Applicants Pack Non-Executive Forestry Commissioner (England) To apply, please provide:1. Your Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the names of two referees; 2. A Personal Statement covering why you are interested in this role whilst addressing the Essential Criteria listed in Section 1 and ; 3. Completed monitoring forms at Sections 4 – 6. Applications should be emailed to resourcing@forestry.gsi.gov.uk. Information about the application process may also be obtained from resourcing@forestry.gsi.gov.uk; information about the role may be obtained from Stephen Bennett (0300 067 5027). The closing date for applications is 4 January 2016 (Midnight) Please note that it is intended to sift applications w/c 18 January 2016 and hold Interviews w/c 22 February 2016 in London. This could be subject to change. This appointment is regulated by The Commissioner for Public Appointments 1 Section 1: Role Description and Essential Criteria Post title: England Forestry Commissioner (non-executive) Location: Forestry Commission England is based in Bristol and has offices and forests throughout England. Note: This is not an officebased appointment Reports to: Chair, Forestry Commission KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Serve as Board member of the England National Committee; Serve as a Forestry Commissioner with special responsibility for England; Serve as a member of the Forestry Commission England Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, with the potential to Chair it; Serve as a member of the Forest Enterprise Strategy Board; Participate across all aspects of the Commission’s interests, leading change and contributing to the strategic direction of the organisation. PERSON SPECIFICATION When completing your personal statement we want you to give examples of your direct and proven experience and activities of the criteria and competencies listed below. ESSENTIAL CRITERIA Candidates must provide evidence to demonstrate the following competencies: an ability to provide strategic leadership during significant organisational change; an understanding of governance and accountability in the management of complex organisations; an understanding of the objectives and work of the Forestry Commission including the direction of current government policy in England with regard to forestry; business acumen, founded in strong understanding of the commercial world. Section 2: How to Apply How to apply All candidates are required to provide the following: A CV and personal statement covering why you are interested in this role whilst addressing the Essential Criteria listed in Section 1 Register of Interest Questionnaire (Section 4) Political Activity Questionnaire (Section 5) Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire (Section 6) 2 The closing date for applications is Midnight, 4 January 2016 Please include the following when applying. The names and contact details of two people who may be called to act as referees for you. They must have authoritative and personal knowledge of your recent achievements in a professional or public service capacity. Please note that references will be taken up for those applicants invited to interview. A contact telephone number, which will only be used with discretion. How we will use your data Any personal information you give us will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We will not retain your personal data any longer than is necessary for the completion of this appointment process. Any statistical data retained will be anonymised. Candidates should be aware that, if they are successful, some of the information contained in their application will be placed in the public domain. This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and documentation generated via this recruitment exercise may be passed to OCPA for audit purposes. The Commissioner for Public Appointments The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates the processes by which Ministers make appointments to the boards of public bodies. Government departments are required to follow the Commissioner’s Code of Practice and guidance when processing public appointments. The Code of Practice is based on three core principles – merit, openness, and fairness – and sets out the essential requirements for meeting those principles. The Commissioner also investigates complaints and may conduct an inquiry into the policies and practices followed in relation to appointments processes which he regulates. The Commissioner will not investigate complaints relating to non-selection unless it appears that the appointments process has breached the Code of Practice. If you wish to make a complaint, please refer to the OCPA Complaints Procedure for guidance. Further information on the role of the Commissioner or the appointments process is available at: http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk. 3 Section 3: The Recruitment Process All appointments are made following an open competition conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Timetable Closing date for applications 4 January 2016 Sift Date w/c 18 January 2016 Interview Date w/c 22 February 2016 Appointment Starts June 2016 The recruitment process Short listing of candidates will be undertaken by assessing the information provided in your CV and personal statement. The short listing will be undertaken by the selection panel against the essential criteria listed at Section 1. Those candidates who have been selected will be informed by letter and invited to an interview. Those who have not been selected for interview will be notified by letter. Selection Panel The panel will include a senior Defra official, the Chair of the Forestry Commission and an Independent Member whose role is to help ensure a process of fair, independent, and open assessment. The Interview The interview should last in the region of 45 - 50 minutes. It is therefore essential for your application to give full but concise information