Appointment details

Independent Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership

Summary

• Organisation: Protected Landscape Partnership
• Sponsor department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Environment, Agriculture & Fishing
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Business, Change Management, Communication, Media, Major Projects, Transformation, Consumer Advocacy
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 1 day per week
• Remuneration: £23,000 per annum
• Length of term: An initial period of one calendar year with the possibility to extend for a further 2-3 years.
• Application deadline: Midday on 18 September 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   14 August 2025

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 18 September 2025

3. Sifting date

   10 October 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   14 November 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Protected Landscape Partnership brings together the national organisations representing the different types of Protected Landscapes in England – the National Landscapes Association, National Parks England and National Trails UK - with Natural England. The time, passion and expertise of these organisations is fundamental to achieving the full potential of England’s Protected Landscapes so that future generations can continue to enjoy all that Protected Landscapes provide for nature, climate, access and community.

The Partnership seeks to:

• develop evidence to demonstrate the value of protected landscapes to the nation

• strengthen Protected Landscapes’ voices

• share knowledge and learning across organisations to improve delivery effectiveness and impact

• deliver ambitious, innovative pan-landscape projects

The Partnership is committed to delivering national priorities which work for everyone and innovative multi-landscape projects which impact on one or more of the following:

• Accelerating nature recovery

• Mitigating the impacts of climate change

• Addressing the lack of diversity in the sector

• Increasing nature connectedness and equitable access to nature

The structure and governance of the Partnership is geared towards enabling national collaboration at all levels across the following functions:

• Evidence & research

• Innovation & experimentation

• Incubating projects until ready to fledge and scale

• Knowledge exchange and networking

As Chair of the Partnership, you will help future generations inherit Protected Landscapes that are greener, wilder and more accessible to all.

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in serving as the Independent Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership.

National Landscapes, National Parks and National Trails are our most iconic and inspiring places. They were created from 1949 onwards, with post-war Britain recognising that everyone has a right to access the countryside – from Northumberland’s dark skies to the South Downs’ Seven Sisters and the South West Coast Path. 75 years on, the needs are greater than ever, with nature underpinning our health, economy and climate. That’s why this government will empower Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder and more accessible.

Covering 25% of England, and over half of our most important sites for nature, Protected Landscapes are essential to nature’s recovery. They also lead the way on many other priorities and provide valuable opportunities for people to access nature. To work on Protected Landscapes is to work on flood prevention, affordable house building, water quality, health inequalities, sustainable food production, green jobs and so much more.

In recognising their importance to the nation, we have committed to reinvigorating Protected Landscapes with new legislation, targets and tools. The Protected Landscapes Partnership will help shape this bold new deal, so by applying you could be part of something huge.

As Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership, your vision will help shape the future of these landscapes, and therefore the country. We need a dynamic person, with diverse skills and experiences, to fill the post and lead the way.

You’ll accelerate delivery of our statutory biodiversity targets and international commitment to protect 30% of nature by 2030. You’ll do this by amplifying the voices of the partner organisations to ensure that these living landscapes thrive cohesively for people and nature.

Government is committed to building conditions for success, innovation and collaboration that create new opportunities and resources for Protected Landscapes. You’ll deliver on this commitment by taking innovative approaches to opportunities and challenges, including identifying opportunities to diversify funding streams and amplify the Protected Landscapes brand.

You will also play a vital role in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion by finding ways to connect people with diverse skills from all walks of life with nature. These landscapes belong to everyone, and it is crucial that Protected Landscapes reflect the diversity of our nation.

If you are ready to contribute towards this important mission, please apply. Together we can protect and improve these remarkable places for generations to come.

I look forward to receiving your application.

Mary Creagh CBE

Minister for Nature

Appointment description

The overall role of the Chair is to provide strategic leadership of the Protected Landscapes Partnership, amplify the Protected Landscapes brand, and drive innovation.

The Chair will not be representative of any organisation or group and will be committed to acting in the best interests of Protected Landscapes.

The key functions of the Chair are to:

• Lead the strategic objectives of the Protected Landscapes Partnership within the policy and resources framework determined by Defra, with a focus on fostering innovative approaches to funding and delivering greener, wilder and more accessible Protected Landscapes.

• Champion the goals of the Protected Landscape Partnership as agreed by partners, amplifying Protected Landscapes’ voices and inspiring a wide range of stakeholders including across Government.

• Promote a culture which champions equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

• Chair Protected Landscape Partnership meetings, supporting high-quality discussion where all voices are heard.

• Ensure the Protected Landscapes Partnership’s activities are efficiently conducted within a strong governance and accountability framework.

• Promote high standards in the management of public finances and uphold the principles of public life.

The successful candidate must abide by the Nolan principles of public service and the 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs (attached at Annex A and Annex B of the candidate pack).

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are looking to attract dynamic candidates from a range of diverse backgrounds, who can demonstrate:

• Genuine passion for tackling the climate and nature crises and for empowering England’s Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder and more accessible through innovative and visionary approaches.

• Exceptional communication and networking skills, with an ability to advocate, influence, engage and inspire confidence across a diverse network of stakeholders nationally – and leveraging these relationships to raise the profile and ambition of Protected Landscapes.

• Experience of senior strategic leadership, anticipating emerging issues and developing dynamic strategies to enable the Protected landscapes Partnership to achieve its objectives.

• Senior level experience negotiating, securing and diversifying funding streams.

• Ability to provide constructive and inclusive leadership with a demonstrable commitment to EDI and a track record of building consensus through collaborative working.

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)

Gabrielle Edwards

Departmental Official

Deputy Director

Political Activity No

Panel Chair

Sandra Witzel

Independent Member with EDI expertise

Director and CMO SkedGo, Chair Research Institute for Disabled Consumers, Board Member, Transport Focus

Political Activity: No

Philip Hygate

Representative of Organisation

Chair, National Landscapes Association

Vanessa Rowlands

Representive of Organisation

Chair National Parks England

Andrew Wang

Representative of Organisation

Trustee, National Trails, UK

Amanda Craig

Representative of Organisation

Director, Natural England

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 ProtectedLandscapes@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

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 Protected Landscapes team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at ProtectedLandscapes@defra.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.

Contact details

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

Attachments

• Candidate Pack

• PAT Privacy notes

• PAT Guidance notes