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Role details

Commissioner- National Infrastructure Commission (NIC)

Application deadline 29 March 2023

Summary

• Organisation: National Infrastructure Commission
• Sponsor department: HM Treasury
• Location: London
• Sectors: Transport
• Skills: Business, Communication, Major Projects
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £20000 per annum
• Length of term: Up to 5 years.
• Application deadline: 11pm on 29 March 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   1 March 2023

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 29 March 2023

3. Sifting date

   30 May 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   16 June 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in joining the National Infrastructure Commission. We are approaching a significant milestone in the Commission’s history, as we approach the publication of the second National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA2) towards the end of 2023.  Since the Commission’s inception in October 2015, we have published evidence-based studies exploring a range of important subjects such as how the energy system can contribute to the net zero target; future transport needs for our cities; effective management approaches to surface water flooding in England; and how the regulatory system and providers’ approach to resilience might evolve to address new challenges. Our recommendations across these areas and many more have made a real difference to government policy.  

Making the right choices about planning and investing in infrastructure is critical to economic prosperity and quality of life across every region of the UK. As we move towards the publication of NIA2 and beyond, we will continue to monitor progress against our recommendations and take opportunities to make the case for those which have yet to secure full government backing. 

Commissioners play a vital role in assessing the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs, making recommendations to the government, and influencing infrastructure priorities. Commissioners must be leaders in their field, capable of providing expert, impartial advice to the government on infrastructure matters, and engaging a broad range of stakeholders to promote the Commission and gather a wide range of views on future infrastructure. To help us address future challenges, we are now seeking a new Commissioner to give us additional capability in the transport sector. 

Finally, the National Infrastructure Commission has a strong commitment to equality and diversity as set out in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2020-23. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, ensuring that we bring together perspectives from all walks of life and all regions of the UK. Our aim is for future infrastructure to be accessible and usable for all, whilst acting as a model for change across the infrastructure sector to drive a more inclusive approach to planning and delivering infrastructure. I hope you can join us to play a part in the Commission as we enter our next exciting phase, and if you would like a further discussion, in confidence, our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson, would be delighted to hear from you. 

Sir John Armitt  

Role description

Role purpose 

The Commissioners of the NIC have a unique opportunity to look at the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs, make recommendations to the government, and influence the government’s infrastructure priorities. Commissioners have a strong influence on government across multiple sectors, making links and shaping future infrastructure networks.   

Commissioners are leaders in their field, with senior level experience in a specific infrastructure sector such as energy or digital communications, or a related field such as economics, engineering or project finance. Current. Commissioners are drawn from the worlds of policy, economics, engineering, finance, academia, business and architecture. We are looking to recruit a new Commissioner with particular experience in the transport sector. 

Responsibilities 

• Providing expert, impartial advice to the government on infrastructure.  
• Working with the Chair and other Commissioners to finalise the second National Infrastructure Assessment and shape and develop specific studies. 
• Bringing specific skills or experience from particular sectors to the NIC.  
• Engaging with the government, industry, interest groups and other stakeholders to promote the NIC and gather a wide range of views on future infrastructure. 
• Occasional media and conference engagements. 

Organisation description

High quality infrastructure boosts productivity and competitiveness, enhancing economic growth and quality of life. The choices that we make about infrastructure enable us to shape the type of economy we want for the future. The government is committed to transforming UK infrastructure in order to rebuild the economy, promote regional economic growth and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. At Spending Review 2021, the government backed this up with a firm funding commitment to support economic infrastructure to 2024-25; this was re-affirmed at Autumn Statement 2022.The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) provides the government with impartial, expert advice on the UK’s major long-term infrastructure priorities. It advises and makes recommendations to government on all aspects of economic infrastructure: energy, transport, water and sewage, waste, flood risk management and digital communications.  