and evidence relevant to the appointment; Candidates will be expected to make a short presentation if selected for interview; Candidates will be able to claim for reasonable expenses incurred travelling to and from interview. Post interview The Panel will recommend appointable candidates to the Secretary of State for Defra who will wish to meet all appointable candidates before making a final decision. Once the Minister has met with the appointable candidates and made her decision, all candidates will be advised of the outcome. Appointments are made on merit, following a fair and open process and these appointments are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 4 Section 4: Register of Interest Please submit a signed copy of the Register of Interest form which addresses the issues of conflicts or improprieties, past or present that would impact on your ability to carry out this role. Full Name: Position: Date: Please register any links and relationships with organisations, individuals or bodies that may give rise to a potential conflict of interest, including any potential political conflicts of interest. 1. Directorships Please list all Directorships (held within the last two years), with a brief description of the company. Please include any partnerships. Company Date of Appointment Date of Resignation 2. Other Public Appointments Role Date of Appointment Date of Resignation 3. Close relations and friends Please list any possible conflicts of interests created by virtue of the employment, directorships or significant shareholding of a close relation or friend. Name Company Relationship to Senior Manager 4. Any other matter Please list any other matter, which may give rise to a potential conflict of interest eg related consultancy contracts, external examinerships with academic institutions, membership of committees/organising bodies with decision making or purchasing powers, membership of political or lobby organisations, including Trusteeship of charitable or other bodies. I certify that the information included within this register is, to the best of my knowledge and belief true and accurate and complete. Signed…………………………………………………….Dated…………………………..………….………... 5 Section 5: Political Activity Questionnaire All applicants for a public appointment should complete the question below. This question is asked as it enables the monitoring of political activity of candidates for a public appointment in so far as it is already in the public domain. Neither activity nor affiliation is a criterion for appointment (except where statute dictates specific representation). If you are successful, the information provided will be published with the announcement of your appointment. Please indicate which of the following activities you have undertaken during the past five years by ticking the appropriate box and by providing details of your involvement. Name the party or body for which you have been active. If you have been or are an Independent or have sought or obtained office as a representative of a particular interest group, you should state this. You should tick all relevant categories. a. Obtained office as a Local Councillor, MP, MEP etc. Stood as a candidate for one of the above offices Spoken on behalf of a party or candidate b. Acted as a political agent Held office such as Chair, Treasurer or Secretary of a local branch of a party Canvassed on behalf of a party or helped at elections Undertaken any other political activity which you consider relevant c. Made a recordable donation to a political party1 d. None of the above activities apply Name of Party for which activity undertaken: NAME........................................…………SIGNATURE...........................…….. DATE.…………………. Note: This form is for monitoring purposes only and therefore will be detached from your application and will not be seen by any selection panels. However, it is appreciated that such activities may have given you relevant skills, including experience gained from committee work, collective decision making, resolving conflict and public speaking. If, therefore, you have had such experience and you consider it relevant to your application for this post, you should include it separately in the main body of your application form. Details of involvement: 1 The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 requires the Electoral Commission to publish a register of recordable donations (donations from any individual totalling more than £5,000 in any calendar year, or more than £1,000 if made to a subsidiary accounting unit such as a constituency association, local branch, women’s or youth organisation). These provisions became effective from 16 February 2001. 6 Section 6: Diversity Monitoring Please complete or check boxes as appropriate Role Reference: Date Birth: Name: Current Role Title: Full time: Female: Marital / Civil Partnership Single: Status ETHNIC INFORMATION Part-time: Male: of If yes, No. of Hours: Married: Bangladeshi or Asian Indian Pakistani Other African Black or Black Caribbean British: Other Chinese Chinese or Other: Other White and Asian White and Black African Mixed: White and Black Caribbean Other British English Irish White: Scottish Welsh Other Other Ethnic Origin (please describe): ORIGIN Asian British: These categories are not about nationality, place of birth or citizenship. They relate to broad ethnic group categories as recommended by the CRE. When you have read them all please tick the box that most accurately describes you. Religion (please state) Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 defines a person as having a disability if he or she ‘has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities’. Do you consider yourself as having a disability under the terms of Yes No the Equality Act 2010? Please describe the nature of your disability together with details of any adjustments that you may require to do this Job. In which publication or website did you see the post advertised? 7