Recruitment of Council Members
Applicants Pack
June 2016
Contents
1. The Organisation 3
2. The Role and Board 3
3. Job Specification and Selection Criteria 3
4. Terms of Appointment 5
5. Selection Process 6
6. How to Apply 6
7. Making a Complaint 7
8. Conflicts of Interest 7
9. Diversity and Equal Opportunities 7
10. Political Activity 8
11. Candidate Summary Form 9
12. Diversity Monitoring Form 12
13. Political Activity Questionnaire 15
14. Consent to receive information 17
15. Check list 17
16. The Seven Principles of Public Life 17
1. The Organisation
The Medical Research Council was set up in 1913 to administer public funding for medical research and was incorporated under its Royal Charter in 1920 for the promotion of medical research. It is a non-departmental public body principally funded through the Science Budget by the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS). The MRC works in partnership with the other UK Research Councils and research charities and with the Office of Strategic Coordination for Health Research (OSCHR), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the health departments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to deliver a single integrated strategy for health research across the UK.
2. The Board
Council is the MRC’s governing body; it directs and oversees corporate policy and scrutinises performance. Council decides on issues of major importance including issues of corporate strategy, key strategic objectives and targets, and major decisions involving the use of financial and other resources.
UK Research and Innovation
Candidates should note that the Government has introduced legislation to create a new body, UK Research and Innovation, which will bring together the 7 Research Councils and integrate Innovate UK and the research functions currently performed by HEFCE. The new body will maintain hypothecated funding streams and strengthening the existing protections for the dual support system in England.
The creation of UKRI offers an opportunity to strengthen the strategic approach to future challenges and maximise value from Government’s investment of over £6bn per annum in research and innovation.
3. Job Specification and Selection Criteria
Background
Applications are sought for four vacancies on the MRC’s Council. Two vacancies are for members with scientific expertise. One vacancy is for a lay member, open to senior figures with expertise in business, the National Health Service or health care community, charity sector, ethics, the law or public bodies relevant to health. The fourth vacancy is for a member with industrial research and development experience and expertise.
The Role
Current vacancy: Lay member
Person specification
Candidates will be able to contribute across a range of governance, issues in the MRC. Members will bring experience of corporate governance and organisational delivery.
Applications are sought from senior figures with expertise in business, the charity sector, the National Health Service or health care community, ethics, the law, or public bodies relevant to health or research. Members must have the time and skills to contribute across a range of MRC strategic and governance issues.
Essential
The successful candidate will have:
· Relevant experience within an appropriate sector, and active professional networks;
· An ability to exercise judgement across a broad spectrum of strategy, policy and research issues;
· Effective leadership skills An ability able to command the respect of the academic community, clinicians, or industrialists
· Willingness to engage with the Government’s research landscape reforms
Desirable
· Experience in policy issues, including ethics, relevant to medical research at a professional and board level
· Skills in communication and knowledge transfer
Current vacancies: Scientific members
Person specification
Essential
The successful candidate will have:
· a well-regarded track record in the relevant sector
· experience of strategy development;
· ability to exercise judgement across a broad spectrum of strategy, policy and research issues;
· a vision of the priorities and opportunities across medical research as a whole;
· effective leadership skills, to command the respect of the academic community, clinicians, or industrialists
· willingness to engage with the Government’s research landscape reforms
Desirable
· Experience of serving on audit/finance/risk committees.
· Expertise in any areas of science relevant to the MRC’s remit.
Current vacancy: Industry member
Person specification
Essential
The successful candidate will have:
· a well-regarded academic or research track record in the relevant sector
· relevant industrial experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology or other health-related R & D sectors;
· an understanding of the process of bringing scientific discoveries to market;
· ability to exercise judgement across a broad spectrum of policy, advocacy and R&D, production or manufacturing issues;
· a vision of the priorities and opportunities across medical research as a whole;
· leadership skills, and an ability to take part in difficult discussions with energy and diplomacy. S/he should be able to command the respect of the academic community, clinicians, and industrialists.
· Willingness to engage with the Government’s research landscape reforms
4. Terms of Appointment
The Council meets five times a year, sometimes spanning two days. It is essential that individuals should be able to commit the necessary time and attention to the role, and have the full support of their employer and organisation in doing so.
