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Appointment details

Non-Executive Chair of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)

Summary

• Organisation: Vehicle Certification Agency
• Sponsor department: Department for Transport
• Location: South West
• Sectors: Transport
• Skills: Change Management, Technology / Digital, Regulation, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 25 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £15,000 per annum
• Length of term: An initial term of three years, with the possibility of re-appointment.
• Application deadline: 5pm on 5 January 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   4 December 2023

2. Application deadline

   5pm on 5 January 2024

3. Sifting date

   15 January 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   5 April 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The VCA is seeking one Non-Executive Chair to join its Board.

Introduction from the Minister

Welcome Note from the Secretary of State for Transport

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the position of Non-Executive Chair on the Board of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).

The VCA plays a vital role in supporting the UK automotive industry to manufacture products that meet the highest international standards of safety and environmental sustainability. In doing this, it enables British manufacturing to compete on a global stage. The VCA has an international reputation for excellence, providing technical services in offices across the world.

With rapid progress in the development of new technologies, we expect to see more changes to transportation in the next 10 years than in the previous 100. It is anticipated that the way in which people travel will change significantly, meaning that the automotive industry will evolve substantially in the coming years. The VCA will play a vital role in this revolution, ensuring the appropriate oversight and testing is in place to support change.

The VCA is committed to building and maintaining a highly skilled, flexible workforce that will enable them to remain one of the most respected certification agencies in the world, at a time of great change in the sector. In the role of Non-Executive Chair, you would have the opportunity to help guide the organisation through this changing landscape.

If you are excited and challenged by the opportunity to contribute to the VCA’s work, I encourage you to apply.

The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP

Secretary of State for Transport

Introduction from the Chair

Clive Scrivener, Non-Executive Chair

Thank you for considering an application to join the Board at the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA). I have had the pleasure of being a Non-Executive Director and latterly Non-Executive Chair at the VCA for a number of years.  During that time, it’s been hugely rewarding to help the CEO and executive team to develop the agency and respond so positively to the exciting opportunities and the challenges we face.

The Agency performs a critical function, and it has taken great strides to ensure that it remains at the forefront of thinking on developing automotive technologies and has used that experience to play an important role in informing the vision for the future in transportation.

I have been working with CEO, Pia Wilkes, my fellow Non-Executive Directors, and the senior management team on the Agency strategic plan; the level of ambition that it conveys is outstanding.  The steps that the Agency will take over the life of the strategy will ensure that it remains on top of its game as a progressive and forward-thinking approval authority and certification body that is respected globally.

We also have an ongoing Business Transformation programme in place, which will enable us to realise efficiencies and provide an even better experience to both staff and customers.  The organisation has done a lot to build on the way it responds to change, and I have no doubt that this will help to drive the necessary projects forward to great effect.

Once you have had an opportunity to consider the candidate pack, I hope you will agree that this role presents an exciting chance to support an organisation at a really interesting and transformational time in its development and a pivotal point in the evolution of vehicles generally. 

Clive Scrivener

Non-Executive Chair

Additional introductions

Pia Wilkes, Chief Executive Officer

Thank you for your interest in joining us at the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) as a Non-Executive Chair. This is a great opportunity to join an organisation that makes a real difference to peoples’ lives. As an agency for the Department for Transport, our core activity is witnessing tests and issuing certification to new vehicles, systems and components. This work is vital in ensuring that the right standards are met, both at the time of manufacture and on into the future.

This is a particularly exciting time to join us as technology advances at the fastest rate in a generation. Our Strategic Plan explains how we will adapt to the challenges we face. The plan outlines an ambitious agenda, which broadly sits under four critical themes, ‘Technology’, ‘People’, ‘Transformation’ and ‘Infrastructure/Digital’. Our agency is at the forefront of change, not only assessing the impact on current standards but working to understand how things will operate in the future.

From a people perspective, we are building on our existing employer offering to ensure that we can attract the right talent to help us meet the challenge and opportunities associated with an ever-changing technology landscape.  And of course, attracting new staff is just part of the story.  We need to continue to ensure that we provide an environment where new and existing staff can develop and thrive so that we have the right skills at the right time. Great services are based on solid foundations, so we are investing in our IT infrastructure and tools to ensure that we continue to operate as efficiently as possible, leveraging evolving technologies to support this aim.

Since joining the VCA as Chief Executive in 2016, I have been immensely proud to lead an incredible and truly diverse team in the UK and overseas. I have been struck by the talent and dedication of my colleagues – a workforce drawn from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures.

At the VCA, we encourage forward-thinking, collaborative working and the development of our leaders. If you share our passion and values for a great public service and are excited by the evolving technology agenda, then I would encourage you to consider applying. This is both an outstanding opportunity and your chance to make a far-reaching contribution at a forward-thinking government agency.

