UK Statistics Authority non-executive board member
- Body
- UK Statistics Authority
- Appointing Department
- Cabinet Office
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, Regulation, Science & Technology
- Location
- Nationwide - some travel to London and other ONS sites will be expected
- Skills required
- Accountancy, Business / Commercial, Change Management, Regulation, Transformation
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £15,000 per annum
- Time Requirements
- minimum of 2 days a month
Campaign Timeline
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Competition Launched
08/03/2021
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Closed for Applications
14/04/2021 at 12.00pm
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Panel Sift
Following the Easter Holidays
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Final Interview Date
4 and 6 May 2021
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Announcement
24/06/2021 at 15:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Professor John Aston has been appointed as non-executive board member of the UK Statistics Authority. Professor John Aston has been appointed as a non-executive board member of the UK Statistics Authority for a period of three years beginning on 1 July 2021.
Professor Aston is Harding Professor of Statistics in Public Life at the University of Cambridge, where he leads research into the use of quantitative evidence in public policy making, works with those in public life to ensure the best methods are used, and aims to improve the use of statistics and other quantitative evidence in public policy debates. He was awarded a knighthood in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to statistics and public policymaking.
Date: 24/06/2021
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Professor Spiegelhalter
- Added
- 15/03/2021
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Sir David Norgrove
- Added
- 15/03/2021
- Positions
- Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Jonathan Nancekivell Smith
- Added
- 15/03/2021
- Positions
- Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Baroness Gisela Stuart
- Added
- 15/03/2021
- Positions
- Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Dr Stuart Ritchie
- Added
- 15/03/2021
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
We are seeking to appoint one non-executive member of the Board of the UK Statistics Authority.
The non-executive members of the Authority are responsible for:
- Strategy: setting the overall strategic direction and vision of the Authority and its executive offices, within the policy framework laid down in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007;
- Governance: providing strong governance of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR);
- Working with executives: providing oversight, guidance and support to the National Statistician as the Chief Executive of the Authority, and the Director General for Regulation as the Authority’s principal adviser on the ongoing development and operation of the Authority’s assessment work;
- Support and challenge: supporting and challenging the Office for Statistics Regulation, Government Statistical Service and ONS in delivering the Authority’s strategy;
- Advocacy: acting as effective advocates and influential ambassadors for the UK Statistics Authority among key stakeholders;
- Independence: ensuring that the Authority remains beyond reproach on the question of independence, and reports as necessary to Parliament and the devolved legislatures; and
- Compliance: ensuring that the Authority maintains high standards of corporate governance, complies with any statutory and administrative requirements for the use of public funds; and that it delivers its statutory responsibilities and operates within the limits of its statutory authority.
Day-to-day management of the work of the Authority, OSR and ONS is delegated to the staff of the Authority, OSR and ONS, with strategic control being retained by members of the Authority Board acting collectively as the Authority.
Person Specification
Essential skills all candidates should demonstrate:
- A strong track record of expertise in using and analysing statistics and data, and a demonstrable commitment to the integrity and usefulness of statistics and data;
- Ability 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, Deputy Chair and National Statistician when appropriate;
- A track record of leadership in a large or complex organisation;
- Ability to present complex subjects clearly and to promote a clear understanding of the Authority’s vision;
- Ability to develop and maintain relationships with groups with disparate views and agendas; and
- Ability to build partnerships across organisations, participate in robust, rigorous debate, negotiate satisfactory outcomes and operate effectively at the highest levels of government, private or voluntary sector organisations.
In order to meet the minimum criteria for the role, candidates wanting to use the Disability Confident Scheme should demonstrate all of the above essential skills.
Experience and expertise at senior levels in one or more of the following areas would also be desirable:
- Independent regulation;
- Commercial processes and/or finance; or
- A practical understanding of large scale transformation programmes, ideally gained in a senior leadership role
It is unlikely that any one individual will be experienced in all of these areas.
For this post, a person cannot be appointed as a Board Member if he or she is employed in the civil service of the state, has unspent criminal convictions, is subject to bankruptcy, or disqualification as a company director.
Additional Information
The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm’s length from Government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to Parliament. The Authority was established on 1 April 2008 under the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
The Authority’s statutory objective is to promote and safeguard the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. The Authority’s functions relate to its statutory areas of responsibility:
- Oversight of the UK official statistics system, which includes around 30 central government departments and the devolved administrations, and the promotion, safeguarding and monitoring of quality, comprehensiveness and good practice in relation to all official statistics;
- Production of a Code of Practice for Statistics and assessment of official statistics against the Code;
- Governance of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR); and
- Cabinet Office Ministers are responsible for accounting for statistical business in Parliament. They are also responsible for the non executive appointments to the Authority’s board (excluding the Chair’s appointment which is a Crown appointment). Ministers have no role in the decision-making of the Authority’s Board. A Memorandum of Understanding describes the responsibilities of the Cabinet Office with respect to the UK Statistics Authority, as an independent statutory body.
How to Apply
In order for us to progress your application, please submit all of the following completed documentation:
– A Curriculum Vitae with your education, professional qualifications and full employment history.
– An accompanying Supporting Letter (maximum 2 A4 pages) – setting out your suitability for the role and how you meet the essential and desirable skills set out in the person specification – please ensure your full name is clearly noted at the top of your letter.
– Diversity monitoring form (Google) you do not need to have a Google account to complete the form – any information you provide in Section A will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel. The form now includes questions about disability. Information to help answer these questions can be found on the Public Appointments website. If you experience problems accessing the monitoring form please contact Jane Hughes in the Cabinet Office (jane.hughes@cabinetoffice.gov.uk).
– Disability Confident – Offering an interview to disabled people declaration (if applicable)
Please send all of your documents to: