Introduction from the Secretary of State
Welcome note from Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the position of Non-Executive Director (NED) on the Board of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
DVLA plays a vital role in ensuring that the right drivers and vehicles are taxed and on the road. From maintaining more than 49 million driver records and more than 40 million vehicle records, to collecting over £6 billion in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), DVLA’s work affects a huge number of motorists’ everyday lives.
With rapid progress in the development of new technologies, we expect that the way in which people travel will change substantially in the coming years. DVLA will play a vital role in this revolution as the hub for motoring, ensuring that the agency continues to provide excellent digital services to its customers as the organisation continues to transform its services.
In the role of Non-Executive Director, you would have the opportunity to help guide DVLA through this changing landscape. If you are excited by the opportunity to contribute to the DVLA’s work, I encourage you to apply.
Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
Introduction from the Chair
Welcome note from Lesley Cowley, DVLA Chair
“Thank you for your interest in this role. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the strategic direction for services to DVLA’s 49 million customers.”
DVLA’s role is to get the right drivers and vehicles taxed and on the road, as simply, safely and efficiently as possible and we are a leader in UK government for providing modern, digital services.
You would be joining DVLA at a crucial and exciting time, with the opportunity to help shape the future and contribute to its continued success.
We are part way through an ambitious transformation programme, making our services more flexible and responsive to better meet the needs of our customers, and supporting cross-government strategies such as the reduction in UK air pollution.
You will be a key member of the DVLA board, able to inspire, support and oversee the executive team and the wider organisation in achieving challenging and innovative strategic and business plans, developing best in class digital services, using flexible, scalable, cutting edge technology with exemplar levels of security to protect the data of DVLA customers.
This role provides a unique opportunity to influence digital services at incredible scale and reach. Our services are used by most households and many businesses of all types throughout the UK. We would like to draw on a diverse pool of talent. You will be joining a high calibre and high performing Board team. Whether this will be your first Non-Executive role or whether you are a seasoned Non-Executive, this is your opportunity to play a key role in ensuring DVLA’s continued success by providing both support and challenge to the senior team. Board members will receive a full induction and ongoing training and support. Each Non-Executive also regularly engages with all aspects of DVLA through department visits, stakeholder engagement meetings, attendance at key DVLA events and participation in DfT Non-Executive meetings.
As a member of DVLA’s board, you will be a committed team player and a corporate leader for the whole organisation, including the 6,000 people who make up the DVLA family. This position offers the right candidate a rewarding role in a fast paced, successful and award-winning organisation.
The motoring world is on the cusp of huge change, with big advances in autonomous vehicles on the horizon, and I hope you will consider joining us to help take DVLA forward on the next stage of our transformation.
Best wishes,
Lesley
Additional introductions
Welcome note from Richard Holden, Minister of Roads and Local Transport
For the boards of our public bodies to effectively serve the public, they should also be representative of the public. We need our public appointments to be open to fresh talent, expertise and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the public they serve. That is why the government is committed to making our public appointments as broad as possible.
I want our public appointments to benefit from the strongest possible field of candidates. That means we need more candidates from a variety of backgrounds who can bring their experience and ideas to our boards.
If you are new to the DfT family or to public appointments, I would like to encourage you to apply for our public appointment opportunities and join a department that is forward thinking and transforming Britain’s transport system.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy to answer any queries you may have on the process, including how you can improve your application. They can be contacted at DfTPublicAppointments@dft.gov.uk.
