Chair - British Transport Police Authority
- Body
- British Transport Police Authority
- Appointing Department
- Department for Transport
- Sector
- Transport
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Change Management, Communication / Media / Marketing, Transformation
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £32,000 per annum
- Time Requirements
- 60 days per annum
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
01/08/2017
-
Closed for Applications
15/09/2017 at 12:00
-
Panel Sift
24/10/2017
-
Final Interview Date
06/11/2017
-
Announcement
TBC
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Philip West
- Added
- 30/08/2017
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Director, Rail Strategy, Security and One Railway Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Sir Peter Spencer
- Added
- 01/08/2017
- Positions
- Senior Independent Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Charles Horton
- Added
- 01/08/2017
- Positions
- Chief Executive Officer, Thameslink Railway Ltd Independent Member
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- Panel Member
- Petra Wilkinson
- Added
- 01/08/2017
- Positions
- Deputy Director, Maritime, Commerce and Infrastructure, DfT Other Panel Member
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Vacancy Description
The British Transport Police (BTP) is the police force for the railways, providing an essential policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers. As a public body, the specialist British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) holds the BTP to account for the delivery of this vital police service, ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency.
We are looking to appoint a new Chair who, by building on the strong record of the previous Chair, can provide effective and visible leadership skills which results in the delivery of strong outcomes for the railway. At a critical time for our national security, the new Chair will be responsible for ensuring that the BTPA supports and challenges the BTP so that it maximises its essential contribution to the security of Great Britain’s railways. They will also be responsible for leading the BTPA through an orderly and timely transfer of the BTP’s functions in Scotland to Police Scotland by April 2019 and for ensuring that the BTP engages positively with the challenge set by the 2015 Spending Review to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the BTP without any negative impacts on the operational effectiveness of the Force.
You will need to have a credible track record of driving forward change and improving performance, particularly through constructive challenge and effective decision-making. You should also be a strong communicator who, as well as being able to engage with the public, is able to establish personal credibility with a complex range of stakeholders, including crucially with those operating in the political, commercial and media environments.
Person Specification
The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the BTPA discharges its statutory duties and responsibilities which include:
- Securing an efficient and effective police service for the railways;
- Holding the police budget and allocating resources;
- Appointing the Chief Constable and senior BTP officers, and ensuring continuing good standards of performance.
- Consulting widely with relevant people and organisations about the policing of the rail network and taking their views into account;
- Setting policing priorities and targets for achievement;
- Monitoring how well the BTP performs against the targets set by the BTPA;
- Publishing a three year strategy plan and annual railway policing plan which set out what train operators and passengers can expect from their police service and reporting on achievements every year;
- Making sure train operators, their staff and passengers get best value from the BTP; and
- Overseeing complaints against the BTP.
Key priorities for the Chair
- At a critical time for our national security, ensure that the BTPA supports and challenges the BTP so that it maximises its essential contribution to the security of Great Britain’s railways.
- Leading the BTPA through an orderly and timely transfer of the BTP’s functions in Scotland to Police Scotland by April 2019, in a way that ensures that policing of cross-border operations continues to run smoothly without any risk of a weakening of co-operation and co-ordination between the BTP in England and Police Scotland.
- Ensuring that the BTP engages positively with the challenge set by the 2015 Spending Review to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the BTP without any negative impacts on the operational effectiveness of the Force.
- Ensuring that the BTPA/BTP plays a full part in taking advantage of opportunities for better co-operation and better interoperability with other police forces. The BTPA must challenge the Force to show an ambitious approach.
Key qualities
- Ability to lead the BTPA Board to support and to constructively and, as necessary vigorously, challenge the force around their delivery and efficiency. This includes the ability to support and challenge highly specialist officers in an effective and constructive way.
- Being able to strike a balance between focussing on the BTP’s critical day-to-day operations and playing a leading role in questions about broader strategic change.
- Ability to take a leading role in a complex environment through building strong relationships with key stakeholders (both Government and industry), recognising the rail industry’s strong commercial imperative, and demonstrating sound levels of judgement.
- Strong ability to form relationships with BTPA Board members, inducting and supporting them to play a full role.
In undertaking this role the Chair will be expected to:
- Monitor, scrutinise and challenge all aspects of BTP performance to ensure the delivery of results against agreed objectives, targets and performance indicators;
- Lead the effective governance of the BTP, holding it to account and providing constructive challenge as necessary;
- Build effective and constructive relationships across a range of commercial and government stakeholders including the devolved administrations;
- Be aware of the wider political and media context within which railway policing operates, demonstrating sound judgement and tact as necessary;
- Formulate, with BTPA Members and the Chief Constable, BTP’s overall strategy to ensure the efficient and effective policing of the railways;
- Manage and appraise the performance of the BTP’s Chief Constable, supporting and constructively challenging him or her to ensure that the BTP operates effectively, efficiently and with due propriety; and
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to an equal opportunities and diversity agenda.
How to Apply
For more information, including how to apply, please call Laverne Bryant on 020 7388 2643 or visit http://btpa.police.uk/hCfn6. Applications should arrive no later than noon on 15 September 2017.