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Role details

Non-Executive Members of the DBT Board - Lead NEBM, NEBM ARAC Chair, and NEBMs - Up to 6 roles

Application deadline 10 September 2024

Summary

• Organisation: DBT Departmental Board
• Sponsor department: Department for Business and Trade
• Location: London
• Sectors: Business and Trade
• Skills: Business, Change Management, Commercial, International Experience, Major Projects, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 6
• Time commitment: 20 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £15000 to £20000 per annum
• Length of term: 3 Years
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 10 September 2024

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   27 August 2024

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 10 September 2024

3. Sifting date

   18 September 2024

4. Interviews expected to end on

   3 October 2024

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction

The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, is seeking to appoint up to six new Non-Executive Board Members (NEBMs). Appointees will become members of the Departmental Board on appointment. Departmental Boards are an advisory body to support and challenge ministers and the Accounting Officer. 

The roles of NEBMs are varied and cover a range of issues and agendas.  

1. The first vacancy is for a Lead NEBM position.  
2. The second vacancy is for a NEBM Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC). 
3. The remaining vacancies are for NEBMs 

The time commitments for all roles will be approximately 15-20 days per annum, including at least 4 Departmental Board meetings per annum.  

The renumeration for the roles is as follows:  

• £20,000 per annum for the Lead NEBM role  
• £20,000 per annum for the NEBM Chair of ARAC 
• £15,000 per annum for the NEBM roles 

The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. 

All candidates are expected to adhere to the Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members. 

For more information on Departmental boards and government non-executives please refer to the Corporate Governance Code.  

Role description

Non-Executive Board Members will exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging Ministers and officials. No month will look the same but general activities include: 

• Acting as a sounding board to the Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary and other senior individuals as appropriate 
• Bringing to bear relevant skills, experiences and understanding of human capital from across a range of sectors of the economy to support, guide and challenge implementation of the Department’s strategy and four priorities (Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy, The Plan for Small Businesses and Make Work Pay). 
• Scrutinising performance (including agreeing key performance indicators), operational issues (including the operational and delivery implications of policy proposals), adherence to relevant standards (e.g. commercial, digital), and the effective management of the department, including ensuring it is operating with integrity and achieving high standards of governance  
• Contributing ideas from the sectors you are operating in or have operated in to help shape the Department’s approach 
• Involvement in the recruitment, appraisal and suitable succession planning of senior executives, as appropriate within the principles set out by the Civil Service Commission 

The role of the Lead NEBM contains additional responsibilities, these include: 

• Supporting the Secretary of State in his role as chair of the Departmental Board, enabling the Board to advise effectively on departmental strategy and on the operational, commercial and delivery implications of policies. 
• Undertaking an annual assessment of the Permanent Secretary’s performance to inform the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee and the Cabinet Secretary. 
• Leading the Department’s Non-Executive team, ensuring that they are able to fulfil their roles effectively and that their views are given due weight on the Board and the Secretary of State is aware of any concerns. 
• Working with the Government Lead Non-Executive and Non-Executives across government, to learn from the experiences of other government departments and comparable organisations, including playing an active role in the cross-government network of lead NEBMs and to feedback views to the Prime Minister. 
• Chairing the Nominations and Governance Committee (2 meetings per annum) and representing it to the Board. 

The role of the NEBM ARAC Chair contains additional responsibilities, these include: 

• Chairing ARAC, a subcommittee of the Board whose role is to support the Departmental Board and Accounting Officer in their responsibility to ensure that DBT is a financially sound and efficient organisation which makes effective use of its resources in pursuit of its strategic objectives (circa 6 meetings per annum) 
• Representing ARAC to the Board 
• Working closely with the DBT Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Government Internal Audit Agency and National Audit Office to ensure effective oversight of the publication of the department’s annual report and accounts in Parliament 
• Providing direct support and challenge to the DBT Permanent Secretary in his role as Accounting Officer 

Board composition

The Department for Business and Trade’s Board forms the collective strategic and operational leadership of the department. Chaired by the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, it brings together the senior leadership of the Department, including Ministers, officials and Non-Executive Board Members.  

For more information on Department for Business and Trade’s governance please see Our governance - Department for Business and Trade - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Find more information on the role of government Non-Executives and departmental boards 

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

Candidates for the roles should be able to commit to the time requirements for the roles and demonstrate the following essential criteria: 

• A passion for public service. 
• Experience and skills from across a range of sectors of the economy to help shape the Secretary of State’s four priorities (Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy, The Plan for Small Businesses and Make Work Pay). 
• Proven leadership with main board-level experience as an executive or non-executive. 
• Experience in organisational change management. 
• The ability to contribute and inspire confidence with a wide range of stakeholders both in formal environments (such as Board meetings) and in less formal environments (such as one-to-one meetings with officials). 
• An understanding of the key challenges faced by the public sector and the ability to bring your experience to bear on these. 
• Sound judgement and a high level of integrity (including when dealing with confidential or sensitive issues). 
• (for the NEBM ARAC Chair role): Experience of risk, performance and financial management 

Desirable criteria

The following are desirable criteria for all roles, please share evidence of this experience where relevant: 

• Experience of leadership, ideally in large and complex organisations in the private, public or voluntary sectors. 
• Experience of risk, performance and financial management. 
• Experience of leading major projects from initiation, through development and to delivery, using sound evidence to inform decisions. 
• Genuine interest in contributing to the effective running of the Department, at the Board, elsewhere in the Department and (as appropriate) across Government.  

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) which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;
• a supporting statement (no longer than two pages) setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role. Please note that the Supporting Statement is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.
• 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.

Application guidance

Please ensure your CV includes:

• Your full name, title, contact number and your personal email address.
• Maximum two sides A4, minimum 11 Arial black font, setting out your career history in chronological order, and including the dates you occupied these roles.
• Does not include any information can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data.

Guidance on Supporting Statement format:

• The supporting Supporting Statement is your opportunity to demonstrate to the Advisory Assessment Panel how you can demonstrated the skills and experience outlined.
• Please provide subheading and separate paragraphs in relation to how you meet each criterion.
• Write all acronyms in full when first used.
• Ensure your full name and the title of the post are clearly noted at the top of your Supporting Statement.
• The maximum page limit for your Supporting Statement is two sides A4, minimum 11 Arial font black.
• Does not include any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data.

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.

You will be asked to prepare some identification documents if you are invited to interview - further information will be provided closer to the time. 

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 (AAP) will consist of the following people:

• Gareth Davies CB - Permanent Secretary (Panel Chair)
• Tara Smith - Chief Operating Officer
• Independent Panel Member - Larissa Joy OBE (Non-Executive Director at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include at least one 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). 

If you need further advice, please contact dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks and SC checks, in line with the Civil Service guidelines. 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.

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.

There is no entitlement to annual leave, public and privilege holidays. 

Applicants should note that the successful candidates cannot be renumerated 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 DBT Public Appointments team at dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application. We will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

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

The Department for Business and Trade's privacy notice can be found on gov.uk. 

Contact details

For further information, please contact Edwina Osborne at dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk.