The Environment Agency - Chair
- Body
- Environment Agency (EA)
- Appointing Department
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Sector
- Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Business / Commercial, Change Management, Major Projects, Regulation, Transformation
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £100,000. Expenses are payable for expenditure reasonably and necessarily incurred on behalf of the Environment Agency and in accordance with the travel and expenses policy
- Time Requirements
- 3½ days a week
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
24/02/2022
-
Closed for Applications
24/03/2022 at 12:00
-
Panel Sift
06/04/2022
-
Final Interview Date
17/05/2022
-
Announcement
19/07/2022 at 12:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has today (19 July) confirmed Alan Lovell DL as the new Chair of the Environment Agency. A further announcement of the preferred candidate was made on 28 June (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/alan-lovell-announced-as-preferred-environment-agency-chair-candidate)
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
“Alan will bring a wide range of experience, enthusiasm and leadership to the role and I am delighted he will be the next Chair of the Environment Agency.”
His knowledge and experience will be a real asset as we work together to improve and enhance the natural environment.”
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Mr Lovell has declared no political activity.
Date: 19/07/2022
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Tamara Finkelstein
- Added
- 24/02/2022
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Defra Permanent Secretary Departmental Official
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Nick Smallwood
- Added
- 24/02/2022
- Positions
- Infrastructure Projects Authority CEO Senior Independent Panel Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Peter Unwin
- Added
- 24/02/2022
- Positions
- Natural England Board Member Independent Member
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| Political Activity | None |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
- Panel Member
- Katherine Bennett
- Added
- 25/03/2022
- Positions
- Manufacturing Catapult CEO Other Panel Member
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| Political Activity | - |
|---|---|
| Notes | - |
Vacancy Description
“The Environment Agency is at the heart of the Government’s work to create a better environment for people and for nature and to adapt to climate change. It works to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development. It protects people, homes, and businesses by reducing the risk of flooding and helps communities recover when floods do happen. It helps to create new habitats, protecting and improving the quality of our water, land, and air to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment which benefits people, wildlife, and promotes sustainable development.
The Environment Agency Chair will provide overall leadership and strategic vision for the Board of the Environment Agency. The right candidate will have experience in leading a complex, high-profile organisation, the ability to build and maintain productive and collaborative relationships, excellent communication skills, the capability to ensure effective strategic oversight of large-scale infrastructure projects, and a commitment to enhancing our environment. The Chair will play a critical role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, implementing the Environment Act which sets the course for how we will improve air and water quality, tackle waste, increase recycling, halt the decline of species, and improve our natural environment, and adapting to the increased risks of drought and flooding to homes and businesses, and the threat to fragile habitats, caused by climate change.”
RT HON GEORGE EUSTICE MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Role specification
As Chair, you will provide overall leadership and strategic vision for the Board of the Environment Agency. You will understand the environment and its importance to everyone. You will improve the environment and grow the rural economy and business. You will be able to balance priorities and command confidence and respect at the highest level with Ministers across Government and partners.
You will promote a positive and constructive relationship with everyone that works with the Environment Agency including local government and local communities, business and industry and other interest groups. Providing excellent customer service, and being a visible leader, will be core to your role.
Strong leadership in the context of change and transition will be essential while maintaining a clear focus, ensuring business continuity, and delivering the Environment Agency’s priorities within a tight fiscal period.
Principal Accountabilities
• Responsibility to the Secretary of State for the overall leadership, direction, and effectiveness of the Environment Agency, ensuring that its policies and actions are in line with Government’s strategic priorities and its affairs are conducted with probity.
• Be a visible leader, particularly during emergencies, and, alongside the Chief Executive, represent the Environment Agency to Parliament and Government Ministers, senior representatives of partner organisations. You will represent the EA in the media, promoting excellent relations, explaining the Environment Agency’s work to a range of audiences.
• Chair the Board and manage the business of the Board: ensure that Board membership, in terms of its composition and capability, is aligned with the challenges facing the organisation; ensure that the performance of individual members of the Board and its committees is evaluated annually; and ensure the effective utilisation of the skills of Board members, both individually and in teams.
• Ensure that the Board has accurate and clear financial information, is aware of and can demonstrate achievements, understands the cost and benefits of what the Agency does, and is advised of all likely future developments and trends.
• Ensure the EA fulfils its legal duties, provides excellent services to its customers, and delivers its various tasks on behalf of the government and the country at large.
• Ensure that each person in the organisation and board feels valued and respected, and that the diversity of the organisation represents the communities it serves.
• Hold the Chief Executive and the rest of the Environment Agency executive to account for delivery and provide constructive challenge on their decisions and performance.
• Responsible to the Secretary of State who will assess performance annually
• Be an ex officio member of the Defra Board.
Person Specification
Candidates must be able to demonstrate all the following essential criteria:
1. Experience in the strategic leadership of a complex, high-profile organisation under media, political and stakeholder scrutiny, particularly through periods of change.
2. The ability to develop collaborative and productive relationships – with board members, senior leadership, ministers, and colleagues in other organisations.
3. Excellent communication skills, judgement, discretion, and political sensitivity.
4. The capability to ensure effective strategic oversight and delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects.
5. A demonstrable commitment to protect and enhance the environment.
How to Apply
The recruitment process is being undertaken by Odgers Berndtson on behalf of the Defra. If you wish to apply for this position, please visit www.odgers.com/85180. You will be asked to provide:
• A comprehensive CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements.
• A covering letter (maximum two sides of A4) highlighting your suitability and setting out how you meet the person specification. Please note that the covering letter is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.
• Diversity Monitoring Form –Once you have completed your application, you will receive an automatically generated email asking you to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. Your Diversity Monitoring Form will be stored separately from your application and will play no part in the selection process.
• Political Activity/Conflicts of Interest Questionnaire – this can be downloaded as part of the application process at www.odgers.com/85180.
Please return to: anne.neill@odgersberndtson.com
All applications will receive an automated response.
We are committed to ensuring everyone can access our website and application processes. This includes people with sight loss, hearing, mobility and cognitive impairments. Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact: anne.neill@odgersberndtson.com
Also, if you have any comments and/or suggestions about improving access to our application processes please don’t hesitate to contact us at: response.manager@odgersberndtson.com . Contact If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Laura Spurgin on +44 20 7529 1072 or laura.spurgin@odgersberndtson.com or Rebecca Royle on + 44 20 7529 3054 or rebecca.royle@odgersberndtson.com
The preferred method of application is online at: www.odgers.com/85180 If you are unable to apply online please email: anne.neill@odgersberndtson.com