You will also find a candidate guide on public appointment application hints and tips to help you with your application on all DfT roles advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Richard Holden
Minister of Roads and Local Transport
Role description
The successful candidates, through their membership of the Board, which is an advisory board and as chair of DVLA audit and risk committee, will provide challenge and support to the DVLA Executive Team. They will play a vital role in the effective strategic and operational leadership of the DVLA. The NEDs provide guidance, experience, opinion and governance scrutiny, and support the Chief Executive Officer to deliver DVLA’s strategic and business plans.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- prepare for and make an effective contribution to the DVLA Board and executive/NED meetings
- be able to dedicate time to stakeholder engagement and specific projects within DVLA
- maintain appropriate links to the DfT as part of effectively discharging the duties and responsibilities of an NED
- work proactively with the Board and objectively with government to:
- provide sound advice to the Chair and Chief Executive
- provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive team to ensure that policy delivery follows strategic direction
- collectively ensure that decisions made by the Board follow proper procedures and are supported by sufficient high-quality information
- support the Executive Team in discharging their leadership responsibilities to the DVLA
- ensure high standards of corporate governance and financial management and control are observed at all times
- work closely with, and hold to account, the executive team for delivery of the Agency’s Business Plan and budget
- build strong relationships with DVLA Board colleagues
- chair the DVLA audit and risk committee. The purpose of the committee is:
- risk, control and governance arrangements and associated assurance activity
- audit and other review body plans
- accounting policies, annual reports and accounts and governance statements
- anti-fraud and whistleblowing arrangements
- management response to issues identified
Organisation description
We are a multi-award winning executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT).
We are proud to be based in Birmingham, and in Swansea for over 50 years, between the Brecon Beacons and the Gower Peninsula. We are one of the biggest employers in South Wales with more than 6,000 staff. We are responsible for maintaining over 49 million driver records and more than 40 million vehicle records. Our main purpose is to keep complete, accurate registers of drivers and vehicles and make them as accessible and flexible as possible to those who use them.
These registers are important to DVLA, the police and others and help keep the UK’s roads some of the safest in the world. Our registers are also used to provide many services delivered by other government departments including traffic management and helping reduce carbon emissions.
Last year we handled 3.5 billion digital enquiries and customer applications. Our aim is to provide the most efficient and effective services to meet the needs of a diverse but ever-growing digitally aware customer base, while recognising the needs of the important minority through assisted digital services.
The many digital services we provide are a simpler, better and more secure way of transacting with us. We work hard to make sure our services are quick and easy to use and can be accessed at a time and place that suits our customers.
We are responsible for the collection of Vehicle Excise Duty, with on average over £7 billion collected every year. We also offer personalised registrations or sale and collect more than £140 million every year on behalf of the Treasury.
We are constantly looking for new ways to improve our services and we embrace and encourage the use of the latest developing technologies to allow us to do that.
Board composition
About the DVLA Board
The Chief Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer of DVLA, and the Board is an advisory Board.
As a Non-Executive Director, you will both support and challenge the executive team to achieve its strategic and business plans, and to optimise the performance and efficiency of the agency. You will be part of a network of NEDs across DfT and its agencies, sharing experience and best practice.
Current DVLA Non-Executive Board members
Lesley Cowley OBE, Non-Executive Chair
Matt King, Non-Executive board member
Chris Morson, Non-Executive board member
DVLA Executive Team
Julie Lennard, Chief Executive
Tony Ackroyd, Operations and Customer Service Director
Darren Thompson, Interim Commercial Director
Tracy Nash, Finance Director
Brian Sullivan, Chief Technology Officer
Lynette Rose, Strategy, Policy and Communications Director
Louise White, HR and Estates Director
DVLA Strategic Plan
DVLA has published its three-year strategic plan in April 2021 with the following strategic aims:
- To be customer-centric in the way services are delivered (via digital and alternative service channels). Customers’ needs will be at the forefront as we develop services for individuals, businesses and wider government.
- To consolidate our position as a dynamic, digital organisation which provides high quality, innovative and secure by design services that are both scalable and resilient. Services in the future will be more flexible, responsive and fit for a changing future.
- To be data driven in order to make the best use of the information we hold, while always protecting customers’ personal data and being transparent about how data is used. DVLA will look to improve the way we use data to gain the most benefits for customers.
- To be a great place to work by investing in our people to provide them with the range of skills and knowledge they will need to adapt to a changing work landscape, particularly as the organisation utilises greater automation.
- To help build the local digital skills economy, capitalising on our Centre of Digital Excellence which aims to recruit and develop talent, including in software development, cyber security and cloud services. DVLA aims to be the best place in Wales to start or develop a career in digital, data and technology.
