Appointment details

Great British Energy-Nuclear (GBE-N) Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N)
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Business, Change Management, Commercial, Communication, Major Projects, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 3 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £203,268 per annum
• Length of term: The successful candidate will be appointed for a term of 3 years, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term.
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 24 August 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   28 July 2025

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 24 August 2025

3. Sifting date

   1 September 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   10 September 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 Chair role for Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N). 

This is an exciting time for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as we press ahead with our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower by achieving clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero.

The Department is delivering on a clear plan to protect billpayers, reduce the UK’s emissions, enhance our energy security, and create high quality British jobs by generating economic growth. The development of new nuclear through GBE-N is an essential part of this plan. The organisation was established as the government’s expert nuclear delivery body and is leading the pioneering Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme.

This is a great opportunity for an exceptional individual to use their expertise and experience to help drive forward the UK’s nuclear programme and have a major positive impact on the UK’s journey to energy security and net zero.

My ministerial colleagues and I are committed to fair and open recruitment processes across all public appointments that we make. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups.  

If you believe you have the experience and exceptional qualities we are seeking to lead the Board of this important organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.  

The Rt Hon Ed Miliband

Secretary of State at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

Appointment description

The Chair is a key figurehead for GBE-N, integral to shaping the organisation as it continues to mature and to ensuring its success. The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO - including holding the CEO accountable - and other Board members, guiding GBE-N in pursuit of its objectives. Exemplary stakeholder management will be essential to the role, both within the growing GBE-N organisation and externally, engaging with DESNZ, HM Government, other public sector bodies, and key stakeholders in the national and international nuclear and broader energy sectors. 

Organisation description

Nuclear power, as one of the most reliable, secure, low-carbon sources of electricity, is and will continue to be an essential part of Britain's journey to net zero by 2050. The government’s plans for nuclear can unlock billions of pounds of investment and can be an engine for innovation and growth in the UK, with extensive export opportunities, supporting skills, supply chains and communities, whilst securing thousands of good, skilled jobs. 

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) is a UK Government arm’s length body established to deliver the UK’s nuclear programme to support its energy security and net zero agenda. The organisation began operating in March 2023, with a priority to run the Technology Selection Process (TSP) for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Following a robust, two-year procurement process, GBE-N has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as its preferred bidder to partner with to build the UK’s first SMRs, subject to government approvals and contract signature.

With the aim of deploying to the grid in the mid-2030s, an SMR project delivered within the scope of the contract could provide up to 1.5 GW of low carbon electricity, which would power the equivalent of up to 3 million of today’s homes whilst also supporting up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction. The Government is making available over £2.5 billion across the Spending Review period for this programme. The Government’s long-term ambition is to bring forward one of Europe’s first SMR fleets.

Whilst GBE-N is currently focussed on SMRs, it has a broader role, working with DESNZ, industry, and appropriate stakeholders to help deliver the wider nuclear programme. This includes working alongside DESNZ to provide a pathway for privately led advanced nuclear technologies.

GBE-N is aiming to create a more agile, programmatic and faster delivery approach than has been achieved previously, drawing on infrastructure and project expertise from both the UK and abroad. The organisation will support projects from the earliest stages of securing investment right through the construction phase to operations. 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience at board level in a large, complex organisation, ideally in one of the following sectors: energy, nuclear, or major infrastructure.  
• A reputation for building strong multi-stakeholder relationships, including serving as an ambassador of a high-profile organisation. 
• The ability to support a developing organisation, guiding it towards a stable and mature state.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience in contracting and contract management, ideally within major projects and programmes.
• An understanding of government and the ability to engage with senior officials and Ministers in a politically sensitive environment. 
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to articulate technical concepts to generalist audiences. 
• An excellent professional reputation gained at a senior level through managing complex programmes of work.
• Demonstrable strategic, analytical, and financial skills. 

Desirable criteria

• Prior experience serving as a Chair of a board, or experience of working with or close to government.
• The ability to quickly grasp technical issues in major infrastructure projects, particularly in the nuclear and energy sectors.

Application and selection process

How to apply

The application deadline is 23:59 on Sunday 24th August 2025.

The preferred method of application is online: please visit www.odgers.com/94101

If you are unable to apply online, please email: asha.karia-briggs@odgers.com

How to apply: application stage

In order to apply you will need to provide:

1. A Curriculum Vitae which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards.

2. A Supporting Statement (no longer than two pages) setting out your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role. Please note that the Supporting Statement is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.

3. A completed Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest Form.

4. Disability Confident. If you wish to be considered for the Disability Confident scheme, then please state this at the beginning of your Supporting Statement.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete and return a separate form in relation to referees.

Overview of the application process

This competition is based on a written application, followed by interviews (if candidates are successful at sift stage). 

Those interested in this appointment are asked to submit completed coversheet (including a supporting statement), a CV and completed Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest Form before the closing date. After the competition closes, the panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘person specification’ section.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to attend a panel interview to have an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence. This could be in relation to any of the criteria set out in the vacancy description, including key responsibilities detailed in the role description and criteria listed in the person specification.

Prior to interview, you may have the opportunity for informal conversations with key individuals to improve your understanding of the organisation. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. 

The Secretary of State will approve any final appointment following completion of the recruitment competition.

Shortlisting will take place at the beginning of September, with final panel interviews expected to be held in early September.

Please note: Due Diligence searches will be undertaken on shortlisted candidates and references may be taken up prior to interview.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Panel Chair: Clive Maxwell, Permanent Secretary, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Charles Donald, CEO, UK Government Investments
• Kathryn Cearns, Non-Executive Director, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) assist ministers 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, 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 Secretary of State 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 partnerships@energysecurity.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to complete national security vetting at the Security Check (SC) level. Additional Security Clearance may also be required. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process.

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.

Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will also be paid to those who incur costs whilst acting in their capacity as GBE-N Chair.

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.

Data protection

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

The Departments privacy policy is attached.

Odgers privacy policy can be found here

Contact details

For any questions about the role, please email asha.karia-briggs@odgers.com 

Attachments

• Candidate Pack

• DESNZ Privacy Notice