Non Executive Directorships

Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) – Non-Executive Directors

Location: West Midlands

Date Posted: 18/04/2024

Closing Date: 30/05/2024

£20,400 pa – 4 days/month

About the role

Introduction

We are looking for up to two high-calibre Non-Executive Directors to join the board of the Office for Environmental Protection, an independent statutory body that is responsible for holding government to account on the implementation of environmental law.

Introduction from the Secretary of State

Dear Candidate,

It’s never been clearer that we rely on nature for everything – for our economic prosperity, our food security, and wellbeing. Nature is at the core of our communities which is why we are committed to leaving it in a better state.

The world-leading Environment Act has embedded nature at the heart of decisions that government will take. The new biodiversity duty requires public authorities to help conserve and enhance biodiversity, meanwhile ministers will be required to consider five internationally recognised environmental principles when making policy.

This year we also published the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which builds on the earlier 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) vision. The new plan sets out how we will work with landowners, communities and businesses to deliver each of our goals for improving the environment, matched with environmental targets to measure progress.

The Environment Act also established the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), an independent statutory body that is responsible for holding government to account on the implementation of environmental law.

I am looking for up to two high-calibre Non-Executive Directors to join the Board of this body.

I am particularly looking for candidates with a significant technical, professional, practical or academic background in one or more of the following:

law, particularly relating to the natural environment (including international and/or planning law);

environmental science, or environmental economics;

environmental policy and how it is implemented by government, business, the public and others;

investigatory and enforcement proceedings.

If you have the drive, skills and experience to assist in directing the OEP, whatever your background, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Role description

The Board of the OEP is its body corporate in law, to whom its legal functions and responsibilities are assigned. The Board sets the strategic direction of the organisation. It ensures the correct, efficient and effective use of the OEP’s resources, including its public funding.

The Board also directly takes many significant decisions of the OEP, including decisions relating to investigations and enforcement, and approving all reports laid before Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Board of the OEP includes a non-executive chair and between five and ten other members, with the majority of members being non-executives. The non-executive members are crucial in constructively challenging and holding to account the executive members.

The OEP Board has a collective responsibility for:

· establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of the OEP consistent with its overall strategic direction and within the resources framework determined by the Secretary of State and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland (DAERA);

· ensuring the OEP acts objectively and impartially as it carries out its functions, and challenging any activity from Defra, DAERA or any other UK or Northern Ireland government departments they consider compromises its ability to act independently in the process;

· providing effective leadership of the OEP within a framework of prudent and effective controls that enables risk to be assessed and managed;

· helping to ensure the financial and human resources are in place for the OEP to meet its objectives;

· reporting to Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly through the OEP’s annual accounts where the Board considers the Secretary of State and DAERA have not provided sufficient funds for the OEP to carry out its functions;

· reviewing management performance;

· ensuring that it receives and reviews regular financial and management information concerning the management of the OEP;

· ensuring that it is kept informed of any changes which are likely to impact on the strategic direction of the OEP or on the attainability of its objectives, and determining the steps needed to deal with such changes and where appropriate bringing such matters to the attention of the Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary and DAERA;

· ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with Defra and DAERA, and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds;

· ensuring that, in preparing its enforcement policy and exercising its enforcement functions, it has regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 25 or 25A of the Environment Act.

· ensuring that, in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account its strategy, its corporate and business plans, and any contribution it has agreed to make towards Defra’s or DAERA’s policy objectives;

· ensuring that, as part of the above compliance, its members are familiar with:

o the Act;

o the OEP’s Framework Document;

o any delegation letter issued to the OEP by the Permanent Secretary;

o any elements of any settlement letter issued to Defra or DAERA that are relevant to the operation of the OEP; and

o any separate settlement letter that is issued to the OEP from Defra or DAERA; and

o the need to have appropriate internal mechanisms for the monitoring of, and governance and external reporting regarding, any conditions arising from the above documents, and the need to ensure that the Chief Executive and the OEP as a whole act in accordance with their obligations under the above documents;

· demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times, including by using the audit and risk assurance committee to help the Board to address key financial and other risks;

· setting performance objectives and remuneration terms for the Chief Executive that give due weight to the proper management and use and utilisation of public resources, consulting with Defra where it deems appropriate;

· putting in place mechanisms for independent appraisal and annual evaluation of the performance of the Chair by the independent non-executives, taking into account the views of relevant stakeholders, and making the outcome of that evaluation available to the Secretary of State and DAERA; and

· determining all such other things which the Board considers ancillary or conducive to the attainment or fulfilment by the OEP of its objectives.

The Board should ensure that effective arrangements are in place to provide assurance on risk management, governance and internal control.

The Secretary of State is seeking to appoint up to two non-executive members to the Board of the OEP.

Board members will play an important role in supporting and encouraging the executive team in delivering the organisation’s statutory powers of scrutiny, advice, investigating complaints and enforcement in relation to environmental law and its application. Your skills will be vital in helping the Board make the right decisions for current and future policy.

Applications are invited from high-calibre candidates from all backgrounds who can demonstrate they can contribute to the strategic leadership of the OEP and discharge a full range of non-executive responsibilities. We welcome applications from any candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role, whether experienced or first-time Non-Executive Directors.

The successful candidates must abide by the Nolan principles of public service, the Twelve Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.

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

Candidates must demonstrate all of the following essential criteria:

ability to support a relatively new body in its evolution, ensuring it is functioning in line with the OEP’s statutory role and operates effectively and efficiently;

ability to analyse complex issues at a strategic level in ways which are impartial, evidence-based, creative and focused on proportionate solutions;

ability to work collaboratively, providing effective challenge and support to the Executive in order to ensure good governance;

highly effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating an ability to influence and engage with a diverse network of stakeholders along with the ability to inspire confidence at all levels.

Experience

A significant technical, professional, practical or academic background in one or more of the following:

law, particularly relating to the natural environment (including international and/or planning law);

environmental science, or environmental economics;

environmental policy and how it is implemented by government, business, the public and others;

investigatory and enforcement proceedings.

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