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Appointment details

UK Shared Business Services (UK SBS), Non-Executive Director

Summary

• Organisation: UK Shared Business Services
• Sponsor department: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Digital and Technology
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Change Management, Human Resources, Technology / Digital, Major Projects, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 15 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £300 per day
• Length of term: An initial period of 3 years. There may be an opportunity for re-appointment for a second term.
• Application deadline: 11pm on 31 July 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   12 June 2023

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 31 July 2023

3. Sifting date

   14 August 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   15 September 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate, ​

Thank you for your interest in the role of Independent Non-Executive Director (NED) to the UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) Board.​

This is an exciting, interesting, and challenging time for UK SBS as the Company implements its transformation strategy to become a cloud-enabled organisation that delivers greater value and user experience for multiple clients. We are especially looking for candidates with senior experience of leading significant change and transformation across people, processes and technologies.​

My Ministerial colleagues and I are committed to fair and open recruitment processes across all public appointments that we make. We proactively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups. ​

Should you need any further assistance, my officials would be happy to talk to you about this significant role and the impact it can have.​

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking to help define the future of UK SBS and provide strategic challenge, we very much look forward to hearing from you. ​

Viscount Camrose​

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Introduction from the Chair

Can you help us seize the opportunity of the changing landscape of shared services across Government? In 2021 Ministers launched a new Shared Services Strategy for Government asking Departments to align their ERP system and shared services arrangements into five shared services centres. UK SBS already supports three Departments who are working with a number of other Departments through the Matrix Programme, to deliver shared corporate services technology and related business processes to over c.40,000 Civil Servants.

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This is a bold and exciting strategy, driving collaboration, standardisation of processes, better user experience and providing economies of scale for the Departments. With UK Research and Innovation, our founding owner, UK SBS is already implementing a new cloud-based ERP and is aiming to leverage this experience to ensure the Company is the partner of choice for the Matrix Programme propelling UK SBS to the forefront of delivering shared services across UK Government. ​

As a Board we are committed to support the executive leadership of UK SBS to achieve this goal and more, focusing on developing the Board to be an exemplar of strong and effective governance and delivering a transformative shared service digital experience. ​

We welcome applicants who would like to support the UK Government’s ambitious strategic shared service goals, adding value to the UK economy and society. We pride ourselves on having a Board that is open and inclusive and able to bring out the best in each other.​

John Clarke​

Non-Executive Chair, UK SBS

Appointment description

UK SBS is seeking a Non-Executive Director with experience supporting a board and the executive leadership in transforming operations and services, with a particular focus on stakeholder engagement and taking owners and customers on a transformational journey. Understanding how to leverage people, processes, and technology within the current ownership structure and previous experience within a multi-organisation shared service environment would be a considerable advantage, particularly where technological and operational changes have delivered significant benefits. Understanding cloud systems and their impact on governance and audit would also be desirable. This role will include appointment to the UK SBS Audit Committee. ​

As a Non-Executive Board Director of UK SBS, you will be responsible for ensuring that the Company is successful – in terms of its effectiveness as a service provider and employer. Non-Executive Directors play a key role in setting the organisation’s strategic direction and plan, as well as ensuring continuous organisational improvement, high-performance management, excellent customer focus, service delivery, accountability and effective corporate governance. You will provide constructive challenges and scrutinise the performance of the Chief Executive and other executives in meeting the Company’s objectives, in addition to providing appropriate guidance and support. ​

UK SBS is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and is an equal opportunities employer, which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of age, sex, race or ethnic background, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.​

Please see the attached candidate pack for further details.

Organisation description

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS), a private company limited by shares, was established in 2007 by the UK Research Councils as part of the drive for greater efficiency. ​

UK SBS currently provides HR & Payroll, Finance, Procurement and IT services to its public sector owners and clients including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Research and Innovation, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and a number of partner organisations. 

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It is recognised by the Cabinet Office as a government shared service provider and forms part of the Shared Services Strategy for Government.​

The unique owner / client relationship allows for a partnered approach to maximise the benefit of shared services. To enable this potential, two multi-year programmes are underway to implement new transactional shared service solutions for existing and future new clients, requiring significant end-to-end process and organisational transformation over the next few years. ​

This is an exciting and challenging time for UK SBS; the newly appointed Independent Non-Executive Director will provide significant Board level guidance and oversight to ensure delivery of leading-edge shared services to multiple clients in the most effective and efficient way, providing end-users with the high-quality experience they’ve become accustomed to in the digital age. ​

Board composition

Information on the UK SBS board members can be found here.

Person specification

Essential criteria

·       Strong business acumen gained within a large corporate environment at Executive or Board level.  

·       Proven experience in adapting at pace, with experience in managing significant change and transformation and the ability to take all stakeholders on the journey. 

·       A good working knowledge and digital and technological awareness at an Executive or Director level of shared services, the associated challenges and opportunities and the ability to use the experience to solve associated problems. 

·       Exhibit strong interpersonal, emotional IQ and relationship-building abilities.

·       Demonstrate tact and diplomacy with effective communication and influencing skills, including an ability to maintain a sense of perspective and to listen sensitively, value diverse opinions, and debate constructively with the ability to listen and engage effectively.  

·       Politically astute, able to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties. 

·       Ability to understand complex strategic issues quickly and analyse and resolve difficult problems.  

·       Sound, independent judgement, objectivity and diplomacy. 

·       Demonstrate a commitment to the Company’s values and behaviours.

Desirable criteria

·       The ability to maximise key networks whilst being an advocate of the Company. 

·       Experience working with or within the public sector. 

·       Operational transformation of a shared service company. 

Application and selection process

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by 23:00 on 31st July 2023. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Please submit the required documentation as below to: applications@audeliss.com and include ‘UK SBS Non-Executive Director’ as the subject line of your email.​

1. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages). Include your education, professional qualifications, and full employment history.​

​2. An accompanying Supporting Letter (maximum 2 pages). Please tailor setting out your suitability for the role and how you meet the Selection Criteria. We suggest you use specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the Criteria. Please also include the details of two referees who we could contact should you be successful after interview stage.​

​3. Application Form and Diversity Information. See link below. You should declare any potential issues including conflicts of interest (perceived, potential or actual), this includes your personal or professional history that could, if you were appointed, be misconstrued, cause embarrassment to the UK SBS, DSIT or HM Government, or cause public confidence in the appointment to be jeopardised. The Panel will explore your declarations during the interview process. Failure to disclose such information could result in an appointment either not being made or being terminated. ​

​4. Biography. Please could you provide as part of the application form a short biography that you would be happy to be shared with the panel, Ministers, and with officials. (max 250 words). This information will not be assessed, the panel will assess your suitability using your CV and Covering Letter. Please provide a brief career history set out as follows: your name; current or most recent role(s); board appointments (if any) and any highlights or significant achievement. ​

UK SBS NED application form​

We are unable to process incomplete applications so please ensure you include all requested documentation when you apply.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The members of the AAP are:​

Panel Chair and Departmental Representative: Freya Guinness, Chief Operating Officer, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology​

Partner Organisation Representative: John Clarke, Non-Executive Chair, UK SBS Board​

UK SBS Owner Representative: Katrina Nevin-Ridley, Non-Executive Director, UK Research and Innovation​

Independent Panel Member: Alison Walker-Fraser

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 endorse for 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 applications@audeliss.com

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. 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. 

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 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointments@beis.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

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

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology will use your data in line with the attached privacy notice.

Audeliss will use your data in line with their privacy policy, which can be found here.

Contact details

For queries about your application or the recruitment process, please email applications@audeliss.com

Attachments

• Candidate Pack

• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology privacy notice