Department for Culture, Media and Sport – Non-Executive Board Members x3

£15 – 20,000 pa

About the appointment

Introduction

As a department, we support initiatives that enrich everyday life and underpin the Government’s missions. We will work to support the growth of our highly innovative sectors and support the creation of jobs across the UK. This also means ensuring that people everywhere have the skills to succeed in our sectors. We will support young people to succeed in our sectors, and help to ensure opportunities are not limited because of where people live, or how much money they have. We will empower local partners, the media and people to drive change, build cohesive communities and an inclusive national story.

As an organisation we really live and breathe our values and work hard to create a culture that our staff enjoy working in. We have two thriving head offices, one in London and Manchester. We also have 42 arm’s length bodies and we work closely with stakeholders up and down the country and internationally.

As a Non-Executive Board Member you will have the opportunity to help us shape what is an exciting agenda, particularly at a time when we are taking centre stage with events that shape our national identity and future.

Additional introductions

Thank you for showing an interest in becoming a DCMS Non-Executive Board member.  DCMS is seeking to fill three Non-Executive Board Member (NEBM) positions, including a new Chair of the DCMS Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.

DCMS celebrates what makes life in the UK unique, recognising the vital role culture, arts, media, sport, tourism and civil society play in supporting the economy and shaping our image on the world stage. Our sectors are a powerful force for economic growth and opportunity, contributing £170 billion to the economy, supporting 4 million jobs and acting as a source of soft power and national pride.

Our new Secretary of State has an ambitious agenda with her three priorities being: Growth and good jobs in every place; richer lives with choices and opportunity for all; amore socially cohesive society and a new national story.

The successful candidates will exercise their role through influence and advice to the Department, supporting as well as challenging the Executive team and Ministers to continuously improve as we deliver this important agenda.

Appointment description

As a Non-Executive Board Member you will have the opportunity to help us shape what is an exciting agenda, particularly at a time when we are taking centre stage with events that shape our national identity and future.

Non-executives bring external experience and expertise to the decisions and processes of the DCMS Board. They exercise their role through influence and advice, as well as constructively challenging Ministers and officials. The role is varied, but general responsibilities include:

  • Member of the Departmental Board, a key part of our corporate governance, delivering assurance and oversight of the Department and its agenda including from time to time acting as a sounding board to the Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary and other senior individuals as appropriate;

  • Providing strong and constructive challenge and supporting the executive team to ensure that they deliver the approved strategy and discharge their leadership responsibilities;

  • Bring relevant skills, experiences and understanding from across a range of DCMS sectors to support, guide and challenge implementation of the Department’s strategy and priorities: growth and good jobs in every place, richer lives with choices and opportunities for all, and building a more socially cohesive country;

  • Contributing expertise from the sectors you are operating in or have operated in to help shape the Department’s approach;

  • Reviewing the department’s business plans and challenging progress on the operational/delivery implications of policy proposals, and undertaking deep-dives into potential risks and mitigations;

  • Scrutinising performance through an outcome focussed lens. Ensuring the department adheres to relevant standards and operates with integrity;

  • Participating in the Board’s annual effectiveness review and ensuring the Board acts on recommendations and builds its own capability;

  • Building and maintaining effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and stakeholders;

  • Attending occasional government-wide meetings for non-executives to share best practice.

The role of the Audit Risk Assurance Committee Chair contains additional responsibilities, these include:

  • Chairing at a minimum of four Audit Risk Assurance Committee meetings a year;

  • Providing direct support and challenge to the DCMS Permanent Secretary in her role as Accounting Officer;

  • Supporting the Departmental Board and Principal Accounting Officer by reviewing and formally recommending the signing of the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts;

  • Reviewing the Departmental Strategic Risk Register and providing challenge, advice and feedback.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Essential Criteria:

Candidates will need to demonstrate in their application that they meet all of the following essential criteria to a high standard:

  • Experience of working in at least one of the DCMS sectors or working at a senior level in communities, with an understanding of challenges and the ability to scrutinise and work with the department on policy issues;

  • Proven senior leadership, with the ability to operate at board level and contribute to the effective running of the Department, including setting strategy and ensuring its effective governance;

  • Sound judgement and a high level of integrity (including when dealing with confidential or sensitive issues); and

  • Excellent communication skills, inspiring confidence with a wide range of stakeholders both in formal environments (such as Board meetings) and in less formal environments (such as one-to-one meetings with Executives).

Candidates for the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair role will also need to demonstrate the following expertise:

  • Significant experience of assurance, risk management and the work of audit committees. A proven track record of competently analysing financial statements, instilling good financial management disciplines and adhering to best practice.

  • Financial scrutiny: Board-level experience of sound financial, risk and performance management, approving and scrutinising the allocation of resources to achieve plans using clear, consistent, comparable performance information. Good understanding of the role of audit and other controls in the financial sphere.

  • Risk management: Significant experience of assessing and managing risks, including high risk and high value projects and risks with a public interest element.

  • Qualification in finance and audit from a recognised organisation

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