*Closes 07th October*

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department 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. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. We are a ministerial department that is supported by and works collaboratively with 34 agencies and public bodies. Together we are the Defra group.

Defra is here to make our air purer, our water cleaner, our land greener and our food more sustainable. Our mission is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, leaving it in a better state than we found it.

Defra is seeking to appoint at least two new Non-Executive Directors

Non-executive Directors bring external experience and expertise to Defra’s Board. Exercising their role through influence, scrutiny, challenge and advice, they act as a trusted sounding board to the Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary.

Introduction from the Secretary of State

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in joining the Board of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I am pleased to welcome at least two new Non-Executive Directors to bring additional expertise and different perspectives to the Board. The successful applicants will be pivotal in supporting me and the ministerial team to drive forward our priorities:

  • Cleaning up Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas
  • Creating a road map to move Britain to a zero-waste economy
  • Supporting our farmers to boost Britain’s food security
  • Ensuring nature’s recovery
  • Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding

You will join Defra at a critical juncture – the work of change has begun. As a Non-Executive Director, you will be at the heart of this change. You will provide invaluable, independent scrutiny and challenge to drive transformational and long-lasting change for the citizens and communities we serve.

Defra has a major contribution to make to the Government’s central mission – to grow the economy. From creating jobs and attracting investment in water infrastructure, enhancing economic resilience through better flood protection and nature-based solutions, to boosting food security, Defra is integral to this mission.

I want to build a board rich in the diversity of its members’ skills, with Non-Executive Directors who can contribute wide and varied experience and expertise in advising, challenging and supporting the Government to meet its ambitions and to deliver, innovatively and collaboratively, for the whole nation.

I look forward to receiving applications from a wide range of individuals and understanding the unique perspective you could bring to the Defra Board

Steve Reed,   Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Non Executive Directors – Defra

Number of vacancies 2

Time commitment 20 day(s) per annum

Remuneration £15000 per annum

Length of term 3 Years

Role of Non-Executive Directors:

 Provide independent scrutiny, support and assurance to the department;

  • Support, review and challenge the development of and progress against the departmental strategy and plans, including prioritisation decisions and the department’s strategic risk framework;
  • Provide scrutiny and support to the executive team to deliver the approved strategy and discharge their leadership responsibilities;
  • Scrutinise and challenge departmental performance reporting;
  • Provide advice on issues within their remit;
  • Support, scrutinise and challenge relevant departmental projects;
  • Where appropriate, advise on the operational and delivery implications of policy proposals, undertaking deep-dives into potential risks and mitigations, to inform the department’s decision-making process;
  • Advise and support ministers and senior officials in influencing cross-government initiatives and policies;
  • Participate in the Board’s annual effectiveness review and ensure the Board acts on recommendations and builds its own capability;
  • Attend a minimum of four departmental Board meetings per year, and contribute effectively to its subcommittees, as required;
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and stakeholders; and
  • Attend occasional government-wide meetings for non-executives to share best practice.

More information on departmental boards and government NEDs can be found here.

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 be able to demonstrate all of the following essential criteria:

(1)  The ability to contribute effectively at Board level whilst proactively supporting and challenging the executive on achieving results, with a focus on performance against targets.

(2)  Strategic thinking with the ability to analyse complex issues, promote innovative thinking and help the Board to think through risks and mitigations.

(3)  Sound understanding of working with the public sector – including insight into the public bodies landscape – and the key challenges it faces. The ability to adapt quickly to fast-moving situations and handle complex, sensitive issues effectively and pragmatically.

(4)  Skills and expertise that the candidate is able to demonstrate will add value to and diversify the perspective of the Defra Board.

Desirable criteria

This recruitment will seek to fill at least two vacancies on the Board. Applications are welcomed from a diverse range of backgrounds and applicants are encouraged to apply if they meet the essential criteria above and can bring new skills and expertise to the Board. For example, we are interested in receiving applications from candidates with the following skillsets (this is not an exhaustive list) :

  • Senior leaders or chief officers of expert or technical functions, for example in digital, cyber, security, data, sustainability, or major programme delivery.
  • Senior leaders with experience in developing customer-centric cultures within large and complex organisations.
  • Senior leaders with a professional expertise in public engagement, co-delivery, partnership working, or sector coordination and engagement.
  • Senior, collaborative and influential thought leaders in the skills areas highlighted above, for example academics or sector leaders.