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17 February 2026
Midday on 11 March 2026
17 April 2026
24 May 2026
Welcome Note from the Rt. Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in the Lead Non-Executive Board Member role on the Department for Transport Board.
The Department for Transport covers all modes of transport – roads, rail, air and sea. With our partners and agencies, our work affects everyone in the country. Our purpose is to ensure that the UK has a safe, secure, efficient and reliable transport system that works for the people who depend on it; supporting a strong, productive economy and the jobs and homes people need.
This is an important time for the Department for Transport. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, boost connections and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport that works for everyone in our society. We are recruiting for a Lead Non-Executive Board Member to join our team and provide expertise and challenge at the highest levels of the Department to help us achieve our mission.
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 Department for Transport, 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
This is a pivotal moment for transport in the UK. The Government is driving forward an ambitious agenda with transport at its heart - from reforming public transport through public ownership of rail and locally controlled bus services, to delivering major infrastructure projects like HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing. We're modernising our airspace, expanding our airports, and leading the way on decarbonisation and tech transformation internationally. Transport has never been more central to national priorities, and is the engine behind the Government’s growth mission, central to unlocking housing, and with a vital role in the transition to Net Zero. This role will be instrumental in shaping that future across Government and with industry, working closely with the Secretary of State and civil service leadership team.
As a member of the DfT Board, you will also play a critical role in supporting and challenging the Department on our delivery of the Government’s objectives, forming part of a collaborative team committed to delivering for Ministers and the travelling public.
If you are someone who can bring a wealth of relevant expertise and experience to the role, we would love to hear from you.
Jo Shanmugalingam
Department for Transport Permanent Secretary
We are looking for a Lead Non-Executive Board Member (NEBM). They will support and challenge us at the very top of the organisation during this exciting time and provide high level, quality expertise to help us deliver on our commitments.
Reports to: Secretary of State for Transport
Duration: An initial term of up to 3 years, with the possibility of re-appointment
Remuneration: £20,000 per year for up to 15 days attendance per year
Your key responsibilities, will be to:
You will play a key role in the effective strategic and operational leadership of DfT in line with the Government’s priorities. You will be expected to bring experience of working with very senior stakeholders and demonstrate that you can bring substantial expertise to a department that has a central role in the Government’s growth agenda.
As the Lead NEBM, you will work closely to support and advise the Secretary of State and the Permanent Secretary in their leadership of the organisation and meet with them regularly to reflect on your role and review performance. You will convene the wider NEBM team to synthesise their views for the organisation and ensure they are supported in their work across the Department. You will also sit as a member on the Department’s Investment Committee and be the Chair of the Department’s Nominations Committee.
Very few things affect everyday life the same way that transport does. It’s much more than getting from A to B. It’s about enabling individuals to take part in society. To make connections to work and leisure, education and health, business and the wider world.
At the Department for Transport (DfT) we’re working to improve every kind of journey. We’re harnessing new technology to create safer, more sustainable transport. And, creating better connections between people and places, we’re enabling greater growth opportunities for communities UK-wide. It all means that here, you are part of something very different and special.
DfT is a ministerial department, supported by 23 agencies and public bodies. DfT and our agencies employ around 15,000 staff, of whom about 3,400 are in the core Department, and we have the largest and most complex capital project portfolio in Government, delivered principally through delivery partners including Network Rail, HS2 Ltd and Highways England.
We are looking to broaden our presence around the country and have grown new locations in Leeds and Birmingham.
Our Secretary of State’s priorities are:
More information about DfT can be found on our website.
About the DfT Board
The Departmental Board is an advisory body that supports and challenges both the Department for Transport’s ministers and the Permanent Secretary as Principal Accounting Officer. The DfT Board does not decide policy or exercise the powers of ministers.
Information about DfT's management team and departmental board composition can be found on our website.
All candidates must be able to provide evidence of the following criteria:
1. Leadership: the ability to set strategic vision and drive forward priorities of the organisation with a strong track record in relevant senior leadership role.
2. Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of the Department for Transport and the context within which it operates.
3. Relationship building: ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials and external stakeholders.
4. Communication: strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect.
5. Judgement: effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information to make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the Department for Transport's objectives.
6. Collaboration: ability to work closely with the executive board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge and assurance as appropriate.
Please note, should a large number of applications be received, a shortlist may be undertaken using the following lead criteria: Criteria 1: the ability to set strategic vision and drive forward priorities of the organisation with a strong track record in relevant senior leadership role.
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
If you wish to apply for this role, please apply through the Cabinet Office’s Public Appointments website by midday on Wednesday 11th March.
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.
Any applications submitted after the closing date and time, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted:
Should you require further information or would benefit from a conversation with one of our existing Non-Executive Board Members, please email DfTpublicappointments@dft.gov.uk in advance of the closing date so it can be arranged.
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.
The selection panels for this role will be as follows:
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
This is a non-reserved post and therefore open to UK Nationals, British Nationals Overseas, British Protected Persons, Commonwealth Citizens, EEA Nationals and certain non-EEA family members and Swiss Nationals under the Swiss EU Agreement. There must be no employment restriction or time limit on your permitted stay in the UK. You will not be asked to produce evidence to confirm your eligibility at the application stage, but you will be required to do so should you be invited to the final panel interview.
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).The successful candidate will be required to have or be willing to obtain security clearance to Security Check (SC) level. Pre-appointment checks will also be undertaken on immigration and criminal convictions. It usually takes between 4-6 weeks to obtain the security clearance. The role will be offered on a conditional basis until the successful candidate has passed all checks.
The Department for Transport values and promotes diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity for all and to the appointment of disabled people. As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we will select the disabled candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the role. ‘Best meet’ is defined as providing/demonstrating strong examples of all essential criteria.
In order to guarantee an interview to disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who best meet all the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, we need candidates to declare a disability and that they wish to be considered under the Scheme.
What do we mean by a disability?
To be eligible for consideration under the Scheme, you must be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010.This means that you must have or have had in the last 12 months, a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This includes those whose disability has lasted, or is likely to last, for 12 months, or if the disability or condition is likely to progress or recur. You do not have to be registered as a disabled person to apply under this scheme.
Time commitment:
The anticipated time commitment for the Lead NEBM is a minimum of 15 days per year. The role involves attendance at Board meetings either in person or remotely, providing specialised advice as required, preparation time, travel, and work outside of meetings.
Remuneration:
The Department for Transport (DfT) is the joint controller, with the Cabinet Office, for any personal data which you provide to us as part of your application.
Information provided as part of this application will be kept securely within DfT and destroyed within 5 years of the conclusion of the recruitment campaign.
DfT uses this form to gather evidence on DfT’s public appointments.
The lawful basis that applies to this processing is that it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest to inform DfT’s recruitment policies in accordance with the Department’s public sector equality duties. For processing special category personal data (disability, religion, sexual orientation and ethnicity), we rely on Article 9(2)(g), reasons of substantial public interest (equality of opportunity and treatment).