Person specification
Essential criteria
For the Non-Executive Director and ARAC Chair positions, the following essential criteria applies:
- Excellent communication skills, and demonstrable experience of challenging effectively and constructively at a senior level.
For the ARAC Chair position, there is an additional essential criteria as follows:
- A financial or accounting qualification, or demonstrable relevant experience.
Desirable criteria
For the NED/ARAC Chair position
In order to include a broad range of relevant skills on the DVLA Board, we would ask candidates to also provide evidence against three or more of the following desirable criteria:
- experience of working at board level, either at an executive or non-executive level
- ability to challenge the DVLA to ensure that it is a truly customer focused organisation, based on proven experience in delivering excellent customer service to external customers including through the use of digital technologies
- the ability to lead and successfully deliver change: experience of leading change in a complex transformational digital environment using new technologies
- experience and knowledge of effective governance at a senior level in complex organisations in the private/public/voluntary sectors
- ability to make sound, open, and impartial decisions and to employ complex problem solving, analysis and evaluation skills
- a solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life
- demonstrable interest in the work of the DVLA and the challenges it faces.
For the NED positions
In order to include a broad range of relevant skills on the DVLA Board, we would also ask candidates to provide evidence against three or more of the following desirable criteria:
- experience of working at board level, either at an executive or non-executive level
- ability to challenge the DVLA to ensure that it is a truly customer focused organisation, based on proven experience in delivering excellent customer service to external customers
- understanding and experience of IT leadership in an organisation of a similar scale
- the ability to lead and successfully deliver change: experience of leading change in a complex transformational digital environment using new technologies
- experience and knowledge of effective governance at a senior level in complex organisations in the private/public/voluntary sectors
- ability to make sound, open, and impartial decisions and to employ complex problem solving, analysis and evaluation skills
- a solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life
- demonstrable interest in the work of the DVLA and the challenges it faces
- understanding of the car industry and potential for change in this sector due to technological advances
- understanding and experience of operational leadership and Human Resources management and leadership
Application and selection process
Introduction from the Secretary of State
Welcome note from Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the position of Non-Executive Director (NED) on the Board of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
DVLA plays a vital role in ensuring that the right drivers and vehicles are taxed and on the road. From maintaining more than 49 million driver records and more than 40 million vehicle records, to collecting over £6 billion in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), DVLA’s work affects a huge number of motorists’ everyday lives.
With rapid progress in the development of new technologies, we expect that the way in which people travel will change substantially in the coming years. DVLA will play a vital role in this revolution as the hub for motoring, ensuring that the agency continues to provide excellent digital services to its customers as the organisation continues to transform its services.
In the role of Non-Executive Director, you would have the opportunity to help guide DVLA through this changing landscape. If you are excited by the opportunity to contribute to the DVLA’s work, I encourage you to apply.
Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
Introduction from the Chair
Welcome note from Lesley Cowley, DVLA Chair
“Thank you for your interest in this role. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the strategic direction for services to DVLA’s 49 million customers.”
DVLA’s role is to get the right drivers and vehicles taxed and on the road, as simply, safely and efficiently as possible and we are a leader in UK government for providing modern, digital services.
You would be joining DVLA at a crucial and exciting time, with the opportunity to help shape the future and contribute to its continued success.
We are part way through an ambitious transformation programme, making our services more flexible and responsive to better meet the needs of our customers, and supporting cross-government strategies such as the reduction in UK air pollution.
You will be a key member of the DVLA board, able to inspire, support and oversee the executive team and the wider organisation in achieving challenging and innovative strategic and business plans, developing best in class digital services, using flexible, scalable, cutting edge technology with exemplar levels of security to protect the data of DVLA customers.
This role provides a unique opportunity to influence digital services at incredible scale and reach. Our services are used by most households and many businesses of all types throughout the UK. We would like to draw on a diverse pool of talent. You will be joining a high calibre and high performing Board team. Whether this will be your first Non-Executive role or whether you are a seasoned Non-Executive, this is your opportunity to play a key role in ensuring DVLA’s continued success by providing both support and challenge to the senior team. Board members will receive a full induction and ongoing training and support. Each Non-Executive also regularly engages with all aspects of DVLA through department visits, stakeholder engagement meetings, attendance at key DVLA events and participation in DfT Non-Executive meetings.
