Appointment details

Non-Executive Director - Harwich Haven Authority

Summary

• Organisation: Harwich Haven Authority
• Sponsor department: Department for Transport
• Location: South East
• Sectors: Transport
• Skills: Business, Commercial, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 15 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £16,913 per annum
• Length of term: Three years
• Application deadline: Midday on 20 May 2026

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   22 April 2026

2. Application deadline

   Midday on 20 May 2026

3. Sifting date

   8 June 2026

4. Interviews expected to end on

   17 July 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Opportunity

Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) is a strategic gateway for UK trade, operating 24 hours a day to support five major port facilities and provide deep‑water access for some of the world’s largest container vessels. The Haven plays a critical role in the resilience and efficiency of national supply chains and the prosperity of East Anglia.

In 2024, HHA generated £48.0m of income, delivering 14% year‑on‑year growth, reflecting increased calls from the largest vessels in the global fleet. As a trust port, all profits are reinvested for the long‑term benefit of customers, communities, and the environment, combining commercial discipline with a strong public‑interest mission.

HHA is seeking an experienced executive to join the Board as a Non‑Executive Director, providing independent oversight, strategic insight, and constructive challenge at a pivotal time for the organisation.

Why Join the Board

This role will appeal to senior leaders who are motivated by impact, purpose, and governance excellence.

• Influence infrastructure that is critical to UK trade and economic resilience

• Contribute to the long‑term stewardship of a nationally significant trust port, balancing complex commercial, environmental, and safety challenges

• Support regional growth in East Anglia while shaping decisions of national significance

• Broaden or deepen non‑executive experience as a member of a multidisciplinary Board.

Introduction from the Minister

Welcome Note from Keir Mather MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation

Dear Applicant, 

Thank you for your interest in the Non-Executive Director role on the Board of Harwich Haven Authority (HHA). 

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 for a Non-Executive Director to join the team on the Board of the Trust Port at Harwich Haven Authority.

HHA is a major UK trust port with a proud history and a vital role in enabling safe, efficient and environmentally responsible access to one of the UK’s most important natural harbours.

This is an exciting time to join HHA. They are investing in infrastructure, enhancing their environmental and sustainability ambitions, and embracing digital and technological change. As a Non-Executive Director, you will play a central role in shaping strategy, scrutinising performance, and ensuring strong governance. We are particularly keen to hear from individuals with expertise in infrastructure development, sustainability, digital innovation, or finance and risk.

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 HHA, 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. 

Keir Mather MP

Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation

Appointment description

As a Non‑Executive Director, you will work collaboratively with fellow Board members and the Executive team to ensure HHA is well‑governed, financially robust, and strategically positioned for the future.

You will be expected to: Contribute to strategy development and long‑term planning; Provide oversight of financial performance, risk management, and capital investment; Ensure the highest standards of governance, transparency, and public accountability; Offer independent challenge while acting as a trusted adviser to the Executive; and Champion HHA’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

Organisation description

HHA operates within the trust port model, requiring a strong balance between commercial performance and public‑interest outcomes. Board discussions are strategic, evidence‑based, and focused on long‑term value creation rather than short‑term returns.

Non‑Executive Directors are expected to bring external perspective, sound judgement, and the confidence to challenge constructively while supporting collective decision‑making.

This is a rare opportunity to contribute at Board level to an organisation of genuine national importance. The role offers intellectual challenge, public‑interest purpose, and the chance to shape infrastructure that underpins the UK economy, while gaining highly relevant experience in trust port governance.

For senior executives seeking a meaningful non‑executive role with visible impact, Harwich Haven Authority offers both purpose and scale. This role would suit a candidate looking for a single non-executive position alongside a full time Executive position.

Board composition

Find out more about our Board here.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Working alongside an established Board, we are seeing an accomplished executive with:

• Board‑level or equivalent senior executive experience in a complex organisation 

• Strong strategic capability and commercial judgement

• Experience of financial oversight, risk management, and performance scrutiny 

• A demonstrable commitment to high standards of governance, public accountability and integrity 

• A strong understanding of, or connection to, East Anglia and its economic context

• Data, digital operations, or technology‑enabled transformation

Desirable criteria

Added specialism in one of more of the following:

• Asset‑intensive or regulated environments 

• Major capital projects or long‑term investment programmes 

• Legal, governance, or assurance oversight (including JVs or partnerships) 

Application and selection process

How to apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please apply through the Cabinet Office’s Public Appointments website by 15th May 2026. Any applications submitted after the closing date, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted.

