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Appointment details

Non-Executive Member of the Board and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARAC)

Summary

• Organisation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Defence
• Location: South East
• Sectors: Defence
• Skills: Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Business, Commercial, Regulation, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 25 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £18000 per annum
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 10 November 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   19 October 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 10 November 2023

3. Sifting date

   8 December 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   22 December 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

With the non-executive member (NEM) role due to reach the end of its appointment in the new year, the Chair wishes to ensure Board continuity within a similar time frame. Dstl are seeking to recruit an exceptional individual to join the Board as a NEM and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, a key sub-committee of the Board. The role will bring a level of commercial or operational acumen that is relevant in helping Dstl work increasingly in partnership with industry with experience in leading large scale change, infrastructure (estates and digital) and safe working in hazardous environments. The NEM will be hired on an initial three year term based on a time commitment of 25 to 30 days per year

Introduction from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Member (NEM) of the Dstl Board. Dstl is a most remarkable organisation of 5,000 scientists, engineers, technologists and other specialists performing an extraordinary range of vital work that helps to keep our nation safe. We are literally ‘The Science Inside’ defence and security.

Since being established in its current form just over 20 years ago, and with a lineage reflecting how science and technology has consistently underpinned national security, Dstl is now experiencing an unprecedented level of growth. This is partly driven by the increasing importance attached to defence and security as well as the Government’s determination to invest in science and technology more generally. Dstl is by far the largest of the Public Sector Research Establishments, with an annual income accelerating towards £1bn per annum.

This growth in what is expected of Dstl to deliver over the coming years presents both opportunities and challenges for the Executive Team. As a Dstl NEM, your role will be to use your business leadership experience to support, counsel and challenge the Executive through working together as an advisory board that provides assurance to the MOD owner. We are currently looking to replace one of the NEMs whose term of office is coming to an end – and the new NEM will also chair the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. The role will bring a level of commercial or operational acumen that is relevant in helping Dstl work increasingly in partnership with industry. The operating model will also need to evolve to support growth in demand, so experience in leading large scale change, infrastructure (estates and digital) and safe working in hazardous environments will also be welcome.

If you are excited about the opportunity to be part of a critical Government body and at the forefront of the UK’s Science and Technology enterprise, I encourage you to apply for one of these roles.

Adrian Belton, Chair, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Appointment description

Dstl is led by a Board of Directors which includes the Chair and five Non-Executive Members (including one MOD NEM). We are seeking an exceptional individual to join the Dstl Board as a Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARAC), a key sub-committee of the Dstl Board, with an anticipated start date of end January 2024. The key responsibilities of a Dstl Non-Executive Member include:

• To provide an independent perspective to the strategic direction of Dstl’s work.
• To encourage and support Dstl’s drive for continuous improvement through objective, constructive challenge and scrutiny of Dstl’s performance.
• To make a creative contribution by questioning existing ways of working and encouraging innovation and new thinking.
• To share knowledge and expertise with both the Board and individual Executive Directors as appropriate.
• To contribute to Board sub-committees and significant change programme boards as appropriate.
• To build effective relationships with Board colleagues, internal and external stakeholders.
• To actively communicate Dstl’s role to internal and external stakeholders, and to understand any challenges/concerns.
• To role model Dstl’s guiding principles.

The Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee will work in close partnership with the Dstl Chair and other NEMs, including Dstl’s MOD NEM. The role of the Chair is pivotal in achieving Committee effectiveness, ensuring that the committee is appropriately resourced and that it is maintaining effective communication with stakeholders. The ARAC should support the Board and the Dstl Chief Executive (who is accountable to Parliament) by reviewing the comprehensiveness and reliability of assurances on governance, risk management, the control environment and the annual report and financial statements. Key roles of the ARAC include:

1. Providing assistance and guidance to the Dstl Chief Financial Officer in forming key judgements required in preparation of the annual accounts.
2. Ensuring that the work of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee is effective, that the committee is appropriately resourced.
3. Overseeing the process for approval of the annual audited accounts by direct engagement with the audit partner.
4. Reporting key audit findings and recommendations made by Dstl auditors (the National Audit Office) to the board following engagement with the audit team.
5. Overseeing systems of internal control and risk management and make recommendations for improvement as appropriate.
6. Developing a positive and constructive working relationship with the executive team.

Organisation description

Dstl is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the defence and security field. Dstl supplies specialist services to MOD and wider government, working collaboratively with external partners in industry and academia worldwide, providing expert research, specialist advice and invaluable operational support. We are innovative, collaborative and impactful. Our responsibilities include:

• Supplying sensitive and specialist science and technology services for MOD and wider government. ▪ Providing and facilitating expert advice, analysis and assurance on defence procurement.
• Leading on the MOD’s science and technology programme. ▪ Understanding risks and opportunities through horizon-scanning.
• Acting as a trusted interface between MOD, wider government, the private sector and academia to provide science and technology support to military operations by the UK and her allies.
• Championing and developing science and technology skills across MOD.

