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Role details

Historic England Chair

Application deadline 16 February 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Historic England
• Sponsor department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Location: London
• Sectors: Culture, Media & Sport
• Skills: Accountancy, Business, Commercial, Communication, Major Projects, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £40000 per annum
• Length of term: 4 years
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 16 February 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   19 January 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 16 February 2023

3. Sifting date

   21 March 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   24 April 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction

The Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport seeks applications for a new Chair of Historic England.

Historic England is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment and the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment.  It does this by:

• Championing historic places

• Identifying and protecting our heritage

• Supporting change

• Understanding historic places and

• Providing expertise at a local level

Historic England has an annual budget of approximately £125m (2022-23) and employs around 950 people.

DCMS is committed to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity in its public appointments. We particularly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups, those based outside London and the South-East and applicants who have achieved success through non-traditional educational routes. This ensures that boards of public bodies benefit from a full range of diverse perspectives and are representative of the people they serve.

Introduction from the Secretary of State

“It is my privilege as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to invite you to apply to this role.

DCMS public bodies play a vital role in promoting growth across the digital, culture, sport, and media sectors. We protect and promote our cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. To ensure the success of these organisations, we need talented people to apply to public appointments. Our boards can only thrive when benefitting from the best people, from the broadest range of backgrounds, and with the widest range of perspectives.

But why should you apply? Many of our board members are driven by the desire to give something back to your country and your community. When you’re on a board, you can use your voice to help to ensure that our organisations are delivering the right things for everyone throughout the UK.

But we also believe that these roles provide an unparalleled opportunity to develop your skills, build networks, and raise your profile - at whatever stage in your life and career.

Whoever you are, wherever you have come from - you can be sure to thrive in a DCMS board role. So If you are reading this and thinking of applying to this role, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so, and I wish you the very best of luck."

Role description

The person who takes on this role will need to show strong leadership, business acumen and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.  The Chair has the following leadership responsibilities:

• Formulating the Commission’s strategy for discharging its statutory duties;

• Ensuring that the Commission, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by the responsible minister or the Department;

• Supporting the Accounting Officer in promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources;

• Supporting the Accounting Officer in delivering high standards of regularity and propriety; and

• Representing the views of the Commission to the staff and general public.

The Chair also sets and agrees annual objectives for the Chief Executive and reports on progress to the Remuneration Committee, in accordance with the Committee's agreed protocol.

Organisation description

About Historic England

Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment.  Our vision is for a heritage that is valued, celebrated and shared by everyone; a historic environment that people connect with and learn from and that we are proud to pass on to future generations.

By protecting and caring for our historic environment, and through our research, listing, grant-aiding, planning and technical advice, we can help our heritage to have a positive impact on the world around us.

Our work is varied and diverse:

• We target our resources and expertise through national programmes, such as our award-winning Heritage Schools programme; and our Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) and High Streets HAZ schemes, supporting over 80 places across the country to use the historic environment as a catalyst for economic and social recovery and growth.

• Our campaigns and public programming work engages communities, broadens our reach, and helps even more audiences discover why the historic environment matters to everyone.

• In 2021-22, we made grant payments of almost £80million to help protect the historic environment; and to sustain organisations, places and craftspeople through the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

• We maintain and publish the Heritage at Risk register, which helps draw attention to places most at risk of being lost forever through neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

• We make over 1,000 recommendations a year to the Secretary of State on new and existing designations on the National Heritage List for England (the List).

• We commission and produce research, guidance and training on a diverse range of subjects, and publish Heritage Counts, an annual overview of the state of England’s historic environment. We champion the use of Culture & Heritage Capital. 

• We work closely with DLUHC and DCMS on planning matters, and our research and advice are supporting the development and implementation of planning reforms.

• We work with planning authorities, owners and developers at the local plan and pre-application stages to provide advice, support and – where necessary – challenge on internationally significant and potentially contentious proposals, including those within World Heritage Sites.  On average, we are consulted on over 20,000 applications for planning permission and listed building consent each year.

• We are digitising even more of the 12 million photographs, plans and drawings in the Historic England Archive to make even more of this incredible resource available online.

• We are responsible to the Government for the care and operation of the National Heritage Collection – over 400 historic sites and monuments that are under the nation’s ownership or protection – which are managed on our behalf by the English Heritage Trust, and we support, monitor and hold them to account in their care and maintenance of the Collection. Historic England will also be responsible for putting in place the next licence to manage the National Heritage Collection, which will run from April 2025.

Our Future Strategy - Championing Heritage, Improving Lives and our 2022-23 Corporate Plan set out how now, more than ever, Historic England can support the historic environment and our local communities to address national and global challenges.

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 person should have senior board level experience.

The person must have a broad understanding of the role that the heritage sector can play in stimulating economic growth and investment and be able to drive forward Historic England’s business model with energy and commitment.

Specifically, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to chair organisations successfully at Board level

• Experience of developing robust financial models and diverse funding streams, such as major fundraising programmes, philanthropic giving and increasing commercial income.

• Understanding of heritage and the way that development and planning opportunities can be utilised to create more sustainable growth and address opportunities from levelling-up and the challenges from climate change.

• A clear understanding of, and commitment to, the role of Historic England, with an appreciation of the balance between a strong national overview, strategy and policy, and on the ground delivery.

• Excellent communication skills, complemented by vision and personal authority.

• A commitment to preserving cultural heritage, and improving education and understanding of British and World history.

• A strong commitment to engaging communities outside of London, factoring UK-wide perspectives into all decision making, and improving opportunities for access to people from low socio-economic backgrounds.

• A commitment to improving opportunities for people throughout the UK and access to people from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to provide:

1. A  Curriculum Vitae of no more than 2 sides of A4 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 of no more than 2 sides of A4 setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;

3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues - please complete the attached Declaration of Conflicts of Interest Form;

4. Diversity monitoring information. Please follow this link to access the form. 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.

Completed applications should be submitted to publicappointments@dcms.gov.uk - please put "Historic England Chair application" in the subject line of your email

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)

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.

• Polly Payne - Director General, Culture, Sport & Civil Society - DCMS Panel Chair
• Howell James CBE - Senior Independent Panel Member
• Paul Farmer - Historic England Commissioner - Organisation Representative
• Sir Trevor Phillips - Additional Panel Member

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 publicappointments@dcms.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. 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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

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

The Chair is paid an annual remuneration of £40,000 per annum.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the Historic England travel and subsistence policy and rates.

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

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 public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointments@dcms.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.

The DCMS privacy policy is also attached.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact the Campaign Manager on lucy.allinson@dcms.gov.uk

If you would like to speak about the role itself, please contact Andrew Wiseman, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Historic England on andrew.wiseman@historicengland.org.uk

Attachments

• Declaration of Conflicts of Interest Form

• DCMS Privacy Notice

• Candidate Pack - Historic England Chair