UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) Non-Executive Directors
- Body
- Trade Remedies Authority (TRA)
- Appointing Department
- Department for International Trade
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, International
- Location
- Reading and London (occasional travel)
- Skills required
- Business / Commercial
- Number of Vacancies
- 3-5 Board members, one of whom will be asked to be Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
- Remuneration
- £15,000 per annum (additional £3,000 for the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee)
- Time Requirements
- Approximately 15-20 days per annum, including at least 6 Board meetings per annum. The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee will require at least 3 further meetings per annum. (Length of appointment 2-4yrs)
Campaign Timeline
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Competition Launched
26/06/2020
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Closed for Applications
31/07/2020 at 12:00
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Panel Sift
w/c 3 August
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Final Interview Date
w/c 12 October
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Announcement
tbc
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Date: 01/06/2021
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Simon Walker
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- TRA Chair Designate Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Amanda Brooks
- Positions
- CBE- Director, Controls, Remedies and WTO, Department for International Trade Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Dr Alison Walker-Fraser
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
Background
The TRA as a statutory body would perform an independent function, investigating and recommending to Ministers when to impose trade remedies measures in response to injury caused by unfair trading practices, such as dumping, subsidies, or unforeseen surges in imports. Ministers would decide whether to agree the TRA’s recommendations. The TRA will also carry out reviews of those existing EU measures transitioned into the UK system to ensure that they are specific to the UK market, in line with WTO rules. The TRA will also be responsible for providing support and assistance to DIT on trade.
The TRA Board
The TRA is a priority new function for Government and as a non-departmental public body, the Board will be critical to the success of the organisation. It will meet 6-8 times a year (Reading or London, with occasional travel – reasonable adjustments will be taken into consideration where appropriate and video conferencing will be put in place if/as required).
The TRA Board sets the strategic direction and priorities of the organisation, monitoring its performance against its objectives and holding the Chief Executive and executive team to account. The Board plays a key check and balance role, ensuring that the TRA’s independence is maintained. It ensures that the TRA is sufficiently, taking into account the views and perspectives of relevant stakeholders where appropriate. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the TRA fulfils its statutory duties with effective use of public funds.
The Role
Responsibilities are to:
- Provide sound advice to the Chair and Chief Executive;
- Prepare for and make an effective contribution to the TRA Board and executive/ NED meetings;
- Attendance at appropriate meetings such as TRA Boards, strategy day and staff events; be able to dedicate time to specific projects within TRA, and provide valuable input and advice to an executive team;
- Maintain appropriate links to the Department for International Trade as part of effectively discharging the duties and responsibilities of a NED;
- Provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive team to ensure that it delivers the approved strategy, and support the executive team in discharging their leadership responsibilities to the TRA;
- Collectively ensure that decisions made by the Board follow proper procedures and are supported by sufficient high-quality information;
- Ensure high standards of corporate governance and financial management and control are observed at all times.
- Develop and implement the TRA’s governance. This will include working with the Chair and CEO to establish the Board once the TRA is formed
- Ensure the TRA is run effectively, in line with best practice for non-departmental public bodies and Managing Public Money requirements
The successful candidates will possess a good appreciation of the role of a Non-Executive Director, and they will understand and be committed to the pivotal role that the Board plays in the effective and efficient delivery of TRA services. They will clearly demonstrate independence of judgement and an ability to communicate with impact to provide constructive support and challenge.
TRA is mindful of the value that diversity brings to the board. The Board is looking to appoint members from different backgrounds who bring the diversity of thinking, experience, skills and competence to enable TRA to fulfil its purpose and achieve its goals, whilst following a policy of ensuring it appoints on merit.
Person Specification
We are seeking experienced candidates from a range of professional backgrounds, who operate at senior levels to take up the Non-Executive roles on the TRA Board. The Non-Executives may also be involved in working groups in addition to the Board, offering advice and support to individual Directors or ad hoc pieces of work across the TRA.
We will appoint one of the Non-Executive Directors as Chair of the Audit and Risk committee.
The recommended candidates will be subject to security checks and will require approval by Secretary of State for International Trade.
It is essential that your application demonstrates the following:
- Astute business and commercial awareness and an ability to make complex, evidence-based judgements to meet the needs of Government and UK businesses and to advise on strategy, performance and transformation, operational issues and the effective management of the TRA.
- An engaging and collaborative working style with the ability to adapt to a wide range of (political and non-political) partners.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, find consensus and drive forward a clear strategic vision across an organisation working in a politically sensitive area.
- The ability to demonstrate an understanding of or experience in issues facing producers, consumers, trade unions, the regions and nations of the UK, and other stakeholders relevant to the work of the TRA.
- An ability to deliver results with vigour and pace, and to demonstrate resilience during periods of uncertainty and high media interest.