The NIC’s duties and functions are set out in a Framework Agreement. In summary, its objectives are to: 

• Support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK 
• Improve competitiveness  
• Improve quality of life 
• support climate resilience and the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

The NIC does this through three key means:  

• National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA) – once a parliament, the NIA analyses the UK’s long-term economic infrastructure needs, outlining a strategic vision over the next 30 years and setting out recommendations for how identified needs should be met. The first NIA was published in July 2018 and led to the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, published in November 2020. The Commission is now working on the second National Infrastructure Assessment, which will be published later this year.  

• Specific studies – the NIC carries out studies on specific infrastructure sectors or challenges, as set by government. The NIC is currently carrying out a study on the infrastructure planning system and, in particular the role of National Policy Statements (NPSs). Recent studies have focused on greenhouse gas removal technologies and infrastructure and regeneration in towns.

 

• Holding the government to account – when the NIC makes recommendations as part of its specific studies and the NIA, the government responds publicly. The NIC publishes an Infrastructure Progress Review annually to take stock of the government’s progress towards recommendations it has agreed to take forward. 

Board composition

The Commission was established in 2015 and is an executive agency of HM Treasury. It is currently made up of nine Commissioners, including its chair Sir John Armitt. Commissioners are appointed by the Chancellor for a term of up to five years, which can be renewed up to a maximum of 10 years. James Heath is the Chief Executive and there are around 40-50 people who work in its secretariat: made up of civil servants, including economists and policy professionals, as well as secondees from industry and the wider public sector. The Commission currently comprises:  

• Sir John Armitt CBE, Chair 

• Julia Prescot, Deputy Chair 

• Andy Green CBE, Commissioner 

• Neale Coleman CBE, Commissioner 

• Kate Willard OBE, Commissioner 

• Nick Winser CBE, Commissioner 

• Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, Commissioner  

• Professor Sir Tim Besley CBE, Commissioner 

• Professor Jim Hall FRENG, Commissioner 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Ability to provide robust, independent advice to the government at senior/board level, including through assessing complex information, analysis and views from diverse stakeholders.  
• Ability to consider the long-term development of the UK’s infrastructure landscape, and understand the government’s infrastructure objectives within the wider policy, delivery and finance context.  
• Comprehensive understanding of the transport sector and its infrastructure at a national and regional level.  
• Track record of communicating and influencing at senior levels 
• A leader in their field, with senior level experience in transport or in a sector relevant to transport policy, planning and/or delivery.  
• Experience of representing organisations in public and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.  

Application and selection process

How to apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by GatenbySanderson on behalf of HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure Commission. In order to apply you will need to provide:

1. A  Curriculum Vitae which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;

2. A supporting statement setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;

3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;

4. Diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;

5. Disability Confident – please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme;

6. Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable);

Please provide the information at points 3-6 above on the relevant form, or as part of your supporting statement.

To apply, please visit: https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe93242/  

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with principles of the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Joanna Key, Director Infrastructure and Growth, HM Treasury (Panel Chair)
• Sir John Armitt, Chair of the NIC
• James Heath, CEO of the NIC
• Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water (Independent Member of Panel)

Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water

Sir John Armitt, Chair of the NIC

James Heath, CEO of the NIC

Recruitment Panels are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

Recruitment panels perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

The recruitment panel will consist of:

Joanna Key, Director Infrastructure and Growth, HM Treasury (Panel Chair)

Sir John Armitt, Chair of the NIC

James Heath, CEO of the NIC

Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water (Independent Member of Panel)

The recruitment panel will make a recommendation on recruitment to the Chancellor. A final decision on appointments will be made by the Chancellor. 

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact  devon.coates@gatenbysanderson.com 

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Devon Coates (devon.coates@gatenbysanderson.com) in the first instance.    

They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

HM Treasury will use your date in line with its privacy notice (see attached)

GatenbySanderson will use your date in line with its privacy statement

Contact details

Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact Devon.coates@gatenbysanderson.com. 

For a confidential discussion please contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson: 

Rosanne Sarratt Research Lead  Rosanne.sarratt@gatenbysanderson.com 

James Payne, Principal Consultant James.payne@gatenbysanderson.com 

Julie Myers, Principal Consultant Julie.myers@gatenbysanderson.com