- A Curriculum Vitae which provides details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any publications or awards;
- A supporting statement in the ‘Expression of Interest Form’ explaining how you meet the eligibility criteria. Make sure you refer to the contents of the candidate information pack and provide specific examples which demonstrate proven and demonstrable expertise or ability. Please ensure your full name and the campaign reference number are clearly stated at the top of your CV and additional papers;
- Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues (further information below);
- Complete the Expression of Interest Form including your supporting statement; contact details for two referees “(by providing their details you are giving consent for us to contact them should you be successful at the shortlisting stage)” and any conflict of interest
- diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;
- Disability Confident – Offering an interview to disabled people (if
- applicable), and;
- Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable).
Non-Executive Member of Dstl Board
Contents
Summary
- Organisation
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Sponsor department
- Ministry of Defence
- Location
- South West
- Sectors
- Defence
- Skills
- Audit and Risk, Business, Change Management, Commercial, Technology / Digital, Major Projects, Transformation
- Number of vacancies
- 1
- Time commitment
- 30 day(s) per annum
- Remuneration
- £18000 per annum
- Length of term
- 3 years
- Application deadline
- 11:59pm on 29 August 2024
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Timeline for this appointment
-
Opening date
26 July 2024
-
Application deadline
11:59pm on 29 August 2024
-
Sifting date
16 September 2024
-
Interviews expected to end on
30 September 2024
About the appointment
Introduction from the Chair
Role description
Dstl is led by a Board of Directors which includes the Chair and five Non-Executive Members (including one MOD NEM). We are seeking an exceptional individual to join the Dstl Board as a Non-executive Member (NEM), with an anticipated start date of 01 December 2024, subject to security clearance.
The key responsibilities of a Dstl Non-Executive Member include:
• To provide an independent perspective to the strategic direction of Dstl’s work
• To encourage and support Dstl’s drive for continuous improvement through objective, constructive challenge and scrutiny of Dstl’s performance
• To make a creative contribution by questioning existing ways of working and encouraging innovation and new thinking
• To share knowledge and expertise with both the Board and individual Executive Directors as appropriate
• To contribute to Board sub-committees and significant change programme boards as appropriate
• To build effective relationships with Board colleagues, internal and external stakeholders
• To actively communicate Dstl’s role to internal and external stakeholders, and to understand any challenges/concerns
• To role model Dstl’s guiding principles
The successful candidate will be required to undertake Security Check clearance.
The successful candidate must abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members
Organisation description
Dstl is one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the defence and security field.
Board composition
The Dstl Board (in an advisory capacity) exercises strategic oversight of Dstl and provide assurance to MOD, of Dstl in the delivery of its objectives. Its key roles are to:
• Advise on the development of Dstl’s organisational strategies and business plans
• Advise on Dstl’s risk appetite and the controls in place to manage risks and threats to Dstl achieving its objectives, and to address opportunities
• Monitor organisational performance and seek assurance around the effectiveness of mitigations required
• Advise on the health of Dstl’s capabilities and the quality of the S&T
• Advise on, and endorse, investment proposals in support of Dstl’s business plans that are above the delegation of the Chief Executive, before submission to MOD
• Seek assurance that Dstl is operating in compliance with relevant policies and standards
The Board comprises:
• An independent non-executive Chair
• Chief Executive of Dstl
• Independent Non-Executive Members (NEMs). The role of the NEMs is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the Dstl Executive team
• The Ministry of Defence’s formal NEM, representing the Ministry of Defence on the Board, who is consulted on matters that have consequences for the wider Department or Government. The Ministry of Defence NEM will also advise the Sponsor on the strategic direction and performance of Dstl and the effectiveness of the Chair
• Dstl Chief Finance Officer
• Dstl Chief Science and Technology Officer
• Other members of the Executive as agreed between the Chair and Chief Executive
The Board is supported by an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, chaired by a NEM. The Role of the Dstl Audit and Risk Assurance Committee: The Dstl Board has established an Audit and Risk Assurance Committee as a sub-committee of the Board to support them in their responsibilities for issues of risk, control and governance by reviewing the comprehensiveness of assurances in meeting the Board and Accounting Officer’s assurance needs, and reviewing the reliability and integrity of these assurances. The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee does not have any executive responsibilities nor is charged with making or endorsing any decisions. It takes care to maintain its independence.
The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee advises the Board and the Chief Executive on:
• the strategic processes for risk, control and governance, taking into account related ethical standards, and the Governance Statement
• the accounting policies, the accounts, and the Annual Report, including the process for review of the accounts prior to submission for audit, levels of error identified, and management’s letter of representation to the external auditors
• the planned activity and results of both internal and external audit
• adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity
• assurances relating to the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for Dstl
• proposals for tendering for external audit services or for purchase of non-audit services from contractors who provide audit services
• anti-fraud policies, whistle-blowing processes, and arrangements for special investigations
• Its own effectiveness through periodic review, and reporting the results of those reviews to the Board.
Person specification
Essential criteria
Candidates are required to demonstrate:
Strategic Leadership
• Senior leadership experience, derived from a professional career at a senior level, able to contribute to the development of strategy and associated longer-term issues, introduce new thinking and challenge existing ways of doing things;
• Driving delivery and transformational changes to ensure all challenges facing the business are dealt with effectively and at pace.
• Ability to provide a challenging and supportive role to the Dstl Chair, Chief Executive and other senior executives, using sound judgment, analysis and decision-making skills;
• An engaging and collaborative working style, demonstrating leadership and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders.
Professional Expertise
Thorough and contemporary understanding and knowledge of one or more of the following fields:
• Science, technology and innovation
• Digital, MI, and AI
• Infrastructure and safety
• Transformation and cultural change
Desirable criteria
It is desirable that the successful candidates bring:
• Knowledge and expertise of operating in a technological or scientific environment (not necessarily defence) of comparable scale and complexity to Dstl with a strong emphasis on safety;
• An interest in the challenges of Government and an understanding of the public sector;
• Wider experience of other sectors to foster diversity of thought;
• Mentoring and counselling colleagues to help them realise their full potential.
Application and selection process
- The Approving Authority 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.
- An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Approving Authority 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.
- At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates should be recommended for interview. The Approving Authority will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist.
- Once the shortlist has been agreed by Approving Authority, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
- The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The names of all appointable candidates are provided to the Approving Authority. It is then for the Approving Authority to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, the Approving Authority may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
- The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to the Approving Authority in a report which details the assessment method used and the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed.
- Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms and Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
To be eligible for consideration the candidate(s) will need to be UK National (Dual nationals won't be accepted).
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)Additional information for candidates
- 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.
- 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;