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5 November 2025
5pm on 8 December 2025
9 January 2026
30 January 2026
About Port of Tyne
Welcome to the Port of Tyne. As the largest UK trust port, we are an independent statutory body governed by our own unique local legislation. Playing a significant role in the UK economy and infrastructure, our primary duty is to manage, maintain, develop and improve the Port for the benefit of an increasingly wide stakeholder community. We are also the custodian and steward of the River Tyne.
As a major deep-sea port and a vital trading gateway to world-wide markets, the port itself has operated on the Tyne since Roman times. We became a trust port, constituted by Act of Parliament in 1968 and we have no shareholders or owners. Instead, we are governed by an independent Board of up to eight non-executive directors, appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, and up to four executive directors, including our CEO, currently Matt Beeton.
The Board has a long-term strategy in place, Tyne 2050. This is fully aligned with the national strategy, Maritime 2050, and the North East Economic Plan, which focuses on the development of long-term commercial sustainability and growth through technology innovation and customer partnerships. The Port is also integral to the growth strategy of the regional mayor, Kim McGuiness.
Day to day, our business employs a staff of 330. We have a £70m turnover and £17m EBITDA. The business also has a £100m funding line from the National Wealth Fund and Pricoa (a US infrastructure fund). The Port is run on a commercial basis and receives no Government funding. We simply reinvest our profits back into the business for stakeholder benefit.
Under our current Chair, Lucy Armstrong, we have undergone a sustained programme of diversification, development and investment to ensure the Port’s future as a vibrant, sustainable business, able to respond to changing customer needs. Our customers currently include major players such as Equinor.
Port of Tyne is also one of the UK’s largest car exporters and we have increasingly supported activity within the renewables sector, operating as the maintenance base for the world’s largest wind farm at Dogger Bank. The Port hosts the International Passenger Terminal for cruises and ferries; it has a successful estates portfolio, and a significant container and storage operation. The Port also established and hosts the UK’s first maritime Innovation Hub and remains the only UK port in the global Connected Ports initiative.
We also take our responsibility to the community seriously and play an active role in the region. In 2024 we added £680m to the GVA of the regional economy of the North East and supported 12,000 jobs. Plans for a £1 billion investment were recently announced, with a further 150 acres now planned for development, which will bring further major opportunities.
As Lucy completes her third term of office in June 2026, we are seeking a credible, influential and trusted successor to lead our Board through the next era of investment and development. During her tenure, the Board has overseen a major turnaround of the Port from a loss-making organisation to the stable, ambitious and successful operation it is now.
Our next chair will therefore build on the strong foundations in place by supporting longer-term Investment, JV and partnerships with a range of funders and public agencies and ensuring largescale innovative funding structures are in place to underpin major projects. Good relations are critical for the Port, and you will provide continuity in our relationships with customers and both national and regional government.
As the next phase of development will see the Port underlining the role of the Innovation Hub as an engine for true sector growth and change, this will become a further focus for the Board. Finally, we have an exceptional Executive in place driving national and international projects; however, some management succession is likely over the coming years, and our Chair will ensure continuity of operation though a strong and motivated senior team.
You will be a confident, clear-sighted and skilled strategic leader who understands the value of the Port as an increasingly significant part of our industrial, social and economic fabric, not just in the North East but in the UK and globally. Sound judgement, personal presence and strong team leadership skills are naturally essential for this appointment.
If you can offer Port of Tyne the experience and qualities we are looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.
Find out more
To find out more, and to read Strategy 2050, please visit https://www.portoftyne.co.uk/
Welcome Note from Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in the Non-Executive Director (NED) role on the Board of Port of Tyne.
This is an important time for the Department for Transport. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, boost connections, level up the country and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport that works for everyone in our society.
We are recruiting three NEDs to join the Board at the Port of Tyne. The role of the Non-executive Directors is to provide independent judgement and perspective on key issues of company strategy, business performance, issues of risk and use of resources.
The position requires senior operational finance and commercial skills gained in a large global engineering, oil & gas or related organisation; as well as analytical skills to make decisions, problem solve and prioritise, making a positive contribution in board discussions in the best interests of the Port.
We strongly welcome applications from all backgrounds. As part of the Department’s commitment to diversity, we believe our public appointments should reflect our customers - the travelling public – who come from all walks of life and have different experiences. We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support better decision making for all. This includes people who may have never applied for a public appointment – but could bring new ideas, insights and energy.
If you are interested in the role and work of the Port of Tyne, I would like to encourage you to apply.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy to talk through the process and answer your questions.
Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Non-Executive Director
The Port of Tyne's primary duty is to manage, maintain, develop and improve the Port and its operations for the benefit of all its stakeholders which comprise customers, employees, the business community, government and the local community.
Non-executive Directors are expected to act with independent judgement and use their skills and experience for the benefit of the Port of Tyne and its stakeholders. They devote the necessary time and undertake such training as is required to carry out their responsibilities.
The role of the Non-executive Directors is to provide independent judgement and perspective on key issues of company strategy, business performance, issues of risk and use of resources. They exercise influence on Board sub-committees to which they may be appointed, and they uphold the highest standards of conduct and integrity. They utilise their own skills, experience and successful track record of achievement to generate valuable ideas and guidance for the benefit of Port of Tyne and its stakeholders.
These are public appointments made by the Secretary of State for Transport. The DfT is committed to the principles of appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. In particular, the Department is committed to addressing the underrepresentation of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities who have the required skills and experience.
Our current board
For more information about our current board members, please visit Board and Leadership team | Port of Tyne
Knowledge and experience
Candidates must demonstrate one or more of the following:
senior operational finance and commercial skills gained in a large global engineering, oil & gas or related organisation;
senior operational experience gained in transport, logistics or process automation – as part of this, we are interested in people who can offer expertise in health & safety in environments characterised by similar risks;
external stakeholder management;
emerging technologies and AI;
experience of HR;
people with a regional connection.
Skills and behaviours
Analytical skills: ability to make decisions, problem solve and prioritise.
Ability to make a positive contribution to and engage in Board discussions whilst demonstrating integrity in all personal and business dealings.
Communication skills to establish effective relationships with stakeholders and influence, challenge and persuade others.
Ability to manage complex issues within statutory guidelines commercially and acts independently in the best interests of the Port.
Candidates’ suitability for the role will be assessed against criteria the above.
Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.
Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister
In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.
Any applications submitted after the closing date, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted. To apply, you must provide:
Completed applications should be submitted to: https://starfishsearch.com/jobs/pot-ned/
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)