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Role details

Chair of the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA)

Application deadline 15 May 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Trade Remedies Authority
• Sponsor department: Department for Business and Trade
• Location: South East
• Sectors: Business and Trade
• Skills: Business, Communication, Media, International Experience, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 45 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £29000 per annum
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: 11pm on 15 May 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   13 April 2023

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 15 May 2023

3. Sifting date

   22 June 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   26 July 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction from the Secretary of State

Dear Candidates,

Thank you for your interest in the role of the Chair of the UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). 

The TRA plays a critical role in the UK’s independent trade remedies system. It was established on 1 June 2021 with the remit of ensuring UK domestic industries have a safety net to protect them against injury caused by unfair trading practices, such as dumping and subsidies, and unforeseen surges in imports. 

The TRA investigates whether new and existing trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to UK industries caused by unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports. It then makes a recommendation to the Department for Business and Trade Secretary of State on what trade remedy to apply. These remedies usually take the form of additional duties on those imports. Their work helps to create a level playing field for UK industries.  

The Chair will have substantial responsibilities to provide leadership to the Board and hold the Executive team to account for delivery, including the effective conduct of trade remedies investigations, and recommending fair and objective trade remedies measures. The Board will assure the TRA governance and decision-making processes. For the right candidate, the role offers considerable scope to develop the TRA’s corporate governance and formulate its strategic vision.

This is a high-profile and dynamic role. We are looking for someone able to operate in a politically sensitive environment and work under intense media scrutiny. This person will need to be strategically adept and be able to lead the TRA to collaborate with, and gain the trust of, a wide variety of stakeholders. 

If you believe you have the experience and qualities that we are seeking to provide strong direction and governance to lead this important organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Nigel Huddleston MP

Minister of State at Department for Business and Trade

Role description

This role has oversight of, and access to, the entire organisation. 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 sufficiently considers 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 Board provides assurance of the soundness of TRA’s processes.

This is an exciting, intellectually stretching, and high-profile role for a candidate with the right skills to be Chair of this dynamic organisation. The position will suit a candidate comfortable with considerable stakeholder engagement and with the energy and enthusiasm for creating meaningful impact as the TRA works to set the standard as a globally respected trade remedies body. 

The Chair will have responsibility for delivering the Government’s commitment to ensuring the TRA is able to investigate and recommend trade remedies measures to protect industry, in accordance with World Trade Organisation rules. The TRA Chair will lead on a number of critical areas, including developing the TRA’s corporate governance structures and reviewing its strategic vision. Day-to-day management of the TRA will be led by the Chief Executive. 

The Chair will also be responsible for overseeing the TRA’s relationship with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

During their tenure on the Board, the Chair will focus on maintaining operational independence, impartiality and expertise to achieve the TRA’s goals.

Responsibilities include:

• Building on work delivered to date, take a leading role in the ongoing development of the TRA, including maintaining and, where necessary, developing the organisation’s governance frameworks, and providing input into staffing and resource allocation. 
• Formally appointing executive members to the TRA Board when current tenures expire. The Chair will also be consulted on the appointment of non-executive members to the TRA by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.  
• Determining remuneration and terms and conditions for new executive members.  
• Continuing to ensure a cohesive and focused Board, able to ensure the TRA fulfils its statutory duties and functions. 
• Continuing to enable the Board to exercise its functions in a consistent, proportionate and fair manner – bearing in mind the economic conditions in all parts of the UK. The Chair must ensure the TRA operates fairly across the whole UK.   
• Working with the Board to ensure the TRA maintains its operational independence, impartiality and expertise to deliver its mandate and meet the UK’s obligations under the WTO Agreements.  
• Acting as the public face of the organisation alongside the Chief Executive, acting collectively in representing its decisions to stakeholders and the general public.   
• Acting as a critical friend to the TRA’s senior staff. 
• Continuing to develop and maintain effective relationships with the Devolved Administrations, all external stakeholders and the public. External stakeholders may include relevant parliamentary bodies, international industries, UK manufacturing industry and other UK producers, consumer groups, trade associations and trade unions, where appropriate. 

Organisation description

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority is an arm’s length body, that acts independently on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). It is responsible for investigating claims of unfair trading practices and helping prevent injury to UK industry.

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) was established as a new non-departmental public body, ensuring an appropriate degree of separation from DBT, and is responsible for investigating alleged unfair import practices. Trade measures can have a substantial effect on both consumers and businesses – that is why it is imperative that stakeholders trust that investigative and decision-making processes are fair and objective.

