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Appointment details

Lead Non-Executive Director of the Scotland Office and OAG Joint Management Board

Summary

• Organisation: Joint Management Board, The Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
• Sponsor department: Scotland Office
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Change Management, International Experience, Legal, Judicial, Major Projects
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 20 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £300 per meeting
• Length of term: For an initial period of three-years, with the possibility to extend one further period of up to three-years.
• Application deadline: Midday on 17 February 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   3 February 2025

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 17 February 2025

3. Sifting date

   4 March 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   28 March 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Introduction From The Secretary for State for Scotland, The Rt.Hon Ian Murray MP

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the Non-Executive Director roles on the Scotland Office and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Joint Management Board.

This is an important and exciting time for the Scotland Office. We are working at the heart of the UK Government to deliver the Government’s Missions in Scotland. We will do this by focusing on our four key priorities: 

• Economic Growth; 
• Green Energy; 
• Brand Scotland; and 
• Tackling Poverty. 

We are also resetting the relationship with the Scottish Government, making devolution work well. We are looking for a Lead Non-Executive Director and a Non-Executive Director with a passion for delivering on these objectives. As a Board Member you would also be supporting and challenging the work of the Office of the Advocate General in Scotland, who have a critical role as the UK Government’s Scottish legal experts.

On Economic Growth the Scotland Office will use its influence to raise living standards in Scotland, so working people have more money in their pocket as we aim to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7. On Green Energy we will maximise GB Energy’s impact in Scotland to ensure a successful transition to clean energy and clean energy jobs, helping to make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security. Our new Scotland Office led Brand Scotland programme will see us championing ‘Brand Scotland’ across the world through the Scotland Office, and our diplomatic and trade networks. To Tackle Poverty we will use all of the available Government levers to renew communities, open up opportunities, and reduce poverty over the long-term.

We strongly welcome applications from all backgrounds. It’s important that our public appointees can give us fresh perspectives in order to help us better understand the communities we serve.

If you are interested in the work of the Scotland Office and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland, I would encourage you to apply.

Appointment description

The role of the NEBMs is to contribute to the strategic debate on the key issues and priorities facing the running of the Scotland Office and OAG. The NEBMs exercise their role through influence and advice, supporting as well as challenging the Executive Team and Ministers through the following actions and behaviours:

• Direct a team of two to three other Non-Executive Directors to provide strategic leadership and objective challenge on the key issues facing the department;
• Regularly liaise with other UK Government departmental Lead Non-Executive Directors and the UK Government Lead Non-Executive Director on behalf of the Department’s Non-Executive Directors
• Advise on performance and transformation, operational issues and the effective management of the Department;
• Undertake (or assist on) specific project work by agreement with Ministers to assess and enhance the Department’s performance;
• Bring external experience and expertise to the role and be able to challenge the Board, Ministers and officials; providing an important scrutiny function for the Department;
• Support the Secretary of State for Scotland in their role as Chair of the Board;
• Meet regularly with the Scotland Office Director and Accounting Officer.

Organisation description

The Scotland Office

The Scotland Office represents the UK Government in Scotland, and Scotland’s interests within the UK Government.

The Scotland Office’s Mission centres on the following priorities:

• Economic Growth;
• Green Energy;
• Brand Scotland; and
• Tackling Poverty.

The Scotland Office also leads on delivery of the following:

Manifesto Commitments:

1. Strengthening Scotland’s representation and promotion through the Scotland Office;
2. Strengthening Scottish Democracy and devolution; and
3. Scottish Government collaboration with international bodies on wholly devolved issues. 

The Scotland Office supports the implementation of the UK Government’s and the Prime Minister's Priorities and Missions.

The overarching objective of the Scotland Office is to:

• To deliver on the four Key Priorities;
• To support Mission Delivery; and
• Deliver on the Manifesto Commitments relating to Scotland.

Office of the Advocate General for Scotland

The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) are the UK Government's Scottish legal advisers. OAG provides legal advice, drafting and litigation services to the UK Government in relation to Scotland. OAG also supports the Advocate General in their role as a UK Government Law Officer.

Financial

The Scotland Office is responsible for not only the £13.2m administration cost of the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General, but also the £0.4m sponsorship of the Boundary Commission for Scotland [the Scotland Office’s only Arms-Length Body] and the transfer of £48 billion funding to the Scottish Consolidated Fund - which funds the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.  

More information may be found at:

Scotland Office - GOV.UK

Office of the Advocate General for Scotland - GOV.UK

Board composition

The Scotland Office and OAG Joint Management Board (JMB) is at the apex of the Offices’ governance framework. The JMB’s remit focuses on performance and delivery, and provides the strategic leadership of the department.

The JMB usually constitutes two Non-Executive Directors and a Lead Non-Executive Director. The JMB is chaired by the Secretary of State for Scotland and attended by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland; the Advocate General for Scotland; Directors of the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland; and the Deputy Directors for Corporate Services, Strategy and Planning. Other Members of the Scotland Office Executive Committee and OAG’s Senior Leadership Team attend meetings of the JMB as and when required.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience of risk, performance and financial management;
• An understanding of policy priorities in Scotland; and an ability to influence and shape the challenges;
• Sound judgement; clear capacity for strategic thinking; excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a high level of integrity;
• 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 NEBMs);
• Additionally, candidates for the Lead Non-Executive Director position should demonstrate;
• Proven senior leadership in large and complex organisations in the private, public or voluntary sectors, with main Board-level experience as an Executive or Non-Executive.

Desirable criteria

In addition, the successful candidates could demonstrate more detailed expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Record of working with Ministers, senior officials or other relevant public sector stakeholders;
• Risk, financial and performance management;
• Major projects;
• Devolution and Constitutional Law.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to provide:

• 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 setting out how you meet the eligibility criteria;
• Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues (further information below);
• 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).
• 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.

Applications should be sent to Jennifer Manton, jennifer.manton@ukgovscotland.gov.uk.

Overview of the application 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 should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist.
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 names of all appointable candidates are provided to Ministers. 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.
6. The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to Ministers 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.
7. 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 & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Panel Chair Baroness Casey, UK Government Lead Non-Executive Director;
• The Representative of Organisation (Organisation Panel Member) Laurence Rockey, Director of the Scotland Office;
• The Departmental Official (Department Panel Member) Neil Taylor, Director of the Office of the Advocate General;
• Independent Panel Members To be confirmed.

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.

Eligibility criteria

Most people can apply for a public appointment. We actively encourage applicants who can bring new talent and fresh perspectives to the services we all care about. Whatever your interests, background and experience there is an opportunity for you to get involved.

You can be a public appointee alongside your job, as long as you have the time to do both roles. 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.

If you need further advice, please contact: Jennifer Manton: jennifer.manton@ukgovscotland.gov.uk

07790946371

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.

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.

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

Please contact Jennifer Manton by email: jennifer.manton@ukgovscotland.gov.uk, 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.

Data protection

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

The Scotland Office and OAG will use your data in line with our privacy policy. Further details can be found at:

Scotland Office - GOV.UK

Contact details

Jennifer Manton

jennifer.manton@ukgovscotland.gov.uk

07790946371