Pia Wilkes CBE

Chief Executive Officer

Appointment description

The Chair’s principal responsibility is to chair the VCA Executive Board with the purpose of guiding, supporting and challenging the strategic direction of the Agency. They will play a vital role in the effective strategic and operational leadership of the VCA. The Chair will provide guidance, experience, opinion and governance scrutiny, and particularly support the Chief Executive Officer to deliver the VCA’s business plan.

The Chair will work with the NEDs in the VCA, as well as the central Department, and NEDs in the other Motoring Agencies to ensure consistent and robust governance arrangements across the DfT Group.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• prepare for and make an effective contribution to the VCA Board and executive/ NED meetings
• support bi-annual Management Board conferences
• be able to dedicate time to specific projects within the VCA (such as organisational development, future skills requirements, responding to emerging technology) to provide valuable input and advice to the executive team and their reports
• maintain appropriate links to the DfT as part of effectively discharging the duties and responsibilities of a Non-Executive Chair
• carry out annual performance reviews of the Non-Executive Directors
• work proactively with the Board and objectively with Government to:
• provide sound advice to the Chief Executive
• provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive team to ensure that policy delivery follows strategic direction
• ensure that decisions made by the Board follow proper procedures and are supported by sufficient high-quality information
• support the executive team in discharging their leadership responsibilities to the VCA
• ensure high standards of corporate governance and financial management and control are observed at all times
• work closely with, and hold to account, the executive team for delivery of the Agency’s Business Plan and budget.

The successful candidate will possess a good appreciation of the role of a Non-Executive Director, and they will understand and be committed to the pivotal role that the Board plays in the effective and efficient delivery of VCA services. They will clearly demonstrate independence of judgement and an ability to communicate with impact to provide constructive support and challenge.

Organisation description

We are an executive agency of the Department for Transport

Our approval certificates are recognised without question around the world.

The Department for Transport (DfT) delivers the Government’s transport strategy. Operational delivery of services is provided by a number of arms’ length bodies, ranging from Network Rail to individual trust ports. Services for drivers and vehicle owners are provided by the Department’s Executive Agencies, of which the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is one.

The VCA is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval authority and, with 40 years’ experience, supports industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components. This regime, known as type approval, is aimed at ensuring that products meet the appropriate environmental and safety standards.

In addition, the VCA is the designated authority for the certification of packaging and containers used in the transportation of dangerous goods.

The VCA is fairly unique in public sector terms.  As well as providing Great Britain (GB) specific certifications, it also operates in an environment where industry has a choice in terms of the approval authorities and technical services they use for international standards. The VCA has a reputation for applying the highest standards and works with a wide range of organisations from global brands to the smallest niche vehicle builders.

Additionally, given that the automotive industry is a truly global affair, the VCA doesn’t just deliver services in the UK, it also has operations in strategic locations overseas such as the US, Brazil, Japan, China, India, Australia and South Korea

VCA’s headquarters are located in Bristol, with a further office and test facility on the Horiba MIRA site (Nuneaton).  VCA also has a presence at UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground near Milton Keynes, and the Dangerous Goods team is based in Leatherhead, Surrey.

The current VCA Business Plan can be found here.

Board composition

The current VCA Board consists of:

CEO, Pia Wilkes

Non-Executive Chair, Clive Scrivener

Non-Executive Director, Jon Beasley

Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, Darran Messem

Chief Corporate Affairs and Strategy Officer

Chief Finance and Resources Officer

Chief Operations Officer

Chief Technical and Statutory Operations Officer

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Proven extensive experience of being a Non-Executive Director or c-suite leader in commercial engineering or comparable regulatory environments (minimum 3 years).
• Demonstrable experience of leading strategic change.
• An inspiring leader with strong inter-personal skills and the ability to build trust, balance discussions, establish a proportionate approach and to communicate effectively, and constructively at all levels.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in the Automotive industry.
• Experience of working in small or medium sized business/public bodies/executive agencies.
• Leadership of extensive change programmes.
• Board membership of a public body.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

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. This appointment is not regulated, but the recruitment will be conducted in the spirit of the Code. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages.

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 selection panel will consist of:

Emma Ward, Director General, Roads and Local Group, Department for Transport

Nick Bitel, Non-Executive Chair of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Nicolina Andall, 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)

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. 

Non-Executives can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred at rates set centrally by the Department for Transport. Applicants should note that the successful candidate cannot be remunerated 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

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

Information on DfT’s data protection policy is available at: Personal information charter - Department for Transport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Contact details

Please contact DfTPATApplications@dft.gov.uk if you have any questions.

Attachments

• VCA Chair Candidate Information Pack