The TRA is responsible for conducting investigations into unfair trading practices and unexpected surges in imports. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is responsible for making a final determination on whether to accept or reject recommendations to impose measures.

Board composition

The TRA Board is made up of the Chair, Chief Executive, General Counsel, Director of Corporate Services and three Non-Executive Directors. 

Current members are: Simon Walker (Chair), Oliver Griffiths (Chief Executive), Clare Brodie (General Counsel), Steven O'Donoghue (Director of Corporate Services) and Patricia Gallan, John Hughes and Adam Marshall as NEDs. See also details about Governance of the TRA. 

The Board is looking to add another two NEDs once the Chair is appointed. 

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

The successful candidate for the Chair role will need to demonstrate the following essential criteria: 

• A track record of board-level leadership, alongside a proven ability to set effective and strategic vision; 
• Able to manage robust corporate governance arrangements through sustained, impactful leadership, ensuring that the TRA Board is able to perform to a high standard, develop and learn as appropriate; 
• An ability to deal systematically with complex issues and guide an organisation to meet strategic need; 
• Evidence of successful commercial experience gained in a complex domestic and international environment; 
• A strong ability to communicate, lead and represent an organisation that can come under external scrutiny; 
• Proven credibility to engage with Ministers, senior government officials and other stakeholders. 

Desirable criteria

The following criteria are considered desirable for the role: 

• A knowledge of trade policy in a domestic and international context. 
• An understanding of cross-sector dynamics and supply chain complexity. 

Application and selection process

How to apply

The preferred method of application is online on the Odgers Berndtson website.

If you are unable to apply online, please email: simon.havers@odgersberndtson.com

All applications received by the closing date will be shared with and considered by the panel

In order to apply you will need to provide:

Application Stage

1. A Curriculum Vitae which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;
2. A Supporting Statement (no longer than two pages) setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role. Please note that the Supporting Statement is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.
3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;
4. Diversity monitoring information which you will receive an email prompt to complete during the application process. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;
5. Disability Confident – please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme;
6. Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable).

Please provide the information at points 3-6 above on the relevant form, or as part of your Supporting Statement.

It is a requirement of the appointments process that we ask interested applicants 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.

Application guidance

Please ensure your 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 can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data. 

Guidance on Supporting Statement format: 

• The supporting Supporting Statement is your opportunity to demonstrate to the Advisory Assessment Panel how you can demonstrated the skills and experience outlined. 
• Please provide subheading and separate paragraphs in relation to how you 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 Supporting Statement. 
• The maximum page limit for your Supporting Statement is two sides A4, minimum 11 Arial font black. 
• Does not include any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data. 

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. 

We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The Advisory Assessment Panel consists of: 

• Jo Crellin - Director General, Trading Systems, Department for Business and Trade
• Martin Howe QC - King's Counsel, 8 New Square, Lincoln's Inn
• Barnabas Reynolds - Global Head of Financial Services Industry Group, Shearman & Sterling
• Dame Mary Archer - Chair, Science Museum Group (Independent Panel Member) 

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this; 
• you are subject to a current police investigation. 

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for.

You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below). 

If you need further advice, please contact simon.havers@odgersberndtson.com

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) Level before taking up the post. In due course, once in post, the Chair may be asked to additionally obtain security clearance to Security Check (SC) level. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. 

We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. 

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

There is no entitlement to annual leave, public and privilege holidays. 

Applicants should note that the successful candidates cannot be renumerated for this role if they are being paid for an existing full-time role from the public purse. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

You will receive an automated acknowledgement once your application has been received. If you do not receive this receipt email, then your application will not have been successfully submitted. If you do not receive the acknowledgement email, please resend your application or contact us separately as soon as possible on the above email address.  

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the the DBT Public Appointments and the DBT TRA Sponsorship Team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at ditappointments@trade.gov.uk and pippa.thorogood@trade.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Information on Odgers Berndtson ‘privacy policy’ is accessible here and their ‘terms and conditions’ are here. 

The Department for Business and Trade's privacy notice can be found on gov.uk. 

The Trade Remedies Authority data protection and privacy notice is accessible here. 

Contact details

For a conversation in confidence about the role, please contact: simon.havers@odgersberndtson.com

Attachments

• Candidate Pack for TRA Chair role