Non Executive Directorships

Nuclear Weapons Member – Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee

Location: London

Date Posted: 07/02/2025

Closing Date: 17/03/2025

£450/day – 25 days/annum

About the appointment

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in this prestigious role. This is a unique position, with a privileged view across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, influencing the safety of the Defence Nuclear Programme.

Introduction from the Minister

As the Secretary of State for Defence, I would like to thank you for your interest in applying to become the Nuclear Weapon Member of the Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee.

A passionate and experienced member of this independent Committee will be vital in contributing the provision of unbiased, independent, expert advice to the Department on all safety matters pertaining to the defence nuclear programme.

As such, you will be engaging with stakeholders across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, to understand their safety practices and safety management arrangements, and to provide a view on the soundness of these. I believe this to be a fascinating and important role. The annual reports, to which the successful candidate will contribute, will be delivered to me and senior officials within the Ministry of Defence, to provide us with advice and assurance.

Introduction from the Chair

Thank you for expressing an interest in joining the Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee. To fulfil our remit and offer the greatest value to the MOD, we need a diverse mix of senior professionals who can:

– work together as a team;

– build positive and close working relationships across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise; and,

– offer wise counsel from an independent perspective.

This is a challenging, but hugely rewarding and exciting opportunity; I welcome applications from senior professionals who meet the essential criteria for this appointment, bringing relevant knowledge and experience to add value to our work. I particularly encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities and disabled people.

Appointment description

The member role has the following responsibilities:

a. Taking proper account of information and guidance provided by the Ministry of Defence to inform the advice the DNSEC provides.

b. Employing efficient and effective use of resources in gathering evidence and forming the DNSEC’s advice.

c. Delivering high standards of regularity, propriety, and quality in their DNSEC work and advice.

d. Contribute in an open and transparent manner, as far as is reasonably practicable within information handling requirements.

e. To not make decisions on behalf of MOD, or knowingly reduce MOD’s latitude for making decisions.

f. To understand and apply the member terms of appointment, duties, and responsibilities.

Each member’s performance is appraised annually by the DNSEC Chairperson. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for this appointment.

Organisation description

The Defence Nuclear Safety Expert Committee (DNSEC) is an Expert Committee public body. Its purpose is to provide independent advice to the department, based on scrutiny of the available evidence of safety arrangements across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The Secretary of State for Defence is the Responsible Minister for the DNSEC, who receives its annual report.

The DNSEC operates an annualised programme of work, directed by the department; this encompasses areas as informed by senior officials and includes environmental issues, where such issues have the potential to impact upon safety. The remit for the DNSEC is to give independent scrutiny and evidence-based advice focused on the chronic and strategic themes, risks and issues that concern safety arrangements, principally pertaining to the following areas:

• The safety of workers and the public.

• Materials, equipment, and facility:

• design

• development

• manufacture

• storage

• in-service support

• handling

• transport

• operational training

• operations

• decommissioning and disposal

• Support facilities and capabilities

• Environmental protection

• Safety-security interface

• MOD’s statutory legislation and regulation arrangements

The above areas will also apply when the department requests the DNSEC to provide advice in relation to acute and tactical themes, risks, and issues.

The DNSEC is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence via its Defence Nuclear Organisation which also provides the secretariat function.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-nuclear-safety-committee

Board composition

The DNSEC comprises one chairperson supported by four members. The DNSEC also has access to other approved independent expertise, where necessary to support its annual programme of work.

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

· Highly experienced understanding of nuclear weapons design, manufacture and end-of-life activities.

· Knowledge of nuclear weapons lifecycle and safety arrangements

· Communication skills with the ability to convey complex and nuanced information

· Ability to create and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders who have diverse interests.

· Confidence and authority to contribute evidence-based advice and independent judgement, via the Chairperson, to a complex collective of multiple organisations each contributing towards a shared endeavour

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Other Positions Available:

Windrush Commissioner

Location: Various

Date Posted: 20/02/2025

Closing Date: 20/03/2025