Chair of Anglian (Eastern) Regional Flood and Coastal Committee
- Body
- Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC)
- Appointing Department
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Sector
- Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Location
- Various location
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £17,941 for 5 days per month
- Time Requirements
- Five days per month
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
10/02/2021
-
Closed for Applications
01/04/2021 at 12:00
-
Panel Sift
March/April
-
Final Interview Date
April/May
-
Announcement
29/06/2021
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
The Anglian (Eastern) RFCC chair and other RFCC chair reappointments have been announced.
Following a recruitment campaign the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Powell OBE as the new Anglian (Eastern) RFCC chair.
Richard’s appointment will run from 1 July 2021 for four years until 30 June 2025.
We have also reappointed six RFCC chairs for a further term when their current terms end on 30 June 2021. These appointments will run from 1 July 2021 until 30 June 2025, unless stated otherwise:
• Eddy Poll, chair of Anglian (Northern) RFCC • Shirel Stedman, chair of English Severn and Wye RFCC • Martin Hurst, chair of Southern RFCC • Vij Randeniya, chair of Trent RFCC • David Jenkins, chair of Wessex RFCC (until 31 August 2024) • Colin Mellors, chair of Yorkshire RFCC
The appointment followed procedures set out in the Ministerial Governance Code for Public Appointments which came into force on 1 January 2017. There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. Richard has not declared any significant political activity during the past five years
Date: 29/06/2021
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- David Cooper
- Added
- 11/02/2021
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Defra Deputy Director for Floods and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Lynne Frostick
- Added
- 11/02/2021
- Positions
- Environment Agency (EA) Board Member with responsibility for flooding and coastal erosion Representative of Organisation
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| Political Activity | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Jacqui Francis
- Added
- 11/02/2021
- Positions
- HR Recruitment Specialist Departmental Official
Show more information
| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
Are you passionate about taking the lead in reducing flood and coastal erosion risk?
If so, this is an exciting opportunity to help reduce the risk of flooding for thousands of homes and businesses and reduce the risk of coastal erosion along one of England’s most dynamic coastlines. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking to appoint the Chair to the Environment Agency’s Anglian (Eastern) Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC).
RFCCs bring together representatives of local councils and the Environment Agency to oversee a multi-billion pound programme of work to protect local communities, homes, businesses and services, as well as boosting resilience to reduce impacts on people, environment and the economy. As Chair, you will work in partnership to ensure that national policies and approaches are implemented whilst taking account of local circumstances and needs. Skilled in bringing together different voices and opinions, you will play a pivotal role in approving capital and revenue investment programmes, raising local levies, securing external contributions and ensuring effective community engagement. Taking full account of the government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Policy Statement and the Environment Agency’s FCERM Strategy will be important.
To succeed in this challenging role, you will need to harmonise diverse interests and objectives with fairness to ensure this important work is done effectively. This calls for strong leadership, chairing and communication skills, plus a diplomatic approach. In many ways you will be a sounding board for professional opinion – acting as an adviser and critical friend. You’ll understand how flood and coastal risk affect local communities; and operating at the highest level, you’ll have the credibility to work closely with the public and private sectors to deliver results.
The Chairs are responsible for:
• Ensuring that the Committee effectively carries out its statutory responsibilities and provides a constructive forum for performance monitoring and the provision of advice.
• Reporting to the local Environment Agency Area Director, Environment Agency Board and Defra annually.
• Ensuring Committee members are able to contribute and play an effective role in the Committee.
• Providing advice on local flood risk and coastal erosion risk issues and address concerns raised.
• Providing a key link between Defra, the Environment Agency and partner organisations within their areas. For this reason applicants who live or work within the relevant Committee area will find it easier to carry out the role.
• Setting strategic direction for the Committee, including contributing to national discussions on flood and coastal erosion management, taking full account of the government’s FCERM Policy Statement and Environment Agency’s FCERM Strategy.
Person Specification
Applicants should be able to demonstrate all of the following:
• Ability to provide effective leadership to the Committee, bringing together different voices and balancing competing interests at committee meetings, as well as steering the Committee’s overall strategic direction.
• Ability to work both individually and collaboratively as part of a national team of RFCC chairs with diverse expertise and specialisms. Able to act as a critical friend for Defra, Environment Agency and wider government.
• Good understanding of (or the capacity to learn about) flood and coastal risk priorities, decision-making and implications, improving local democratic involvement and national policy and how to influence them.
• Experience of effective leadership and demonstration of public accountability whilst in a public facing or private sector role. You will be a confident and effective communicator, with the ability to engage and influence all sections of the community, and work in partnership with public and private sectors at a senior level.
• Ability to make effective strategic financial decisions at a senior level, taking into account economic, environmental, political and social factors, alongside financial and value for money considerations.
Additional Information
We actively encourage applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. Defra is a Disability Confident employer.
How to Apply
Candidates should submit their:
• CV with education, professional qualifications and employment history and the names and contact details for two referees
• Statement of suitability. The statement of suitability should give evidence of 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 essential criteria (max two pages please);
• Monitoring form 1 (Political Activity and Conflict of Interest Questionnaire)
• Monitoring form 2 (Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire)
All candidates are required to complete the Public Appointments monitoring form. Your personal data will always be treated in confidence and when anonymised with data from other applicants will help compile the Annual Statistical Bulletin of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Your CV and statement should be returned to the following address by the closing date: 12:00 on 01 April 2021. Email to publicappts@defra.gov.uk quoting reference APPT11-20.
For further information please email: carol.tidmarsh@defra.gov.uk and kilie.mpopo@defra.gov.uk