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Appointment details

Non-Executive Director: Wilton Park

Summary

• Organisation: Wilton Park
• Sponsor department: Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
• Location: London
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Business, Communication, International Experience
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 14 day(s) per annum
• Length of term: Three years
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 20 April 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   27 March 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 20 April 2023

3. Sifting date

   1 May 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   19 May 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Additional introductions

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy for a non-executive director position on the board of Wilton Park.

You may already have some idea about the important work of Wilton Park. The following pages will tell you more about Wilton Park’s purpose, the nature of the Board and this non-executive director role, as well as the application process. Please do also view the Wilton Park website to understand their work www.wiltonpark.org.uk.

If, after reading the material, you have further questions about any aspect of this post you are welcome to speak to Sue Betts (01903 817787) sue.betts@wiltonpark.org.uk. If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact Elaine McKay elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk .

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Appointment description

This is both a challenging and exciting time to join Wilton Park. We are looking to appoint an individual with commitment and expertise to the Board, which is challenging and leading the organisation to become internationally recognised as a preeminent forum for discreet honest dialogue supporting international partnerships to tackle common global challenges.

Whilst the Board’s Chair has overall responsibility for the performance of the Board, all members of the Board have an important individual and collective role in working with the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team to evolve the strategic direction of the body, to ensure delivery goals and to ensure that it fulfils the governance, financial management, and efficiency standards required of it as a public body.

Organisation description

Wilton Park brings fresh thinking to complex problems. For over 75 years it has been at the forefront of global policy development, building and curating trusted global networks and bringing people together from around the world to discuss and develop solutions for critical global issues. As an Executive Agency of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Wilton Park works brings together governments, international organisations, civil society groups, the private sector and individuals to find practical solutions to problems such as climate change, conflict, trade, and security.

Further information on Wilton Park and its activities, including its most recent annual report can be found on Wilton Park’s website.

Board composition

The Board currently comprises eight Members. Members of the Board as follows and biographical information can be found on Wilton Park’s website:

• The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Gisela Stuart (Chair);
• James Rawlingson; NED
• Victoria Rae; NED
• Andy Townend; NED
• Ruth Crowell; NED
• Melinda Bohannon FCDO
• Chris Allan DIT
• Tom Cargill (Chief Executive)

Person specification

Essential criteria

• A keen interest in the UK’s strategic foreign policy priorities and a commitment to help advance the agenda on wider international issues;
• Understanding of the power of aligning public and private sector actors in support of national and global interests;
• Sound knowledge and expertise in good governance and the ability to demonstrate strategic leadership at senior/Board;
• Ability to analyse complex issues, to horizon scan for future issues and to provide constructive and independent leadership, challenge and support to the Board;
• Ability to present complex subjects clearly and to promote a clear understanding of Wilton Park’s strategic vision;
• Ability and experience to support Wilton Park’s programme development and its role in working to achieve a safe, just and prosperous world.

Desirable criteria

• The private sector; philanthropy through grant-making and/or foundations; commercial organisations with a property portfolio, and multilateral institutions such as the UN, OECD, NATO, OSCE or Council of Europe.
• Experience of programme management in an implementing organisation.
• Knowledge of the workings of the public sector, including relationships between non-departmental public body and their sponsoring department.

Application and selection process

How to apply

To apply, please send:

• A Curriculum Vitae (maximum two sides of A4) with your education, professional qualifications and full employment history.
• A supporting statement (maximum two sides of A4), setting out how you meet the eligibility criteria – make sure you refer to the contents of this document; please ensure your full name is clearly noted at the top of your letter.
• Recruitment Monitoring (here) – If you experience problems accessing the monitoring form please contact the Sponsor Team.
• Disability Confident – Offering an interview to disabled people declaration – please let us know in your covering email for your application if you would like your application to be considered under this scheme
• Contact details including e-mail addresses for two referees;

If you have any questions about the appointments process please contact Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk

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

We will acknowledge receipt of your application via email in 5 working days. If you do not receive this acknowledgement, please contact Elaine McKay via the contact details provided above.

