Appointment details

Deputy Chair and Board Member (Non-Executive Directors) Natural England

Summary

• Organisation: Natural England
• Sponsor department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Environment, Agriculture & Fishing
• Skills: Change Management, Regulation, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 4 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £11,808 to £17,712 per annum
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: Midday on 9 September 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   18 July 2025

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 9 September 2025

3. Sifting date

   3 October 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   14 November 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and the Nature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.

This will mean:

• setting evidence-based standards, strategies and advice to empower others to recover Nature
• building partnerships across society to drive action for more people to benefit from Nature
• focusing on places where we can have the biggest impact and manage the biggest risks
• outcome-focused regulation and enforcement that supports growth and empowers people to make the right choices
• a dynamic approach to Nature protection, delivered in collaboration with other environmental regulators
• harnessing data and digital to provide a better service to our customers and work more efficiently
• using science, evidence, and analysis to empower action for Nature and support innovation

The direction set out in this document will mean changes both for Natural England and for the many organisations and people that we work with.

Strengthening our collaboration and working across Defra group, wider government, and business will be essential for our shared success. Strong local and regional relationships will ensure we continue to improve Nature for the benefit of all, through place-based delivery. We are committed to working together to identify and implement the best ways to make these changes.

We will transform our services and develop digital systems to make it easier for our people and customers to deliver for Nature.

We will focus on the following priorities:

• Drive Nature recovery at a greater scale and faster pace than before by supporting large scale projects and making it easier for landowners to get permissions for Nature positive change.
• Tackle the root causes of Nature’s decline working with Defra partners to ensure cleaner air, clean and plentiful water, healthier soils and rich, productive seas.
• Partner with planners and developers on “high nature; low carbon” houses, energy and transport infrastructure and introduce strategic solutions so development can also protect and restore Nature.
• Support food security and sustainable farming, forestry and fishing through targeted advice and the right mix of public and private finance.
• Shape better places for people to work and live by providing clear evidence and advice to our partners, using spatial plans for Nature as a framework for investment and joined up action.
• Connect communities with Nature and create Nature close to people’s homes, ensuring everyone gains from the health benefits Nature can bring.

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Natural England Board Member.

At the heart of Natural England’s mission is the recovery of Nature - a thriving natural world is fundamental to the future of everyone, from all walks of life. Working in partnership with Defra group, they deliver the Secretary of State’s priorities to clean up rivers, lakes and seas; create a roadmap to a zero-waste economy; support farmers to boost food security; ensure nature’s recovery and protect communities from the dangers of flooding. Natural England is fundamental to supporting delivery of the government’s top priority of economic growth, including through an ambitious programme of Defra group reform.

This is an exciting time for Natural England as they develop a new 5-year Strategic Direction (Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security: Natural England’s Strategy 2025-2030). To help bring this vision to life, I am seeking a Deputy Chair with a strong focus on operational delivery to enhance efficiency and improve customer service. In addition, I am looking for a Non-Executive Board Member with regulatory expertise to support and guide this strategic transformation.

Recovering Nature for growth, health and security is at the core of Natural England’s mission, with four delivery programmes themed around Greener Farming and Fisheries, Sustainable Development, Connecting People with Nature, and Resilient Landscapes and Seas driving impact on the ground.

Natural England is committed to collaboration and working across Defra Group, wider government and business to achieve shared ambitions to improve Nature for the benefit of all, through place-based delivery. It provides the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live.

I’m looking for candidates whose leadership will help steer Natural England through challenging pressures, demands and complexities at a time of widespread regulatory reform and in line with the government's plans for growth and nature recovery.

If you are inspired by nature, I would love to hear about the values, skills and lived experience you can bring to help lead and support Natural England. Natural England see their ambitions for Nature as inextricably linked with their ambition to be a more diverse and inclusive organisation.

I particularly encourage applications from talented people from all backgrounds to ensure the organisation reflects our diverse society. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of the society they serve, and this is part of the Government’s agenda.