Board composition

The Dstl Board is currently comprised as follows:

• ·       An independent Non-Executive Chair.
• ·       Chief Executive of Dstl.
• ·       Independent Non-Executive Members (NEMs). The role of the NEMs is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the Dstl Executive team.
• ·       The Ministry of Defence’s formal NEM, representing the Ministry of Defence on the Board, who is consulted on matters that have consequences for the wider Department or Government. The Ministry of Defence NEM will also advise the Dstl Sponsor (the MOD Chief Operating Officer) on the strategic direction and performance of Dstl and the effectiveness of the Chair.
• ·       Dstl Chief Operating Officer
• ·       Chief Technical Officer.
• ·       Other members of the Executive as agreed between the Chair and Chief Executive.

The Board is supported by an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, chaired by a NEM.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Candidates are required to demonstrate:

Strategic Leadership

• Senior leadership experience, able to contribute to the development of strategy and associated longer-term issues, introduce new thinking and challenge existing ways of doing things.
• Driving delivery and transformational changes to ensure all challenges facing the business are dealt with effectively and at pace.
• Ability to provide a challenging and supportive role to the Dstl Chair, Chief Executive and other senior executives, using sound judgment, analysis and decision-making skills.
• An engaging and collaborative working style, demonstrating business leadership and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders. Professional Expertise
• Extensive high level financial experience – such as a chief financial officer, senior finance executive or similar at an organisation of material size and complexity – and preferably an accountancy qualification such as ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA, ICAEW, IACAS.

Desirable criteria

It is desirable that the successful candidates bring:

• knowledge and expertise of operating in a technological or scientific environment (not necessarily defence) of comparable scale and complexity to Dstl with a strong emphasis on safety
• an interest in the challenges of Government and an understanding of the public sector
• wider experience of other sectors to foster diversity of thought
• mentoring and counselling colleagues to help them realise their full potential

Application and selection process

How to apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by Russell Reynolds Associates on behalf of Dstl. Please submit your full application by email to responses@russellreynolds.com. Please quote the role title and assignment code P2306-171L in the subject heading of the email. All applications will be acknowledged.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Friday 10th November 2023.

Your submission should include:

• 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) 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.
• A completed Diversity Questionnaire. We’re committed to implementing and monitoring our equality and diversity policies with the aim of recruiting, retaining and promoting staff regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Data will be reported anonymously, in an aggregate format, and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application.
• Contact details for two referees (by providing their details you are giving consent for us to contact them should you be successful at the shortlisting stage) and any conflict of interest (see further information in the information pack for applicants). References will only be taken up if candidates are successful at shortlisting. You should ensure that they have given you their permission to share their names with us and for us to contact them.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme you will need to meet the minimum criteria for the role as determined by the Assessment Advisory Panel (AAP)  at sift. This will guarantee an invite to an interview. To ensure fairness, the AAP will not be informed of who has applied under the DCS until they have set the minimum criteria at the start of the sift meeting.

If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments to enable you to attend for interview, please advise us when you return your application.

Please note: it is your responsibility to ensure we receive your application by the closing date.

Further Information

If you have queries about any aspect of this role or the recruitment process, please contact responses@russellreynolds.com

Overview of the application process

The assessment process

1. The Approving Authority 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 Approving Authority 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 should be recommended for interview. The Approving Authority will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist.
4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Approving Authority, 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 names of all appointable candidates are provided to the Approving Authority. It is then for the Approving Authority to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, the Approving Authority may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
6. The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to the Approving Authority in a report which details the assessment method used and the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed.
7.  Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms and Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Chair and Representative of the Organisation - Adrian Belton, Dstl Board Chair

Departmental Official - Tara Usher, MOD Non-Executive Member of Dstl Board 

Independent Panel Member - Paul Boyle OBE, Non-Executive Member of UK Hydrographic Office

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by the Approving Authority 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 the Approving Authority, 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 the Approving Authority which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the Approving Authority to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration,you would need to be UK national.

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 responses@russellreynolds.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. This will be specified in the vacancy details. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united- kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting- clearance-levels

The level of clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC)

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

The Ministry of Defence value and welcome diversity. The appointment will be governed by the Principle of Public Appointment based on merit with independent assessment and transparency of process. Successful candidate will need to demonstrate that they meet the criteria for this appointment.

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and experience across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies/Advisory Committees 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.

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

Government departments 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 the Approving Authority. 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.

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 that you have a complaint about the way in which your application has been handled, please contact in

the first instance Defence Business Service (DBS) Civilian Personnel Public Appointments Team DBSCivPers- ResPublicAppts@mod.gov.uk. If you are not completely satisfied with the response, please contact the MOD Public Appointments Team at DSOP-PublicAppointments@mod.gov.uk.

We will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and aim to provide a response within 5 working days.

Data protection

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

The Ministry of Defence privacy policy can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-notice/mod-privacy-notice

Contact details

If you have queries about any aspect of this role or the recruitment process, please contact responses@russellreynolds.com