Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your
interest in joining the Board of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs. I am pleased to welcome at least two new Non-Executive Directors to
bring additional expertise and different perspectives to the Board. The successful
applicants will be pivotal in supporting me and the ministerial team to drive
forward our priorities:
- Cleaning
up Britain's rivers, lakes, and seas
- Creating
a road map to move Britain to a zero-waste economy
- Supporting
our farmers to boost Britain's food security
- Ensuring
nature's recovery
- Protecting
communities from the dangers of flooding
You will join Defra at
a critical juncture - the work of change has begun. As a Non-Executive
Director, you will be at the heart of this change. You will provide invaluable,
independent scrutiny and challenge to drive transformational and long-lasting
change for the citizens and communities we serve.
Defra has a major
contribution to make to the Government’s central mission – to grow the economy.
From creating jobs and attracting investment in water infrastructure, enhancing
economic resilience through better flood protection and nature-based solutions,
to boosting food security, Defra is integral to this mission.
I want to build a board
rich in the diversity of its members’ skills, with Non-Executive Directors who
can contribute wide and varied experience and expertise in advising,
challenging and supporting the Government to meet its ambitions and to deliver,
innovatively and collaboratively, for the whole nation.
I look forward to
receiving applications from a wide range of individuals and understanding the
unique perspective you could bring to the Defra Board
Steve Reed
Secretary of State for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra is seeking to
appoint at least two new Non-Executive Directors
Non-executive Directors
bring external experience and expertise to Defra’s Board. Exercising their role
through influence, scrutiny, challenge and advice, they act as a trusted
sounding board to the Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary.
Role of Non-Executive
Directors:
Provide
independent scrutiny, support and assurance to the department;
- Support,
review and challenge the development of and progress against the
departmental strategy and plans, including prioritisation decisions and
the department’s strategic risk framework;
- Provide
scrutiny and support to the executive team to deliver the approved
strategy and discharge their leadership responsibilities;
- Scrutinise
and challenge departmental performance reporting;
- Provide
advice on issues within their remit;
- Support,
scrutinise and challenge relevant departmental projects;
- Where
appropriate, advise on the operational and delivery implications of policy
proposals, undertaking deep-dives into potential risks and mitigations, to
inform the department’s decision-making process;
- Advise
and support ministers and senior officials in influencing cross-government
initiatives and policies;
- Participate
in the Board’s annual effectiveness review and ensure the Board acts on
recommendations and builds its own capability;
- Attend
a minimum of four departmental Board meetings per year, and contribute
effectively to its subcommittees, as required;
- Build
and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of
networks and stakeholders; and
- Attend
occasional government-wide meetings for non-executives to share best
practice.
More information on
departmental boards and government NEDs can be found here.
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website