As a member of DVLA’s board, you will be a committed team player and a corporate leader for the whole organisation, including the 6,000 people who make up the DVLA family. This position offers the right candidate a rewarding role in a fast paced, successful and award-winning organisation.
The motoring world is on the cusp of huge change, with big advances in autonomous vehicles on the horizon, and I hope you will consider joining us to help take DVLA forward on the next stage of our transformation.
Best wishes,
Lesley
Additional introductions
Welcome note from Richard Holden, Minister of Roads and Local Transport
For the boards of our public bodies to effectively serve the public, they should also be representative of the public. We need our public appointments to be open to fresh talent, expertise and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the public they serve. That is why the government is committed to making our public appointments as broad as possible.
I want our public appointments to benefit from the strongest possible field of candidates. That means we need more candidates from a variety of backgrounds who can bring their experience and ideas to our boards.
If you are new to the DfT family or to public appointments, I would like to encourage you to apply for our public appointment opportunities and join a department that is forward thinking and transforming Britain’s transport system.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy to answer any queries you may have on the process, including how you can improve your application. They can be contacted at DfTPublicAppointments@dft.gov.uk.
You will also find a candidate guide on public appointment application hints and tips to help you with your application on all DfT roles advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Richard Holden
Minister of Roads and Local Transport
Role description
The successful candidates, through their membership of the Board, which is an advisory board and as chair of DVLA audit and risk committee, will provide challenge and support to the DVLA Executive Team. They will play a vital role in the effective strategic and operational leadership of the DVLA. The NEDs provide guidance, experience, opinion and governance scrutiny, and support the Chief Executive Officer to deliver DVLA’s strategic and business plans.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- prepare for and make an effective contribution to the DVLA Board and executive/NED meetings
- be able to dedicate time to stakeholder engagement and specific projects within DVLA
- maintain appropriate links to the DfT as part of effectively discharging the duties and responsibilities of an NED
- work proactively with the Board and objectively with government to:
- provide sound advice to the Chair and Chief Executive
- provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive team to ensure that policy delivery follows strategic direction
- collectively ensure that decisions made by the Board follow proper procedures and are supported by sufficient high-quality information
- support the Executive Team in discharging their leadership responsibilities to the DVLA
- ensure high standards of corporate governance and financial management and control are observed at all times
- work closely with, and hold to account, the executive team for delivery of the Agency’s Business Plan and budget
- build strong relationships with DVLA Board colleagues
- chair the DVLA audit and risk committee. The purpose of the committee is:
- risk, control and governance arrangements and associated assurance activity
- audit and other review body plans
- accounting policies, annual reports and accounts and governance statements
- anti-fraud and whistleblowing arrangements
- management response to issues identified
Organisation description
We are a multi-award winning executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT).
We are proud to be based in Birmingham, and in Swansea for over 50 years, between the Brecon Beacons and the Gower Peninsula. We are one of the biggest employers in South Wales with more than 6,000 staff. We are responsible for maintaining over 49 million driver records and more than 40 million vehicle records. Our main purpose is to keep complete, accurate registers of drivers and vehicles and make them as accessible and flexible as possible to those who use them.
These registers are important to DVLA, the police and others and help keep the UK’s roads some of the safest in the world. Our registers are also used to provide many services delivered by other government departments including traffic management and helping reduce carbon emissions.
Last year we handled 3.5 billion digital enquiries and customer applications. Our aim is to provide the most efficient and effective services to meet the needs of a diverse but ever-growing digitally aware customer base, while recognising the needs of the important minority through assisted digital services.
The many digital services we provide are a simpler, better and more secure way of transacting with us. We work hard to make sure our services are quick and easy to use and can be accessed at a time and place that suits our customers.