MARY CREAGH CBE

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

(Minister for Environment)

Appointment description

Board Members play an important role in steering, supporting and encouraging the executive team in further improving Natural England’s delivery of Nature recovery for growth, health and security.

As an organisation we work to four core values, being ambitious, being inclusive, acting with integrity and working in a collaborative way, and alongside this we value the health and wellbeing of our staff.

As a board member your lived experiences will help us to become more inclusive and diverse as we deliver an Equality Diversity and Inclusion action plan which supports our people and enables them to work in an inclusive and safe environment where their wellbeing is paramount.

The Board plays a central role in reviewing and overseeing organisational delivery, in steering ambitious change (for example to improve customer service, value for money or diversity) and in ensuring that the organisation operates to the standards required of all public bodies (for example in terms of health and safety, management of public money, management of data and information).

As set out in the Natural England Framework Document we they are specifically responsible for: 

• establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of Natural England consistent with its overall strategic direction within the policy and resources framework determined by the Secretary of State;
• setting the long-term direction for the Executive team and the tone and pace needed to deliver the agreed strategies and plans;
• agreeing an Action Plan for each year that sets out Natural England’s specific delivery commitments and approving the appropriate allocation of resources;
• receiving and reviewing regular performance information concerning the ongoing delivery of Natural England against its agreed Action Plan;
• ensuring that the responsible Minister is kept informed of any changes which are likely to impact on the strategic direction of Natural England or on the attainability of its targets, and determining the steps needed to deal with such changes; ensuring that effective arrangements are in place to provide assurance on risk management, governance and internal control and demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times;
• ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with Defra, and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds; and that in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account any relevant guidance issued by Defra or by the Government more broadly; and

• Approval of all matters not delegated to the Chief Executive under the Natural England Schemes of Delegation.

Additionally, the Deputy Chair will have a strong focus on driving Natural England to deliver its new Strategic Direction. This includes supporting the governments growth mission by delivering the pledges in the regulatory action plan and Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape. 

The Deputy Chair will also be required to drive financial and delivery efficiencies in Natural England. The Deputy Chair will represent the Chair in their absence and to carry out such other duties in conjunction with, or on their behalf, as agreed.

The Deputy Chair will also sit on the Board of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

Following a Board skills review, two areas of expertise were identified that could strengthen future direction and decisions:

Operational and change management – To deliver change, drive efficiency, and effectiveness in a large and complex organisation with a strong customer focus.

Planning and Regulatory Reform – To support Government in its aim to accelerate development while striking a balance between growth and environmental protection, for example, someone with experience working for a Local Authority.

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

Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of Natural England and an interest in the future of our natural world.

Relationship building: ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials and external stakeholders, and inspire confidence across diverse audiences.

Communication: strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity, and respect.

Judgement: effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information at a strategic level, to make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the organisation's objectives.

Collaboration: ability to work closely with the executive board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge and assurance as appropriate, with a focus on shared outcomes.

Experience - We are specifically seeking candidates with expertise in the following roles:

Role 1 – Deputy Chair (Non-Executive Board member) - A senior business leader with a track record of delivering efficiency and effectiveness in complex organisations.

Role 2 – Non-Executive Board Member - A Local Authority planning specialist with experience of delivering development projects in a nature-sensitive way.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

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.

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

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Member 1

Edward Barker

Departmental Official

Director, Natural Environment, Trees and Landscapes

Panel Chair

No Political Activity

Panel Member 2

Tony Juniper

Representative of Organisation

Chair, Natural England

No Political Activity

Panel Member 3

tbc 

Independent Member

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

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)

If you need further advice, please contact publicappts@defra.gov.uk

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 ‘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

The time commitment for the role of Deputy Chair is 4.5 days per month. The time commitment for the role of Board Member is 3 days per month. 

In addition to attending Board meetings, members are also expected to actively contribute to sub-groups, provide area-based support, and undertake ambassadorial duties on behalf of Natural England. 

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

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 publicappts@defra.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.

Contact details

For further information please email: publicappts@defra.gov.uk

Attachments

• PAT Privacy note

• PAT Guidance notes

• Candidate pack