Non Executive Directorships

The Defra Lead Non-Executive Board Member will be remunerated at a rate of £20,000 per annum. Fees and expenses will be paid by Defra and are subject to deduction of income tax and earnings-related National Insurance (ERNIC) at source under the PAYE scheme.

Vacancy Description

Defra is responsible for improving and protecting the environment. We aim to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities. We also support our world-leading food, farming and fishing industries.

This lead NEBM role is an exciting opportunity to be part of this.

The lead NEBM will become a member of the departmental Board on appointment. Departmental boards are advisory bodies that support and challenge ministers and Accounting Officers. Policy will be decided by ministers alone, on the advice of officials.

For more information on departmental boards and government non-executives please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-executive-directors

The purpose of non-executive board members:

NEBMs bring external experience and expertise to the decisions and processes of Defra’s Board by providing collective strategic leadership to the department. Exercising their role through influence, scrutiny, challenge and advice, they act as a trusted sounding board to the Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary, as appropriate, on any specific agreed specialist areas and other matters more generally.

• Support the Secretary of State in her role as Chair of the departmental Board, enabling the Board to provide effective advice, support, and challenge on departmental delivery and strategy and on the operational, commercial and delivery implications of policies;

• Constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy and business planning, including the setting and development of key objectives and targets;

• Work with the Permanent Secretary to scrutinise the performance of the organisation in meeting agreed goals and objectives, and monitor the reporting of performance, including financial targets;

• Support the department to deliver its plan by providing independent scrutiny, support and assurance;

• Attend a minimum of four departmental Board meetings per year, and contribute effectively to its subcommittees as required, including: Delivery Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee;

• Provide external oversight and expertise to the departmental Board, underpinned by consideration from an independent standpoint, which informs the department’s decision-making process;

• Connect the Board to people and organisations who can provide different perspectives, opinions and expertise which will assist in furthering the business of the department;

• Undertaking (or assisting with) specific project work by agreement with the Secretary of State related to the management of the Board to assess and enhance the department’s performance (including annual Board Effectiveness Reviews);

• Work with the Government Lead NEBM, and non-executives across government, to learn from the experiences of other government departments and other comparable organisations, including playing an active role in the cross-government network of lead NEBMs and to feedback views to the Prime Minister;

• Undertake an annual assessment of the Permanent Secretary’s performance to inform the Permanent Secretary Remuneration Committee and the Cabinet Secretary;

• Lead the Department’s non-executive team, meeting the other NEBMs regularly, ensuring that they are able to fulfil their roles effectively.

Person Specification

• Board level senior leadership experience, as an executive or non-executive in large and complex organisations with a specific focus on delivery;

• Extensive business and commercial experience with a strong and proven background in delivery of major programmes such as infrastructure or transformational change programmes (for example digital or cyber);

• Experience of taking high-level ideas, turning them into deliverable products or programmes and of monitoring delivery programmes to successful outcomes;

• An engaging and collaborative working style including an ability to work together with other executives and non-executives in the organisation to capture opportunities and solve collective problems with innovative solutions;

• An understanding of the sectors and partners with which the department engages, the key challenges faced by the public sector and the ability to bring experience to bear on these challenges.

Desirable criteria

• A strong background in environmental, agriculture or other Defra-specific sectors;

• An understanding of how government works, including the role of departmental boards, and of the role of lead NEBMs and NEBMs in relation to those of executives and ministers:

• Previous non-executive board member experience on a public or private sector board:

• Experience of risk, performance and financial management.

Additional Information

Fees and travel expenses should be claimed retrospectively at the end of each quarter and payment will then be made quarterly by credit transfer to your bank or building society.

The department will reimburse all reasonable expenses (including travel, subsistence and other expenses in line with Cabinet Office policies) properly and necessarily incurred in respect of your appointment.

The fees of non-executive board members will be disclosed in annual departmental accounts, in accordance with the HM Treasury Resource Accounting Manual.

Further guidance on claiming fees and expenses will be made available to successful applicants.