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Role details

S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru) Chair Role

Application deadline 25 April 2024

Summary

• Organisation: Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C)
• Sponsor department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Location: Wales
• Sectors: Culture, Media & Sport
• Skills: Change Management, Commercial, Technology / Digital
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £40000 per annum
• Length of term: 4 Years
• Application deadline: 7pm on 25 April 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   14 March 2024

2. Application deadline

   7pm on 25 April 2024

3. Sifting date

   24 May 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   13 June 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking an outstanding individual with demonstrable leadership skills and a passion for the development of the Welsh language and public service broadcasting and media to chair S4C. 

A version of the Role Specification is available in Welsh in an attached document.

Role description

The Role of the Chair of S4C

The Chair shares the responsibilities of the Board and is expected to:

• Work closely on a non-executive basis with the Chief Executive, Board Secretary and wider senior executive team; supporting the Chief Executive in their role as accounting officer and providing guidance advice and support to them and their Management Team;
• Overseeing senior executive recruitment, including appointing the Chief Executive;
• Comply, and ensure the whole Board complies, with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, the Corporate Governance Code and Managing Public Money, and ensure the organisation adheres to best practice governance standards, with effective policies and procedures in place; 
• Lead the Board in an effective and collegiate manner, supporting an inclusive culture throughout the organisation and building trust amongst staff at all levels and stakeholders;
• Develop and lead the Board’s annual work plan, liaising with the Secretary on associated arrangements for meetings of the Board and its committees and attending meetings as required;
• Review overall Board performance on a regular basis, including all members contributing to an annual Board Effectiveness Review, with every third review to be external;
• Conduct regular appraisals with individual Non Executive Directors on the Board;
• Lead the development of the partnership relationship with the BBC at a strategic and Board level, working closely with the Chief Executive and Secretary to implement the relationship;
• Work closely with key stakeholders including the independent production sector;
• Represent S4C in its dealings with Ministers both within the UK and Welsh Governments;
• Undertake a wide range of public relations duties on behalf of S4C, including chairing public meetings and events as required across Wales, responding to the press and attending frequent public functions;
• Ensure a thorough understanding of the work of S4C as a public service broadcaster and media provider and of the television and digital sectors in Wales, in the UK and in an international context.

The Person

We are looking for an outstanding individual with proven and advanced leadership skills and a commitment to public service broadcasting, the development of the Welsh language and ability to foster culture of inclusivity and trust throughout the organisation.

Organisation description

S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru – the Welsh Fourth Channel) is the UK’s only dedicated Welsh language public service broadcaster and media provider. S4C  is a statutory corporation, originally established in 1982 and now regulated by the Communications Act 2003 and the Broadcasting Act 1990. It is operationally and editorially independent of the UK government. 

S4C provides high quality content and media services in the Welsh language, offering entertainment, information and inspiration, which aim to reach the widest audience possible across a range of contemporary platforms throughout Wales, the UK and beyond.

It is the duty of S4C’s Board to ensure that S4C represents a public service for the dissemination of information, education and entertainment. The Board is responsible for ensuring that effective corporate governance and management arrangements, including financial management, are in place for S4C’s public and commercial services. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the independence of S4C is safeguarded.

The S4C Board must have a detailed understanding of online and broadcasting developments and of devolved government in Wales and take into account cultural and other initiatives when determining its strategy, and the sociolinguistic situation of the Welsh language.

As a commissioner-broadcaster with a commitment to the independent production sector, S4C makes an important contribution to the creative economy in Wales.

Following the independent review of S4C published in March 2018, the governance of S4C is now based on a Unitary Board model (in place of the previous non-executive Authority). The Board  currently operates as a Shadow Unitary Board in accordance with the Board’s Standing Orders until the relevant legislation is put in place - this will be via the Media Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on 8 November, and concluded Commons Committee Stage in December 2023. The appointed Chair is expected to continue into the role of Chair of the Unitary Board when it is constituted in statute. 

Further information regarding S4C can be found in the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts: https://adroddiad.s4c.cymru/en/.  

Funding

The Public Bodies Act 2011 places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that S4C is paid an amount that s/he considers sufficient to enable S4C to cover the cost of providing its public services.

S4C is currently funded through a mixture of funding from the TV licence fee via the BBC and advertising and commercial revenue. In 2022/23 turnover at S4C totalled £90.933m. S4C also receives a minimum of 10 hours a week of Welsh language programming from the BBC provided free of charge in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.

The BBC Framework Agreement of December 2016 sets out the level of Licence Fee funding for S4C until 2021/22, together with a commitment to provide Licence Fee funding for S4C until 2027/28, with the amount to be determined by the Secretary of State following consultation with the BBC and S4C. The Framework Agreement was updated in May 2022 to reflect the licence fee settlement announced in January 2022 for the period 2022/23 to 2027/28.

Further information about the Framework Agreement can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628dea60e90e071f6af14658/E02743849_CP_682_Web_Accessible.pdf.

In November 2017, S4C and the BBC published a new Partnership, Funding and Accountability agreement that set out the detailed arrangements for the operation of S4C and the BBC’s partnership, together with funding and financial accountability provisions for the Licence Fee funding.

Further information about the Partnership, Funding and Accountability Agreement can be found here: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/governance/s4c/bbc_s4c_partnership_nov17.pdf.

Board composition

The Role of the Board 

The shadow Unitary Board comprises up to nine non-executive members, together with the Chief Executive, and two other executive members.

