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Appointment details

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Lead Non-Executive Board Member

Summary

• Organisation: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, non-executive members only
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Business, Change Management, International Experience, Major Projects, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 20 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £20000 per annum
• Length of term: Successful candidates will be appointed for a three year term, with the possibility of extension for a further term.
• Application deadline: 11:55pm on 2 August 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   12 July 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:55pm on 2 August 2023

3. Sifting date

   18 August 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   15 September 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is responsible for delivering the security of energy supply, ensuring properly functioning energy markets, encouraging greater energy efficiency, and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries. 

DESNZ priorities are:

- Energy Security: Protect energy security through increasing our energy independence.

- Climate Security: Transform our economy to ensure Net Zero emissions by 2050.​

- Consumer Security: Bring down bills and have among the cheapest electricity wholesale prices in Europe 2035​.

- Economic Security: Seize the opportunities of our green energy future to create new energy industries and new jobs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Lead Non-Executive Board Member

The DESNZ Board is chaired by the Secretary of State and sets the vision for the Department and guides its overarching policy.  Board Members provide advice and challenge, based on business acumen and experience, to the Secretary of State and the Department’s executive team. The Board’s remit is set out in the Code of Good Practice for Corporate Governance in Central Government. 

We are looking for Board Members to join the Board who can challenge conventional approaches to policy development, inspire innovative thinking and push DESNZ to continuously improve. As DESNZ is a new Department, Non-Executive Board Members will have the opportunity to shape the operation, priorities, and ambitions of the Department.

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

 ​

Thank you for your interest in the Non-Executive Board Member roles at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

The launch of a new department dedicated to energy security and net zero earlier this year was a clear statement of intent from the Government. Our job at the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero, is not merely to bring down energy bills and keep them down. It’s to deliver greater energy independence for Britain, so we’re far less exposed to volatile international markets. It’s to decarbonise energy by replacing fossil fuels with renewables and nuclear. And it’s to seize the opportunities of the energy transition in exciting new industries like carbon capture and hydrogen, creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs, and helping level up Britain.

If you have the experience, skills and vision to help us achieve these goals and shape the development of the new department, we would very much like to hear from you. 

This candidate pack will tell you more about the purpose and nature of the role. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Grant  Shapps​,Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Person specification

Essential criteria

Lead Non-Executive Board Member - Criteria and Responsibilities 

Responsibilities:

- Be the Deputy Chair of the Departmental Board and lead the meeting in the absence of the Chair (SoS). 

- Chair the Nominations Committee, which provides provide assurance on the Department’s strategies and plans for talent management; succession planning; capability building; board appointments.

- Senior performance management; incentives & rewards and the implementation of corporate governance policy.  

- Undertaking an annual assessment of the Permanent Secretary's performance to inform the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee and the Cabinet Secretary.

- Leading the Department's non-executive team, ensuring that they are able to fulfil their role effectively and that their views are given due weight on the Board and the lead minister is aware of any concerns.

- Working with the Government Lead Non-Executive and Non-Executives across government, to learn from the experiences of other government departments and comparable organisations, including playing an active role in the cross government network of lead NEBMs and to feedback views to the Prime Minister.

Essential Criteria:

•An understanding of how Boards operate, including proven leadership of Non-Executives and Executives.

•Experience of operating at Board or senior level in the public or private sector.

•Proven leadership in large and complex organisations in the private, public, or voluntary sectors.

•Ability to think logically and objectively in analysing complex information to identify key issues/implications, make balanced judgments and effective decisions, and communicate these clearly.

•The ability to work well as part of a diverse team and take collective responsibility for decisions, as well as building and maintaining successful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

•An appreciation of the political context in which we work, including an understanding of the key challenges faced by the public sector.

Desirable Criteria:

•Experience working in the energy or net zero sectors or on domestic or international climate mitigation.

•Experience in managing change transformation and major organisation transition.

•Experience of working as a Board Chair or equivalent.

Renumeration and time commitment:  Remuneration of £20,000 per annum for around 20 days of work per year. As well as attending Board meetings, the Non-Executive Board Members will be called upon to advise on specific issues within the Department or its Partner Organisations.

Application and selection process

How to apply

 Executive Search provider GatenbySanderson has been selected to partner with DESNZ on this appointment.

- To apply for your chosen post, you will need to complete the online application process. All applications must be submitted using the link, click here.  

- We ask that you submit your application by 23:55 on 2nd August 2023. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

- Please provide the following documentation in order for your application to be considered complete. Please ensure that your documents contain your full name and the role that you are applying for.

- Your application is submitted in two parts

a) A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years (no longer than two pages)

b) A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

- Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

- In addition, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. The completion of the Diversity Monitoring Form is mandatory but it includes the option ‘prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence, will not be provided to the selection panel and will not affect your application in any way. You will also be required to complete a Declaration of Conflicts of Interest/Political Activity Form and will be requested to read the Privacy Policy.

- Should you encounter any issues with your online application, are unable to apply online or require any reasonable adjustment (due to a disability) please contact kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com

• Application process.

- Advert Closes – Wednesday 2 August 2023 at 11:55pm.

- Longlisting by interview panel – w/c 14 August 2023.

- Preliminary interviews by GatenbySanderson – w/c 21 August – 1 September 2023.

- Shortlisting by interview panel – w/c 4 September 2023.

- Final Interviews – w/c 11 September 2023.

- Appointment confirmed – mid September 2023. 

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

- Jeremy Pocklington (DESNZ Perm Sec)

- Beverley Tew (DHLUC Lead NEBM)

- Michael Jary (Govt Lead NEBM)

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. 

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.

The AAP members to be confirmed. 

Eligibility criteria

You are required to have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this appointment. 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 kirsten.hasseriis@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 will be conducted once the candidate is in post. 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.

Please contact kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com if any adjustments are required.

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.

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.

Please contact the kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com  in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application. 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.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will use your data in line with our privacy policy attached. 

Contact details

Please contact russell.brandon@gatenbysanderson.com for any additional information.