Announcements (Archive)

Independent Members of the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change

• Body: Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change
• Appointing Department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Sector: Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: Committee on Climate Change, 7 Holbein Place, London, SW1W 8NR
• Skills required: Change Management, Major Projects
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Remuneration: ASC Members will be paid up to £19,800 for up to 36 days of work per year (including time preparing for meetings and travelling time). Reasonable travel and dependent care expenses are also paid. The roles are non-pensionable.
• Time Requirements: Members will be required to work up to 3 days per month, plus maintain sufficient flexibility to respond to additional ad hoc duties. The time commitment may be reviewed from time to time.

Campaign Timeline

1. Competition Launched

   14/08/2018

2. Closed for Applications

   19/09/2018 at 12:00

3. Panel Sift

   09/10/2018

4. Final Interview Date

   14/11/2018

5. Announcement

   20/12/2018

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

Defra and the Devolved Administrations have appointed Professor Richard Dawson to the Adaptation Sub-Committee. Professor Dawson will take on the role held by Professor Jim Hall who recently stood down after 10 years of service.

Date: 19/02/2019

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

• Panel Member: Professor Dame Julia King, The Baroness Brown of Cambridge
• Added: 10/08/2018
• Panel Role: Panel Chair
• Positions: Chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change Representative of Organisation

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Political Activity	None
Notes	-

• Panel Member: Dr Fiona Harrison
• Added: 10/08/2018
• Positions: Deputy Director, Climate & Forestry, Defra Departmental Official

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Political Activity	None
Notes	-

• Panel Member: Prys Davies
• Added: 10/08/2018
• Positions: Head of decarbonisation and energy division, Welsh Government Other Panel Member

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Political Activity	None
Notes	-

• Panel Member: Shaun Spiers
• Added: 21/08/2018
• Positions: Executive Director of the Green Alliance think-tank Independent Member

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Political Activity	None
Notes	-

Vacancy Description

Are you passionate about ensuring the UK is ready to deal with the impacts of climate change? Do you want to be part of the leading independent body that provides advice to the UK administrations on preparing for climate change?

The Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) is a sub-committee of the Committee on Climate Change, which is jointly sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government.

The ASC is chaired by Professor Dame Julia King (The Baroness Brown of Cambridge). As a Sub-Committee member you will be responsible for developing the work of the Adaptation Sub-Committee, determining its strategic direction and providing impartial input into the Sub-Committee’s work.

The Committee is mandated by the Climate Change Act 2008 to provide advice on the robustness of the Government’s approach to adaptation. It has done this through independent advice on the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment and in the provision of specific advice, analysis, information or other assistance on request by the national authorities.

The Act also gives the Committee a statutory role to assess and scrutinise progress implementing actions set out in the National Adaptation Programme (first one in June 2015, second in June 2017).

The Adaptation Sub-Committee is also currently designated under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to perform an independent assessment of the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (published in September 2016).

The ASC is comprised of six members (including the Chair); the ASC Chair also sits on the CCC. The Sub-Committee is supported by a Secretariat of 6 full-time staff.

The Committee members have collective responsibility for:

• Attending 11 committee meetings a year and determining decision making procedures for the Sub-Committee. Members are also required to sit on certain Committees such as the CCC Audit Committee and other ad-hoc working groups, for example on land use.
• Ensuring close collaboration with, and providing support to, the ASC Secretariat in delivering the work programme;
• Ensuring that the Sub-Committee discharges its statutory duties within the framework specified by the Climate Change Act 2008 and the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009;
• Providing an impartial, strategic and objective input to discussions;
• Providing input and advice into reports to Ministers, Parliament and the respective devolved bodies;
• Assisting the Chair in their representative role, including representing the Devolved Administrations; and
• Ensuring close working relationships with the regions and Devolved Administrations, private and voluntary sectors, key academics and professional and other bodies.

Person Specification

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• An ability to deliver results, as part of a multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the ASC’s strategic work, such as the development of its goals, priorities and management of outcomes;
• Strong analytical skills with the capacity to examine issues and provide advice (or manage the provision of advice) at a strategic level in ways which are impartial, creative, objective and focused on finding solutions which drive forward the adaptation agenda;
• A collaborative style, with the ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels, including Ministers in the UK and Devolved Administrations, fellow Committee members, the ASC secretariat and stakeholders in all sectors; and
• Good knowledge and understanding of the range of the Sub-Committee’s work including the varying risks and priorities across the United Kingdom and the Devolved Administrations.
• Civil engineering, with a focus on some or all of flooding, water supply, coastal engineering and/or large system modelling, in the context of a changing climate.

How to Apply

All candidates are required to complete the following forms:

• Monitoring form 1 (Political Activity, Conduct and Conflict of Interest Questionnaire)
• Monitoring form 2 (Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire)

Candidates should submit their CV with education, professional qualifications and employment history and the names and contact details for two referees, together with their statement of suitability.

The statement of suitability should give evidence of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the essential criteria for this role. Please provide specific examples to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria (max two pages please).

Your CV and statement should be returned to the following address by the closing date: 12.00 (midday) on 19th September 2018. Email to publicappts@defra.gsi.gov.uk quoting reference APPT10-18.

For further information please email: Tash.Hunston@defra.gsi.gov.uk