We are responsible for the collection of Vehicle Excise Duty, with on average over £7 billion collected every year. We also offer personalised registrations or sale and collect more than £140 million every year on behalf of the Treasury.
We are constantly looking for new ways to improve our services and we embrace and encourage the use of the latest developing technologies to allow us to do that.
Board composition
About the DVLA Board
The Chief Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer of DVLA, and the Board is an advisory Board.
As a Non-Executive Director, you will both support and challenge the executive team to achieve its strategic and business plans, and to optimise the performance and efficiency of the agency. You will be part of a network of NEDs across DfT and its agencies, sharing experience and best practice.
Current DVLA Non-Executive Board members
Lesley Cowley OBE, Non-Executive Chair
Matt King, Non-Executive board member
Chris Morson, Non-Executive board member
DVLA Executive Team
Julie Lennard, Chief Executive
Tony Ackroyd, Operations and Customer Service Director
Darren Thompson, Interim Commercial Director
Tracy Nash, Finance Director
Brian Sullivan, Chief Technology Officer
Lynette Rose, Strategy, Policy and Communications Director
Louise White, HR and Estates Director
DVLA Strategic Plan
DVLA has published its three-year strategic plan in April 2021 with the following strategic aims:
- To be customer-centric in the way services are delivered (via digital and alternative service channels). Customers’ needs will be at the forefront as we develop services for individuals, businesses and wider government.
- To consolidate our position as a dynamic, digital organisation which provides high quality, innovative and secure by design services that are both scalable and resilient. Services in the future will be more flexible, responsive and fit for a changing future.
- To be data driven in order to make the best use of the information we hold, while always protecting customers’ personal data and being transparent about how data is used. DVLA will look to improve the way we use data to gain the most benefits for customers.
- To be a great place to work by investing in our people to provide them with the range of skills and knowledge they will need to adapt to a changing work landscape, particularly as the organisation utilises greater automation.
- To help build the local digital skills economy, capitalising on our Centre of Digital Excellence which aims to recruit and develop talent, including in software development, cyber security and cloud services. DVLA aims to be the best place in Wales to start or develop a career in digital, data and technology.
Person specification
Essential criteria
For the Non-Executive Director and ARAC Chair positions, the following essential criteria applies:
- Excellent communication skills, and demonstrable experience of challenging effectively and constructively at a senior level.
For the ARAC Chair position, there is an additional essential criteria as follows:
- A financial or accounting qualification, or demonstrable relevant experience.
Desirable criteria
For the NED/ARAC Chair position
In order to include a broad range of relevant skills on the DVLA Board, we would ask candidates to also provide evidence against three or more of the following desirable criteria:
- experience of working at board level, either at an executive or non-executive level
- ability to challenge the DVLA to ensure that it is a truly customer focused organisation, based on proven experience in delivering excellent customer service to external customers including through the use of digital technologies
- the ability to lead and successfully deliver change: experience of leading change in a complex transformational digital environment using new technologies
- experience and knowledge of effective governance at a senior level in complex organisations in the private/public/voluntary sectors
- ability to make sound, open, and impartial decisions and to employ complex problem solving, analysis and evaluation skills
- a solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life
- demonstrable interest in the work of the DVLA and the challenges it faces.
For the NED positions
In order to include a broad range of relevant skills on the DVLA Board, we would also ask candidates to provide evidence against three or more of the following desirable criteria:
- experience of working at board level, either at an executive or non-executive level
- ability to challenge the DVLA to ensure that it is a truly customer focused organisation, based on proven experience in delivering excellent customer service to external customers
- understanding and experience of IT leadership in an organisation of a similar scale
- the ability to lead and successfully deliver change: experience of leading change in a complex transformational digital environment using new technologies
- experience and knowledge of effective governance at a senior level in complex organisations in the private/public/voluntary sectors
- ability to make sound, open, and impartial decisions and to employ complex problem solving, analysis and evaluation skills
- a solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life
- demonstrable interest in the work of the DVLA and the challenges it faces
- understanding of the car industry and potential for change in this sector due to technological advances
- understanding and experience of operational leadership and Human Resources management and leadership