Chair, Highways England
- Body
- Highways England
- Appointing Department
- Department for Transport
- Sector
- Transport
- Location
- London and Birmingham
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £120,000 per annum
- Time Requirements
- 90 days per annum
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
30/07/2019
-
Closed for Applications
01/09/2019
-
Panel Sift
W/C 30/09/2019
-
Final Interview Date
W/C 21/10/2019
-
Announcement
21/07/2020
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Dipesh Shah OBE has been appointed as Chair of Highways England.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Tricia Hayes
- Added
- 30/07/2019
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Director General, Roads, Places and Environment, DfT Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Roger Lowe
- Added
- 30/07/2019
- Positions
- Senior Non-Executive Director, Highways England Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Tracy Westall
- Added
- 30/07/2019
- Positions
- Non-Executive Director, Department for Transport Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Sir Peter Spencer
- Added
- 30/07/2019
- Positions
- Senior Independent Panel Member
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Vacancy Description
Serving as the Chair of the Board of Highways England, you will lead the Board in its role of encouraging and constructively challenging the executive leadership team in its pursuit of achieving the organisation’s goals and strategic vision. You will play a leading role in Highways England’s engagement with its key stakeholders, and set the Board’s agenda for approval of Highways England’s safety, operational and financial strategies.
You will attend meetings at Highways England offices, usually in London or Birmingham, but from time to time at other sites across England. The appointment will be for a term of three years, with a time commitment of 90 days per year. This will include attendance at monthly Board meetings, Committee meetings, away days, site visits and meetings with the Executive.
What you’ll be responsible for
- Playing a leading role in Highways England’s engagement with its key stakeholders, both within Government (including Ministers and officials in the Department for Transport, HM Treasury and the Infrastructure Projects Authority), and externally, including the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), Transport Focus, suppliers, and major road users.
- Establishing a close and effective working relationship with the CEO, and ensuring that the Board is effective in holding the executive to account and providing direction.
- Effectively leading the Board, drawing out the skills and experience of other Non-Executive Directors.
- Promoting the highest standards of integrity, probity and corporate governance, ensuring that Highways England complies with all governance requirements.
- Developing a succession planning strategy for the Board and (in conjunction with other Non-Executive Directors), for key Executive roles.
- Maintaining a focus on promoting equality and diversity through Non-Executive and Executive appointments and throughout the organisation as a whole.
Person Specification
To be successful
- You will be politically astute and possess strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate effectively within a complex and diverse stakeholder environment.
- You will possess strong communication skills, including an ability to offer challenge in a constructive, straightforward and open manner.
- You will be able to demonstrate a strong strategic leadership track record with the ability to foster credibility on account of both personality and experience.
- You will possess prior non-executive experience and a clear understanding of governance, with the skills necessary to chair a significant and complex organisation.
- You will be able to lead the Board in supporting, challenging and holding to account the executive team, whilst serving as mentor and sounding board to the CEO and leadership team.
- You will possess the ability to provide challenge to an organisation, its culture and its frame of reference.
- You will possess high standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life.
- You will be able to demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing political, environmental, social and technological factors.
- Demonstration of perspectives regarding service provision, customer focus and safety matters would be advantageous.
How to Apply
Your CV, cover letter and Supporting Documentation form should be sent to highwaysengland@kornferry.com by the closing date of Sunday 1st September. The Supporting Documentation form will be stored separately from your application and will play no part in the selection process. We reserve the right to close before the advertised closing date so strongly recommend completing your application as soon as possible.