While the Board does not participate in day to day decisions, it retains responsibilities in a number of key areas: that of a broadcaster, a strategic and oversight role, some management responsibilities, regulatory responsibilities, and a public role. Candidates need to demonstrate an appreciation of each and the ability to contribute to the Board’s work in each of these areas.

The Board oversees and monitors the systems in place to ensure that S4C’s broadcasting service and management services can act in an appropriately independent manner without any external interference.

Further information regarding the S4C Board can be found in the Governance Report in the Annual Report here. 

Broadcasting Role

The Board is responsible for the provision of S4C’s Welsh language television, and digital and online services.

The Board does not get involved in day to day editorial decisions, although it does develop and set the strategy for S4C’s services and oversees compliance of S4C’s services with the relevant regulatory and legislative provisions, including the Ofcom Broadcast Code.  The Board approves the Content Strategy, the Annual Statement of Programme Policy, the Annual Work Plan and any services for which a statutory order is required.

The Board has a statutory duty to make arrangements for ascertaining the state of public opinion concerning programmes published by S4C, any effects of such programmes on the attitudes or behaviour of viewers as well as the types of programmes that members of the public would like to see on S4C.

Strategic and Oversight Role

As an independent body S4C is able to set its own strategy and objectives. In this respect, the Board’s work includes:

• approving S4C’s corporate strategy, and any sub-strategies (such as the Content Strategy), and agree the associated objectives and relevant performance measurement frameworks;
• reviewing the delivery of agreed objectives by monitoring performance, holding the Chief Executive and their Management Team to account for their performance in delivering S4C’s services, its public service remit, and other activities; and
• approving the annual budget and S4C’s long term financial plans.

Management Role

The Board has delegated the delivery of S4C’s public services and other activities, within a framework set by the Board, to the Chief Executive. However, the Board does have specific management tasks including:

• ensuring that S4C is accountable for all public spending by approving and overseeing effective management, audit and corporate governance procedures;
• appointing the Chief Executive and the Secretary, and approving the salary framework for S4C staff;
• approving and reviewing S4C’s main policies and codes;
• scrutinising management accounts and the annual Statement of Accounts;
• securing and monitoring effective financial arrangements and appointing the internal auditors; and
• setting the strategy for S4C’s commercial activities.

Regulatory Responsibilities

Pending revisions to legislation via the Media Bill with respect to the regulation of S4C's ‘on-demand’ services, the Board continues to exercise a limited number of regulatory responsibilities that relate to S4C’s online services that are outside the current provisions of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

The Board has agreed and published S4C’s Complaints Process which details how complaints relating to compliance or regulatory matters in relation to S4C content are considered.

Public Role

The Chair and the Board are the public face of S4C and together have a responsibility to be accessible and accountable to the public and other stakeholders. This includes:

• responsibility for explaining S4C’s role and contribution as a public body;
• preparing an annual report on S4C’s activities and performance; and
• responding to appropriate consultations.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that S4C’s services are safeguarded against political or any other inappropriate interference.

Regulation of appointment

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

Person specification

Essential criteria

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of, and commitment to, S4C’s objectives;
• an understanding of, and commitment to tackling the challenges and advancing the opportunities facing the development of the Welsh language;
• an understanding of the key challenges facing S4C, public service broadcasting and the wider media sector in Wales;
• the ability to lead organisational change and culture;
• excellent advanced leadership skills and ability to chair effectively at senior board level, including leading strategy development, decision making and governance;
• excellent communication skills and the ability to represent S4C with confidence to the public, Government and a wide range of stakeholder groups; 
• a commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion.

The Board conducts most of its business in Welsh and the successful candidates will therefore be expected to demonstrate Welsh language proficiency, which will be tested at interview. S4C is able to provide some support to those who do not regularly use Welsh in a professional capacity.

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

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

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

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The Advisory Assessment Panel will be as follows:

• Robert Specterman-Green - DCMS Panel Chair
• Elizabeth Watkins - Senior Independent Panel Member
• Glynne Jones - Wales Office Representative
• Gerwyn Evans - Welsh Government  Representative  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.

Pre-appointment scrutiny

Pre-appointment scrutiny by select committees is an important part of the process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to verify that the recruitment meets the principles set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments. This scrutiny may involve the relevant select committee requesting and reviewing information from the Department and the Minister’s preferred candidate. The select committee may also choose to hold a pre-appointment hearing.

If you are confirmed as the government’s preferred candidate for this role, the department will be in touch to confirm next steps. In most cases your name and CV will be provided to the relevant select committee in advance of the hearing.  Following a date being agreed for a pre-appointment hearing with the committee you will be asked to complete a questionnaire in advance of that. Following the hearing, the government will review and respond to the Committee’s report before confirming the appointment. 

Full information can be found in the Cabinet Office’s guidance here. 

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 victoria.watts@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 ‘essential 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

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

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 ten years in any one post. 

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 Culture, Media and Sport 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.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact: Victoria Watts - Public Appointments Campaign Manager, Department for Culture, Media and Sport Email: victoria.watts@dcms.gov.uk

If you would like to speak about the role itself, please contact Geraint Pugh, S4C Board Secretary (geraint.pugh@s4c.cymru).

Attachments

• Chair of S4C Role Specification

• Chair of S4C Role Specification (Welsh)

• DCMS Privacy Notice

• Code of Conduct for Board Members