics and complex stakeholder relationships.
Additional useful experience includes water sector governance and experience improving accountability in organisations with public shareholders.
An initial three-year term is envisaged, requiring approximately thirty to forty-five days annually, depending on the board agenda. Start date, remuneration, travel and on-site attendance will be agreed for the appointment.
Terms
- Where the board sits
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Applications close
- 22 November 2026
- Appointment
- Board chair appointment
- Engagement
- An initial three-year term is envisaged, requiring approximately thirty to forty-five days annually, depending on the board agenda.
- Cross-border
- International candidatures are accepted.
- Time commitment in this market
- A regular board cycle through the year plus committee or supervisory-board work; supervisory seats under the classic model carry a heavier audit workload than a board seat.
Before you apply — Portugal
No nationality or residency test applies to a director of a Portuguese company. What shapes a seat is the governance model the company has chosen and the 33.3% requirement on each body.
- Residency test
- None.
- Nationality test
- None.
- Work authorisation
- A non-executive director attending board meetings does not need Portuguese work authorisation. Executive roles for non-EU nationals require a residence permit.
- Tenure limit once appointed
- Twelve years under the IPCG Code — service in any corporate body of the company, continuous or intermittent, counts towards it. The statutory test for supervisory-body members is stricter: re-election for more than two terms defeats independence.
Global ID Exchange
One account. Every market your record travels to.
A free account applies to one mandate a week, in any market — statutory, interim or advisory — and your dashboard reads every brief that opens in the exchanges you follow. Premium removes the weekly cap.