Completed applications should be emailed to WiltonParkSponsorTeam@fcdo.gov.uk before 23:59 on 20 April 2023. Please quote the recruitment reference number

Overview of the application process

Timetable for recruitment

• Closing date: 20 April 2023
• Shortlisting: 01 May 2023
• Interviews held: w/c 15 May 2023
• Provisional appointment start date: 01 June 2023

It is essential that your statement of suitability gives full but concise information relevant to the appointment, clearly demonstrating how you meet each of the eligibility criteria.

The Advisory Assessment Panel will consist of:

• Melinda Bohannon, FCDO Strategy Director as Chair of the AAP;
• The Right Hon Gisela Stuart, Chair, Wilton Park as the representative of Wilton Park;
• An Independent Panel Member

At the shortlist meeting the Panel will assess each application against the eligibility criteria and decide who to invite for final interview.

Interviews are expected to take place in London and will last for approximately 45 minutes. Further details about the format will be provided to you in advance.

These are Ministerial appointments and candidates who are deemed appointable may be invited to meet with Ministers before a final decision is made.

You will be able to claim reasonable travel expenses incurred travelling to and from the interview (please note you may be asked to justify travelling costs if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office considers the claims excessive). Please let Elaine McKay know beforehand if you are likely to claim, along with the approximate costs by contacting elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk 

Reasonable adjustments

As a Disability Confident employer we are committed to ensuring that candidates with disabilities are provided with the adjustments that they require as part of the recruitment process. We are able to facilitate a range of different reasonable adjustments; for example, large print recruitment documents or British Sign Language interpretation at interview.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please contact Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The Advisory Assessment Panel will consist of:

• Melinda Bohannon, FCDO Strategy Director as Chair of the AAP;
• The Right Hon Gisela Stuart, Chair, Wilton Park as the representative of Wilton Park;
• An Independent Panel Member

John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

The Right Hon Gisela Stuart, Chair, Wilton Park as the representative of Wilton Park;

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) 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.

AAP’s 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.

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 Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk

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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

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

Appointment and tenure of office

• The Wilton Park Board is appointed by the FCDO Secretary of State.
• Appointments will be for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional term, subject to Ministerial approval.
• Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. If re-appointed, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years
• It will be important that a Member’s other commitments do not cast any doubt on their ability to act independently and impartially in discharging the role; any potential conflict of interest must be declared and will be discussed at interview (more detail below).

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

• NED appointments are unpaid.

• Reasonable standard travel expenses will be payable.

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

If your application is unsuccessful and you would like feedback, please contact Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk. We regret that we are only able to offer feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at interview stage. 

How to complain

If you are not completely satisfied with the recruitment process, please contact Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk. She will investigate your complaint and issue you with a response within 10 working days which addresses your concerns and recommends remedial action if required.

 

If you are not content with this response your complaint can be escalated to the Senior Sponsor. They will review your complaint in relation to the recruitment process and issue you with a response within 20 working days.

Data protection

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

Your personal information will be held in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation. You will not receive unsolicited paper or electronic mail as a result of sending us any personal information. No personal information will be passed on to third parties for commercial purposes.

When you submit personal information to us when making an application, we promise we will:

• only ask for what we need, and not collect too much or irrelevant information;
• ensure you know why we need it;
• protect it and insofar as is possible, make sure nobody has access to it who shouldn't;
• ensure you know what choice you have about giving us information;
• make sure we don't keep it longer than necessary; and
• only use your information for the purposes you have authorised.

We ask that you:

• give us accurate information;
• tell us as soon as possible of any changes; and
• tell us as soon as possible if you notice mistakes in the information we hold about you.

If you apply for a post, the manner in which we share information with the interview panel is described above.

Our data protection policy is in line with the General Data Protection Regulations and there is more detail in Annex B.

If you would like these details to be removed from our records as soon as this recruitment exercise is complete, please inform Elaine McKay via elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk. 

Contact details

Elaine McKay elaine.mckay@fcdo.gov.uk .