Non Executive Directorships

£27500pa

Vacancy Description

The Geospatial Commission is an independent expert committee at the centre of Government which is responsible for setting the UK’s geospatial strategy and coordinating public sector geospatial activity. As part of the Cabinet Office, its remit is to unlock economic, social and environmental value from geospatial data.

The Government is seeking an outstanding leader to Chair the Geospatial Commission. You will be a leader in your field with the desire and drive to elevate geospatial data into the public consciousness, as well as develop and articulate the UK’s vision for the widespread use of geospatial data.

The role requires a truly strategic thinker who possesses excellent judgement, personal integrity and the proven ability to create a cross-government consensus on the priorities to deliver the Strategy, successfully harnessing the expertise of the Commission’s highly experienced, independent Board. Whoever takes on this role will be able to engage effectively at the highest levels with a wide range of stakeholders within government as well the public and private sectors.

You must be able to advocate successfully for access to data and understand the value that the broad range of uses that geospatial data brings to the UK. You will work in a collaborative manner, building effective relationships with Board colleagues, the executive team, and across the organisation with an open and engaging style.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than midday February 26th 2021. All applications must be submitted using the link: www.allenlane.co.uk/vacancies/8124/.

If you would like a confidential discussion about the role please contact our recruitment adviser Rebecca O’Connor at Allen Lane rebeccaoconnor@allenlane.co.uk 07921 336 229.

Person Specification

Capabilities and skills

• Provide robust, independent advice, under a high level of public interest and scrutiny, and use a public profile to build consensus;
• Enable a high standard of discussion and challenge, while fostering an environment in which diverse views are encouraged and considered;
• Operate strategically, with credibility and influence across government, industry, and the public;
• Process and communicate complex information, take a long-term view and weigh probabilities to reach clear conclusions;
• Understand geospatial data and its applications, especially to business and public service delivery.
• Demonstrate attitudes consistent with the expectations of public office and the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

Experience

Essential

• A highly-regarded leader in their field;
• Experience of strategic leadership at senior levels of government, academia or business;
• Track record of communicating and influencing at the highest levels;
• Experience of representing organisations in public, with a range of stakeholders;
• Understanding or experience of growing a company in the digital economy.

Desirable

• Experience of operating within Central Government.

Please note: Candidates applying under the Disability Confident scheme are assessed against the ‘minimum criteria’ for the role. For this recruitment, the minimum criteria will be the ‘essential experience criteria’.

Additional Information

About The Geospatial Commission

The Geospatial Commission is an independent, expert committee responsible for setting the UK’s geospatial strategy and coordinating public sector geospatial activity. We have a mandate and budget to drive and deliver changes by working in partnership with others.

This means we:

• Provide strategic oversight of the geospatial ecosystem in the UK, setting geospatial strategy, policy and standards.
• Hold the budget for the public sector’s largest investment in geospatial data.
• Make targeted investments in data projects that accelerate innovation and adoption of geospatial data applications.

In June 2020, the Geospatial Commission published the UK’s Geospatial Strategy geospatial strategy  to unlock the significant economic, social and environmental value of location data.  The Strategy sets out four key missions, together with a combination of actions, serving as our blueprint for collaboration and targeted priorities.

The Commission’s agenda is crucial for effective delivery of many of the government’s key aims; including through supporting infrastructure delivery and construction as part of the COVID-19 economic recovery, helping to put the UK on the front foot in its transition out of the EU through further developing a technology and science capability where the UK is a recognised exemplar, and driving public sector efficiencies and reform through access to improved data.

The Commission has a formal relationship with six, core ‘partner bodies’ (known as the Geo6). Each of these partners plays a central role in the delivery of the UK’s Geospatial Strategy – both through the geospatial data they hold and their extensive expertise.

The Partner Bodies are:

• The British Geological Survey
• The Coal Authority
• HM Land Registry
• Ordnance Survey
• UK Hydrographic Office
• The Valuation Office Agency

For more details on the Geospatial Commission please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/geospatial-commission

For further information and the candidate job pack, please visit the Allen Lane website www.allenlane.co.uk/vacancies/8124/.

How to Apply

In order for us to progress your application please email the following completed documentation to geospatialcommission@allenlane.co.uk with:

A Curriculum Vitae with your education, professional qualifications and full employment history.

• An accompanying Supporting Letter (maximum 2 A4 pages) – setting out your motivations and suitability for the role and how you meet the capabilities and skills and essential experience set out in the person specification – please ensure your full name is clearly noted at the top of your letter.
• A Diversity monitoring form (Google). You do not need to have a Google account to complete the form. Any information you provide in Section A will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel but will be anonymised and analysed to ensure Cabinet Office are attracting a diverse range of applications. The form now includes questions about disability. Information to help answer these questions can be found on the Public Appointments website  If you experience problems accessing the monitoring form please contact Liz Conn.
• Disability Confident – Offering an interview to disabled people declaration Offering an Interview to Disabled People (GIS scheme) As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. The Equality Act 2010 defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. If you wish to indicate that you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, please complete the Disability Confident – Offering an Interview to Disabled People declaration in the supporting documents and send it with your application.
• Details of two people you have worked with previously who we could talk to at shortlist stage (with your permission).

Diversity of opportunity is something the Cabinet Office cares passionately about. Applications are encouraged from all candidates regardless of ethnicity, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity. We particularly welcome applications from women, those with a disability and those from a black or ethnic minority background. We would also particularly welcome applications from those currently working in, or with experience of, the private sector, and those who have not previously held public appointments. We want to explore the widest possible pool of talent for these important appointments. We ask all applicants to public appointments to complete a diversity monitoring form. We hope you will help us by providing this information. This will allow us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply.

If you are shortlisted for the role, due diligence will be carried out and your referees are likely to be contacted.