*Closes 13th November*

About the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) 

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), delivering over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and landowners each year. We are a Civil Service Operational Delivery Profession organisation, with the majority of our people delivering day to day services to our customers and stakeholders. We manage over 40 schemes, and also make payments on behalf of Natural England, to ensure we have a healthy rural economy, strong and sustainable rural communities, and to protect and enhance the natural environment.

The Rural Payments Agency 5 year strategy  sets out our purpose of helping agricultural and rural communities to create a better place to live.  We will achieve this by meeting both customer expectations and policy needs, delivering a quality service, and being an exemplar of the Civil Service Operational Delivery Profession.

We have made great progress on delivering our 5 year strategy and we now wish to look beyond that and build the value that we provide to our customers and taxpayers.

Our values underpin the way we approach our work and drive us daily as we strive to be an outstanding place to work.  Our values are:

Visible, Engaging, Respectful, Inclusive, Trusted, Accountable and Supportive (VERITAS).

Message from RPA CEO 

Thank you for your interest in becoming Non-Executive Chair of the RPA’s Agency Management Board.

The successful candidate will be joining RPA at an exciting time as the organisation embarks on an ambitious programme of change to ensure it is fit for the future. This programme, named ‘Reimagining RPA’, will deliver transformation which will contribute to the future of the agency and help it reach its full potential. It is recognised that farming and rural affairs have changed and continue to change, and as a customer focused agency, it is important that RPA consistently adapts and improves for farmers, landowners and rural communities. Our nation needs quality food, a healthy environment, and a thriving rural economy, and these are the things that RPA is here to support. We want to improve our outcomes for the environment and economy, our customer experience and our people.

RPA is looking for an Agency Management Board Chair who is passionate about growing the agricultural sector and improving the environment. To assist the Executive Team and I in delivering the Reimagining programme successfully, you will need to possess a proven track record in transforming businesses through the use of the latest technology and providing exemplary customer service. The ability to engage and act as an advocate for the agency within the highest levels of Defra and across government will be vital. In addition, you must be willing to develop a deep understanding and commitment to RPA’s remit as well as being ready to demonstrate how your own experience can add value to achieving agency’s objectives.

If you feel you may have the skills and experience to meet the criteria outlined in this advertisement then we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Role description

The role and structure of the RPA Management Board

The role of the RPA Management Board is primarily to give advice and support to the Chief Executive through assisting him in managing the Agency’s reputation, building networks of influence, providing expertise in operational delivery and ensuring appropriate strategic challenge but is not itself a decision-making body.

The Management Board is responsible for establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of the RPA consistent with its overall strategic direction and within the policy and resources framework determined by the Secretary of State.

The Management Board ensures there is a framework of prudent and effective controls which enables risk to be assessed and managed. It also provides advice on strategy and the deliverability of policies and key objectives, achieving value for money, scrutinises performance and provides support and challenge in the delivery of RPA responsibilities and the exercise of the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) responsibilities as Accounting Officer.

The Board has set up an associated Audit Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC) chaired by an Independent Non-Executive member to provide independent advice and assurance on risk management to the department’s Audit and Risk Committee. The Board is expected to assure itself of the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems.

The structure of the RPA Management Board is agreed with Defra, by the Defra Director General (DG) for Food, Biosecurity and Trade and the RPA CEO. The RPA Management Board is chaired by a lead Non-Executive (‘the RPA Board Chair’) who is responsible to the sponsor minister and will report through the CEO and DG as appropriate. The RPA Management Board comprises of three other Non-Executive Directors, four Executive Directors (including the CEO) and the Defra Director of the Farming and Countryside Programme.  The RPA Board meets a minimum of six times a year.

