Appointment details

Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero - Non-Executive Board Member

Summary

• Organisation: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, non-executive members only
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Business, Change Management, International Experience, Major Projects, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 20 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £15000 per annum
• Length of term: Successful candidates will be appointed for a three year term, with the possibility of extension for a further term.
• Application deadline: 9am on 13 January 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   17 December 2024

2. Application deadline

   9am on 13 January 2025

3. Sifting date

   7 February 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   21 March 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The DESNZ Departmental Board

The DESNZ Board is chaired by the Secretary of State. It sets the vision for the Department and guides its overarching policy. Board Members provide advice and challenge (based on acumen and experience), to the Secretary of State and the Department’s executive team. The Board’s remit is set out in the Code of Good Practice for Corporate Governance in Central Government.

Non-Executive Board Members

We are looking for Board Members to join the Board who can challenge conventional approaches to policy development, inspire innovative thinking and push DESNZ to continuously improve. As DESNZ is leading the Clean Energy Superpower Mission, Non-Executive Board Members will have the opportunity to support and drive a key government priority.

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in being a Non-Executive Board Member at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This pack tells you more about the purpose and nature of the role.

This is an incredibly exciting time for our department as we lead the Prime Minister’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. The department is moving at pace on our ambitious plan to increase Britain’s energy independence, protect billpayers, create good jobs and show global climate leadership. We work closely with businesses, trade unions, civil society and all levels of government to achieve our goals.

Non-Executive Board Members play an important role advising me and our executive team on the department’s strategy and priorities. This is an opportunity to shape the direction of a department at the heart of the government’s agenda, working on the biggest challenges of our time.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups. If you have the experience, skills and vision to help us achieve our mission, we would love to hear from you.

Ed Miliband

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Appointment description

Responsibilities:

Non-Executive Board Members provide independent challenge, scrutiny and support to ministers and departmental executives by:

• Helping shape the Department’s strategy with ministers and senior officials through attendance at the Departmental Board and other internal governance Boards.
• Represent the Department and drive its mission across the government’s Non-Executive cohort.
• Scrutinise the Department’s performance and delivery against its objectives.
• Work with the Executive Team to provide advice on specific policy areas, acting as a critical friend and offering insights and innovative perspectives.
• Advise senior leaders on project management and delivery, providing support and knowledge where required.

Organisation description

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is the lead department delivering the Prime Minister’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission, which has 2 pillars: i) Clean Power by 2030, and ii) accelerating to net zero.

DESNZ is responsible for delivering the security of energy supply, ensuring properly functioning energy markets, encouraging greater energy efficiency, and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries.

The Department’s priorities are:

• enhance energy security
• protect bill payers
• create economic growth in the UK and generate and protect jobs
• reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emissions

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

•Experience of operating and leadership at Board or senior level in large and complex organisations in the public, private, or voluntary sector.

•Ability to think logically and objectively in analysing complex information to identify key issues/implications, make balanced judgments and effective decisions, and communicate these clearly.

•Proven experience of designing innovative workstreams to effect major change.

•The ability to work well as part of a diverse team and take collective responsibility for decisions, as well as building and maintaining successful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

•An appreciation of the political context in which we work, including an understanding of the key challenges faced by the public sector.

Desirable criteria

•Experience working in the energy or net zero sectors or on domestic or international climate mitigation.

•

•Experience in managing change transformation internally and externally.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Executive Search provider GatenbySanderson has been selected to partner with the Department of Energy Security and Net

Zero for this appointment.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process. All applications must be submitted using the following

link: http://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe118770 We ask that you submit your application by 9am Monday 13 January 2025.

Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Please provide the following documentation for your application to be considered complete. Please ensure that your documents contain

your full name and the role that you are applying for.

Your application is submitted in two parts

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any

gaps within the last two years (no longer than two pages)

2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience

provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the

criteria.

In addition, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form. The completion of the Diversity Monitoring Form is mandatory,

but it includes the option ‘prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence, will not be provided to the

selection panel and will not affect your application in any way. You will also be required to complete a Declaration of Conflicts of

Interest/Political Activity Form and will be requested to read the Privacy Policy.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application, are unable to apply online or require any reasonable adjustment (due to a

disability) please contact sara.prescott@gatenbysanderson.com

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Permanent Secretary - Jeremy Pocklington
• DESNZ Lead NEBM - Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson
• Independent Panel Member - Tracy Westall (dependent on availability) 

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. 

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.

The AAP member to be confirmed. 

Eligibility criteria

You are required to have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this appointment.

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 kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com

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 will be conducted once the candidate is in post. 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.

Please contact kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com if any adjustments are required.

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. 

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  sara.prescott@gatenbysanderson.com  in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application. 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.

Please find attached the Departments own privacy notice.

Contact details

Please contact russell.brandon@gatenbysanderson.com for any further information about this role. 

Attachments

• Candidate pack

• The Departments privacy policy