• A CV or equivalent biographical information (maximum two sides A4, minimum 12 font) setting out your career history and including details of any professional qualifications.  
• Provide a summary of why you are interested in the role and how you meet the specification and essential criteria. This can be in a form that allows you most ably to present your interest and credentials, for example a short, bullet-point slide presentation, a short video (no more than 2 mins) or supporting letter (no more than two A4 pages, minimum 12 font). Make sure you refer to the contents of this document and provide specific examples. If you wish to provide your supporting summary in video format, please contact DfTpublicappointments@dft.gov.uk in advance of the closing date.
• You will also be asked to provide diversity data, and to declare any potential conflicts of interest or reputational issues.

If you have any queries about this role, please contact the DfT Public Appointments Team at DfTPublicAppointments@dft.gov.uk

Overview of the application process

This role is being competed in accordance with the Governance Code (October 2025), which sets out the regulatory framework for public appointments processes. The Code is based on three core principles – merit, openness, and fairness. 

The DfT Public Appointments Team will acknowledge your application and keep you updated on the progress of the competition.  

At the short-listing meeting the selection panel will assess each application against the essential criteria and decide who to invite for interview.   

Interviews are expected to take place in central London and to last for between 45 and 60 minutes. Further details about the format will be provided to you in advance. 

Appointable candidates may be invited to meet with the Secretary of State, or another Department for Transport Minister, before they make a final decision.  

Please note: Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed except in exceptional circumstances and only when agreed in advance with the DfT Public Appointments Team. 

You can expect the recruitment process to take approximately 6 months; however, applicants will be kept informed of progress.  

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The selection panel for this appointment competition is: 

• Debbie Francis - Non-Executive Chair of HHA Board - Panel Chair
• Tim Clarke - Independent Panel Member
• Department for Transport Representative - To be confirmed

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 DFTPublicAppointments@dft.gov.uk

Security clearance

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.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We believe that by being a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone is valued, we are more motivated, higher performing and more committed to our team. We welcome all applicants, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, social background, religious beliefs, ethnicity, or age.  

As part of the application process, we ask candidates to complete equal opportunities monitoring information in the application portal. This will help us to monitor selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. This part of the form will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes only. The form will not be treated as part of your application. 

Disability confident

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 all disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy 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.

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

You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct. All successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to the Review Body’s “Codes of Practice”. Candidates will be expected to abide by the “Seven Principles of Public Life” set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. 

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

Your appointment as a Non-Executive Director of HHA will be made by the Secretary of State. 

The appointment will be for an initial term of 3 years, with the option of re-appointment for up to a further 3 years by mutual agreement. 

It should be noted that this post is a public appointment; Chairs and Non-Executive Directors are neither employees of the Crown nor the Department for Transport. Such appointments are not normally subject to the provisions of employment law. 

Appointments may be ended prior to the conclusion of the period of appointment. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

• £16,913 per annum for approximately 15 days time commitment.
• If invited to chair a sub-committee, additional remuneration may be provided.  
• Remuneration is taxable through payroll, and the appointment is not pensionable. 
• Members can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred at rates set centrally by the Department for Transport/or the DVSA. 
• Applicants should note that the successful candidates cannot be remunerated for this role if they are being paid for an existing full-time role from the public purse. 

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

If you are not completely satisfied with the way your application is handled at any stage of the competition, please raise any complaint in the first instance with:  

Via email: DfT Public Appointments DfTPublicAppointments@dft.gov.uk  

Public Appointments Team  

Shareholding, Appointments and Inquiries  

Department for Transport 

Great Minster House 

33 Horseferry Road 

London 

SW1P 4DR 

We will reply to your complaint within 20 days. 

Data protection

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).

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

Attachments

• Candidate Pack - HHA NED

Contact details

For more information, please contact Adam Noott, Public Appointments Campaign Manager Adam.Noott@dft.gov.uk