Appointment details

Climate Change Committee, Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Climate Change Committee
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Business, Change Management, Communication, Regulation, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 29 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £1000 per day
• Length of term: An initial period of 5 years. There may be an opportunity for re-appointment for a second term.
• Application deadline: 11pm on 13 January 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   5 December 2024

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 13 January 2025

3. Sifting date

   31 January 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   28 February 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC). This pack tells you more about the purpose of the organisation and the role of the Chair.

The CCC plays a vital role advising the UK and Devolved Governments on our climate targets and reporting to Parliament on progress made in meeting them. When I was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the late 2000s, I was proud to help pass the Climate Change Act 2008, which created the CCC and established the framework that underpins its work – the first legislation of its kind in the world. In the years since, the CCC has provided invaluable, independent advice to successive governments and inspired similar institutions in countries around the world.

This is an exciting time to join the CCC as the UK embarks on the next stage of its clean energy journey. One of the Prime Minister’s five driving missions is to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero. We have an ambitious plan to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy to increase our energy independence, protect billpayers, create good jobs and show climate leadership. 

Since the election the UK government lifted the onshore wind ban in England, consented large amounts of solar, begun to establish Great British Energy and our National Wealth Fund, and delivered the most successful renewables auction in British history. We will continue moving at this pace because of the urgency of the challenges we face, and I look forward to working with the CCC and its new Chair as we move forward on this agenda.

The Chair will play an important part in providing advice during a critical few years for clean energy and climate policy. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups. I very much hope you decide to apply for the position and look forward to hearing from you.

The Rt Hon Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Appointment description

The UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are seeking to appoint a new Chair to the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee will be responsible for steering and developing the overall work of the CCC, while the Chief Executive manages the day to day running of the organisation. 

The Committee normally meets 12 times a year. The Chair will be expected to attend all the meetings, and you are expected to maintain sufficient flexibility to respond to additional ad hoc duties. This will involve a maximum time commitment of 29 days per year. The Chair will also represent the Committee and promote its strategy and overall direction. 

This role involves travel requirements, including the occasional travel within the UK and potentially overseas.Responsibilities

The Chair is responsible for:

• Providing excellent vision and leadership.

• Chairing meetings and determining procedures for the Committee.

• Being responsible for fulfilling the Committee's functions as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008

and relevant legislation in the Devolved Governments, including presenting advice and reports to

Ministers, UK Parliament, and the respective Devolved Governments and Legislatures.

• Overseeing the work of the Chief Executive providing appropriate management and governance

within the organisation.

• Representing the Committee externally and fostering close working relationships with key experts,

including academics, business as well as foreign governments and intergovernmental institutions.

Organisation description

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is an independent statutory body, established under the Climate Change Act 2008 (the Act). It is made up of two separate committees: one on mitigation (the Committee) and one on adaptation (the Adaptation Committee). The UK Government and Devolved Governments are jointly seeking to appoint a new Chair to the Committee.

The Act requires that the Committee comprises a Chair and not fewer than five and not more than eight other Members appointed by the national authorities (UK Government and the Devolved Governments). Details of current membership can be found on the CCC’s website - https://www.theccc.org.uk/. 

The Committee is supported by a Secretariat of around 60 staff who provide analytical and corporate support, led by the Chief Executive.

Board composition

Members of the Climate Change Committee and the Adaptation Committee can be found here. 

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

• A track record of board leadership, achieving results and providing strategic vision to lead a high-profile public organisation at either an international or UK-wide level or individually at an England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales level.
• Ability to ensure that the organisation’s financial dealings are prudently and systematically accounted for, audited and publicly available.
• An exceptional ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels alongside strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate, persuade and influence and to communicate effectively the importance of the net zero transition and be able to challenge material misrepresentation of facts across a wide range of audiences.
• The capability to provide independent and pragmatic advice to Ministers and elected representatives, and a track record of dealing with senior representatives of academic, NGO and business sectors, the media, and with policymakers in the UK Government, Devolved Governments and/or internationally.
• Expert ability to process and interpret complex information; well-developed and insightful reasoning skills and judgment, and the ability to provide intellectual leadership and demonstrate a creative and proactive approach to problem solving and a high level of professionalism.
• Strong knowledge of the range of the Committee’s work and an understanding of climate change policy across the UK and its delivery.

Should we receive a large number of applications, the panel will sift candidates on criteria 1-3.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the CCC on this appointment.

Your application contains two parts. 

Both parts must be submitted by 23:00 on Monday 13th January 2025 in order for your application to be considered complete. Applications received after this date will not be considered. 

•Part one: A two-page statement of suitability and two-page CV

•Part two: Diversity Monitoring and Conflict of Interest Form. 

Candidates should apply for this role through Saxton Bampfylde’s website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code QCCCF.

Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter, and complete the online diversity monitoring* form and the Conflict of Interest Form.

For queries about your application or the recruitment process, please email Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com

*The diversity monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.

GDPR personal data notice

According to GDPR guidelines, we are only able to process your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health, sex life, or sexual orientation) with your express consent. You will be asked to complete a consent form when you apply and please do not include any Sensitive Personal Data within your CV (although this can be included in your covering letter if you wish to do so), remembering also not to include contact details for referees without their prior agreement.

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.

Please note that dates in this campaign are subject to change.

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

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Chair, UKG representative: Jeremy Pocklington, Permanent Secretary, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero​

​Scottish Government representative: Roy Brannen, Director General Net Zero or Michelle Quinn, interim Director General Net Zero (depending on availability) 

​Welsh Government representative: Claire Bennett, Director Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability​

​Northern Ireland Executive representative: Katrina Godfrey, Permanent Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs​

Senior Independent panel member (SIPM): Emily Shuckburgh, Director of Cambridge Zero (University of Cambridge) ​

Senior Independent panel member (SIPM): Liv Garfield, Chief Executive, Severn Trent

Devolved governments representative: Roy Brannen, Director-General Net Zero Scottish Government

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.

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)

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 ‘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.

Please contact the public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at  partnerships@energysecurity.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.

DESNZ privacy policy is linked below. 

Contact details

For queries about your application or the recruitment process, please email Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com

Attachments

• DESNZ Privacy policy

• Candidate Pack