Appointment details

Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Nuclear Research Advisory Council
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Defence
• Location: South East
• Sectors: Defence
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Business, Commercial, International Experience, Major Projects, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 50 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £550 per day
• Length of term: 5 Years
• Application deadline: 10pm on 8 January 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   11 November 2024

2. Application deadline

   10pm on 8 January 2025

3. Sifting date

   10 January 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   17 February 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Ministry of Defence is looking to appoint a Chair to the Nuclear Research Advisory Council (NRAC).  NRAC is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which provides independent evidence-based advice to the department on the UK’s ability to design, certify, manufacture, and support an effective and reliable nuclear warhead stockpile.

You will be independent of the Ministry of Defence operational activities and will be expected to apply intellectual rigour and leadership in support of the NRAC programme.  Candidates will, together with Council members, be required to provide objective, rigorous analysis of the UK’s capability to design and manufacture nuclear warheads to senior MoD officials including the MoD Chief Scientific Advisor, Managing Director Warhead Group and the Chief Defence Nuclear.  This is in support of the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD).

Appointment description

The Ministry of Defence is looking to appoint a Chair to the Nuclear Research Advisory Council (NRAC). You will be independent of the Ministry of Defence operational activities and will be expected to apply intellectual rigour in support of the NRAC programme.

Candidates will be required to provide the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser, Managing Director Warhead Group, Chief Defence Nuclear and other senior MOD officials as necessary with objective, rigorous analysis of the UK’s capability to design and manufacture nuclear warheads in support of the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD). The successful candidate should bring a board-level track record of leadership, and evidence of strategic decision making in the delivery of large, complex programmes involving government, private industry and international partners.

The Council consists of a Chair, a number of Members, and a Secretariat. A variety of technical skills and expertise is required across the Council to enable effective coverage of the Council’s Terms of Reference. The Council’s strategic direction and work programme are reviewed annually by the Chair with input from Members. The Chair proactively engages with the Senior Sponsors on its strategic direction and the outputs of the work programme.

Members of the NRAC have a collective responsibility for the operation of the Council. They are expected to apply independent intellectual rigour in support of the NRAC work programme. To carry out its work programme, the Council has mandate to hold meetings with MOD, the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and other associated agencies and bodies to conduct reviews, receive presentations, attend facility tours, and participate in other activities related to the Terms of Reference. NRAC outputs are delivered in the form of written reports and letters, supplemented with meetings and briefings with stakeholders.

The Chair is the principal for the Council with the following responsibilities and in conjunction with the senior sponsors:

• Approves the recruitment of new Members such that the Council maintains a balance of skills and expertise necessary to fulfil its terms of reference.
• Defines NRAC’s strategic direction.
• Approves all NRAC interactions and activities.
• Support development of the NRAC work programme by identifying topics for review (understanding the strategic aim, and why those topics are important), what the key questions are and what part of the UK Warhead programme they affect.
• Contributes to NRAC’s Annual Report and leads the out brief to the senior sponsors; approves all other written outputs and briefings.
• Engage fully in collective consideration of the issues, taking account of the full range of relevant factors, including any guidance issued by the sponsor department or the responsible minister.
• Comply at all times with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and with the rules relating to the use of public funds and to conflicts of interest.
• Respond appropriately to complaints, if necessary with reference to the sponsor department.
• Ensure that the Council does not exceed its powers or functions.

The Council is assisted by MOD officials, including the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) who act as the sponsor department and provide the Secretariat.

NRAC formally reports through the Chair to the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA), MOD Managing Director Warhead Group, Chief Defence Nuclear and other senior MOD officials as necessary and has formal access via CSA to the Secretary of State (SofS) to whom the Council is accountable.

Communications between the Council and Senior Sponsors will generally be through the Chair, except where the Council has agreed that an individual member should act on its behalf. Nevertheless, any Council member has the right of access to the CSA and to the Managing Director, Warhead Group on any matter which he or she believes raises important issues relating to his or her duties as a Council Member. In such cases the agreement of the rest of the Council should normally be sought.

Successful candidates must be willing and able to apply for and maintain Developed Vetting security clearance, and as a result nationality restrictions apply.

A public body review of NRAC is currently being undertaken during 2024 to ensure the optimal continued operation of the council as an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). Options under consideration include a change of public body status in order to best deliver the independent advisory role of NRAC.  Following the appointment of a successful candidate opportunities will remain for the Chair to shape the nature and future operation of the advisory council in conjunction with the senior sponsors.

Organisation description

NRAC is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which provides independent evidence-based advice to the department on the UK’s ability to design, certify, manufacture, and support an effective and reliable nuclear warhead stockpile. NRAC is sponsored by DNO’s Managing Director Warhead Group, and the MoD Chief Scientific Advisor.

Board composition

The Council consists of a Chair, a number of Members, and a Secretariat.

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

·    Experience of operating on a senior board or committee, with an understanding of corporate collegial behaviour and the ability to provide constructive challenge and independent judgement.

·       Relevant experience in either the civil or defence nuclear sectors that could be applied to the Nuclear Weapons Enterprise.

·      Strong analytical and communication skills with ability to manage complex, interdisciplinary discussions with government officials and its delivery entities, including the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

·       A good understanding of the technical and scientific methodologies needed to deliver the UK nuclear warhead programme.

Desirable criteria

·       Experience of operating as a Chair of a senior board or committee.

·       A good understanding of the UK nuclear deterrent, and warhead programme.

·       A good understanding of the importance of international collaboration in delivering the nuclear warhead programme in the defence enterprise.

·       Direct experience of delivering complex, bespoke, high-risk technical programmes within a highly regulated environment.

Application and selection process

How to apply

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

1. https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/create-account 2. https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/auth/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

-          This should include details of 2 references; full names and email addresses. By providing your referees details, you are giving us consent to approach them should you be successful at the shortlisting stage.

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.

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)

Panel Chair

DNO Managing Director Warhead Group

Independent Panel Members

AWE Non-Executive Director

CEO UK Atomic Energy Authority

The names of the Nuclear Research Advisory Council panel members are not released to the public domain for security reasons. 

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

You will need to be a UK National and be willing to undergo the Developed Vetting security clearance process (if you do not already hold DV clearance). 

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 Mark.Collinson105@mod.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.

The level of clearance required for this role is Developed Vetting (DV).

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.  If you feel that you have a complaint about the way in which your application has been handled, please contact in the first instance Defence Business Service (DBS) Public Appointments Team DBSCivPers-ResPublicAppts@mod.gov.uk . If you are not completely satisfied with the response, please contact the MOD Public Appointments Team at HeadOffice-PublicBodiesandAppts@mod.gov.uk . We will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and aim to provide a response 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 Ministry of Defence privacy notice can be found here

Contact details

For any further information please contact Mark Collinson at the following email address Mark.Collinson105@mod.gov.uk

Attachments

• Candidate Information Pack