The role of the Non-Executive Director Chair of the RPA Management Board  

The role of the Chair is to:

  • Chair Board meetings and maintain a high standard of discussion and debate, helping to steer the agency by collective working.
  • Ensure the Board operates effectively providing appropriate influence, expert advice, support and constructive challenge, bringing external experience and expertise to the Board’s discussions on strategic and operational issues.
  • Develop key relationships at the highest levels of Defra Group and across Government to both explain and advocate for the work of RPA but also to bring salient advice back to the Board for it to act on.
  • Assist RPA and provide assurance to Defra on setting and the delivery of key objectives (including payment performance, workforce planning, people engagement and customer service).
  • Ensure compliance with the Corporate Governance Code, Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and rules relating to the use of public funds and conflicts of interest.
  • Contribute to the delivery of the Annual Report and Accounts and ensure an annual Board effectiveness review is performed and that results from the review are acted upon.
  • Meet regularly with the other Non-Executive Directors to make sure their views are understood and ensure Defra’s DG for Food Farming, Biosecurity and Trade is made aware of any concerns.
  • Lead and drive the effective engagement of the Board. Communicate regularly with the Non-Executive Directors, senior officials and key stakeholders, and oversee the contribution of these to the work of the Board.

Non-Executive Director Chair of the RPA Management Board

Time commitment x 18 day(s) per annum

Remuneration £500 per day

Length of term 3 Years

The role of a Non-Executive Director is to:

  • Build key relationships with the highest levels of Government (in particular Defra Group), industry and stakeholders to promote the RPA strategy and gain insight on how the strategy should evolve to ensure that the Agency delivers best value for the taxpayer.
  • Provide scrutiny and constructive challenge on performance, operational issues including operational and delivery implications of policy.
  • Ensure compliance with the Corporate Governance Code, Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and rules relating to the use of public funds and conflicts of interest.  Any deviations from the Codes are adequately explained.
  • Contribute to allocated major projects / programmes through influence and advice.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Alongside externally recognised credentials, we are particularly interested in individuals who can offer the following skills and experiences:

Essential  

  • Able to take to the time to understand RPA’s business in order to understand the landscape sufficiently to be able to add value. To act as a sounding board for RPA’s aspirations as well as pushing us (and other members of the Defra Group) to be the best of ourselves and best in class. Deep expertise in one more sectors vital to RPA, preferably at CEO or COO level or equivalent.
  • Able to rapidly build a relationship and network of influence with other NEDs within the Defra Group and wider Civil Service.
  • A track record of delivering excellent customer service or re-engineering through the use of latest technology or re-organising internally on how to deliver.
  • A proven background in helping to develop strategic perspective and long-term thinking as well as horizon scanning stakeholder feedback in the round.
  • A razor-sharp focus on opportunities, challenges and risks as well as excelling at helping the agency materialise the opportunities, address the challenges and mitigate the risks.
  • Proven success of influencing strategic management debate at Board Level (or equivalent) on a range of corporate issues.
  • Governance experience with expertise in strategic planning, corporate governance, finance risk management, internal controls and performance management in the public sector context.
Personal Attributes
  • Integrity, probity and high ethical standards, with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of governance and systems of control, and how to apply them appropriately.
  • An ability to maintain a sense of perspective and to pick out critical issues, and to question intelligently, debate constructively and challenge rigorously.
  •  Independence of mind and sound judgement, together with the ability to provide impartial, objective and pragmatic advice.
  • Sufficient strength of character to seek and obtain full and satisfactory answers within the environment of the Board.
  • Effective communication and relationship building skills, including the ability to negotiate, influence, challenge and listen sensitively to the views of others.
  • A commitment to the 7 principles of public life, together with the willingness and availability to devote the necessary time to understand the business dynamics and context.

How to apply

To apply for this post, completed applications should be submitted to CEO.Secretariat@rpa.gov.uk by the deadline of midday on Wednesday 13th November 2024 quoting reference      .

To apply, all candidates are required to submit:

  • A CV of no more than two sides of A4 with education, professional qualifications and employment history and the names and contact details for two referees, together with their statement of suitability.
  • A statement of suitability should give evidence of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the essential criteria for this role. Please provide specific examples to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria (max two pages please).
  • Monitoring form 1 (Conflicts of interest conduct and advertising Questionnaire)
  • Monitoring form 2 (Diversity Questionnaire)

For further information please email: alison.morgan@rpa.gov.uk