- The ability to work as part of a diverse team and take collective responsibility for judgements, similarly, win the trust of those who may have differing or conflicting views.
- A strong commitment to equal opportunities, diversity of skills and experience, and public service values.
It is desirable that your application demonstrates the following:
- Experience of operating at Board level as an executive or non-executive; in the public or private sector (or both).
- Experience of International Trade.
The Audit and Risk Committee
The Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Committee provides independent, objective review and assurance to the Board, and fulfil its terms of reference.
The Audit and Risk Committee meets at least 3 times a year with an additional meeting in the April-July period to review and consider the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) as these are developed. We expect Committee meetings to last a maximum of 4 hours and the Chair can expect to spend at least the equivalent time in preparation for each meeting. The Committee also oversees a broad portfolio including reviews of risk management processes, takes reports from internal and external audit; considers governance arrangements; and monitors recommendations for improved controls.
If applying as a non-executive and to be Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, it is essential that your application also demonstrates:
- A strong background in audit and risk, ideally professionally qualified.
- Familiarity with current approaches to risk management, internal control and corporate governance and experience of dealing with internal and external audits.
- The expertise to analyse complex issues and to think independently, strategically and laterally, including the ability to scan the horizon for future issues and offer constructive challenge to the Chair and Chief Executive when appropriate.
Additional Information
Important information to consider
All candidates are expected to the adhere to the Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board members.
Before the appointment of the successful candidate can be confirmed, the Department will undertake background security checks. As part of this, we will need to confirm your identity, employment history over the past three years (or course details if you were in education), nationality and immigration status, and criminal record (unspent convictions only). The successful candidate must hold or be willing to obtain security clearance to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) Level before taking up the post. In due course, once in post, NEDs may be asked to additionally obtain security clearance to Security Check (SC) level.For more information regarding security clearance please see the UK National security vetting: advice for vetting subjects.
Due diligence will be carried out at the shortlisting stage, which will include searches of candidates’ financial probity, public statements and publicly available social media profiles. For more information see candidate information brief.
How to Apply
The Department for International Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.
To make an application please follow the online process at www.odgers.com/80142
If you are unable to apply online, please email:
sarah.sulaiman@odgersberndtson.com
Any postal applications should be sent direct to Sarah Sulaiman, Odgers Berndtson, 20 Cannon Street, London EC4M 6XD.
*Applications must be received by 12:00 noon on 24/07/2020
The following below should be sent to Odgers (recruitment consultancy firm) details above.
- A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) – this should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria highlighted in the Person Specification. Please note that the Statement of Suitability is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.
- A CV.
Please ensure you CV includes:
- Your full name, title, contact number and your personal email address.
- Maximum two sides A4, minimum 11 Arial black font, setting out your career history in chronological order, and including the dates you occupied these roles.
- Does not include any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data.
Guidance on Cover Letter (Statement of Suitability) Format
- The supporting letter is your opportunity to demonstrate to the Advisory Assessment Panel how you can demonstrate the skills and experience outlined above.
- Please provide subheading and separate paragraphs in relation to how your meet each criterion.
- Write all acronyms in full when first used.
- Ensure your full name and the title of the post are clearly noted at the top of your letter.
- The maximum page limit for your letter is two sides A4, minimum 11 Arial black font.
- Does not include any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data.
Candidate Declaration Form
It is a requirement of the appointments process that we ask interested application to declare the below activity as part of our due diligence. These comprise:
Declaration of: conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest; previous conduct which could bring the reputation of the Department into disrepute; political activity
- Requests for references
As such, please complete and returnthe attached Candidate Declaration Form as part of your application. Please note that we will also carry out searches of candidates’ financial probity, public statements, and publicly available social media profiles.
Diversity Monitoring Form
We are committed to recruiting candidates that reflect the diverse communities we serve. To do this we ask candidates to fill out a diversity monitoring form which you will be prompted to complete on the final page of the online application process. The information you provide will help support us ensure that our recruitment processes are fair to all and allow us to attract diverse and talented candidates.
Diversity monitoring information will not be seen by the Assessment Panel assessing your application. Please note that the diversity monitoring form will not be shared with the panel.
However, you should note that political activity detailed in this
form will be provided separately to the panel and may, if appropriate, be discussed with you during your interview.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Department for International Trade is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all candidates during the selection process, so that appointments are selected from the widest pool of talent available.
We are signed up to the disability confident scheme and as part of that commitment is that we guarantee an interview to any candidate who:
- has disclosed a disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010 (see definition below); and
- meets the essential criteria for the post(s) in question, as set out in the role advertisement.
The Equality Act 2010 defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
If you wish to apply under the disability confident scheme, please complete the disability
confident form (attached) and return it with your application.
All applications will be acknowledged by email immediately.