These are part-time positions for which an honorarium of £6,850 per annum is currently paid. All reasonable travel and subsistence expenses (including family care costs) are also reimbursed.
Council members will also contribute according to their experience and abilities through Council boards/advisory committees. Members are expected to commit 20 - 25 days a year to Council business. Council meeting dates for 2016/17 are as follows:
· 5/6th October 2016
· 13/14th December 2016
· 1st March 2017
The anticipated start date of these appointments is 1 October 2016. In accordance with the Royal Charter of the Council, the appointment will be for up to three years.
5. Selection Process
Closing date: 5 July
Shortlist panel meeting: July
Panel interviews in London: September
Ministerial decision on whom to appoint: September
Appointment to be announced: September
Successful candidate takes up post: 1 October
The selection panel membership is planned to be:
Chair: Donald Brydon, MRC Chair
John Savill, MRC CEO
BIS Director of Research Base
Independent panel member: to be confirmed
6. How to Apply
The applicant pack be completed electronically and should be submitted by email to . Please ensure that you include “MRC NED Recruitment” in the email subject box.
Alternatively you can send completed applicant pack by post to:
Joey Hayward
4th Floor Orchard 2
1 Victoria Street
Westminster SW1H 0ET
The closing date for applications is 5 July 2016. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please submit the following documents:
1) a full CV; showing your professional and educational qualifications and the work that you have undertaken in a paid or unpaid capacity, in employment, self-employment and/or community activities, showing any particular responsibilities or achievements that you think are relevant to this applications
2) a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) summarising your proven ability relating to the role specification and selection criteria, including any political activity experience you may have which you think may be relevant to the selection criteria. There is no need to identify the relevant political party in the covering letter.
3) a completed copy of the candidate summary form; below to include:
· an email address and daytime and evening telephone number which will be used with discretion
· the names of two referees who are in a position to comment on you professionally, with an indication of how long and in what capacity they have known you
· a declaration of any public appointments held
· disclosure of any personal or business interests which may be, or may be perceived as, relevant to or in conflict with the appointing organisation
· data protection consent and consent to hold your contact details
· Guaranteed Interview Scheme declaration if applicable
· a completed copy of the equal opportunities monitoring form
· a completed copy of the anonymised monitoring form.
The applicants pack can be made available in an alternative format on request; please contact Joey Hayward, email:
7. Making a Complaint
If you feel your application has not been treated fairly and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Joey Hayward in the first instance
email:
8. Conflicts of Interest
If you or a family member have any personal or business interest or potential conflict of interest with the activities of the Body you will be expected to declare this. Any conflict will not prevent you going forward to interview, but may be explored with you during the selection process. You will also be required to uphold the standards of conduct established by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, also known as the Nolan principles.
9. Diversity and Equal Opportunities
The Commissioner for Public Appointments has a legal responsibility to promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the procedures for making public appointments. He is committed to working with Government Department’s to ensure they have the capacity to attract the widest field of candidates and to make the best possible appointments. All applicants are asked to complete an anonymised Diversity Monitoring Form used for data gathering information only in order for the Commissioner to check whether Department’s are recruiting from the widest possible pool.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is committed to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessment, openness and fairness of process and to providing equal opportunities for all.
Under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you are a disabled applicant (as defined under the Equality Act 2010) and you meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be selected for interview.
10. Political Activity
You are asked to provide details of any significant political activity that you have undertaken within the past five years. Political activity in itself is no bar to appointment. To allow the panel to explore such activity with the candidates in the context of their ability to perform in the role, you should declare any significant political activity. This information will only be provided to the panel for those applicants selected for interview and if you are successfully appointed to the post, details of your response will be included in press releases announcing your appointment.
11. Candidate Summary Form
POSITION APPLIED FORMRC Council Member Lay/Scientific/Industry [delete as applicable]
SURNAME / FIRST NAME / INITIAL(S) / TITLE
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
Day -
Evening / EMAIL ADDRESS
Please tick box below, if here if you would like to be consider under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
ReferencesPlease give below the name and contact details of two people who may be asked to act as referees for you. They will be expected to have authoritative and personal knowledge of your professional achievements / competencies. The referees will be approached only if you are invited for interview.
Referee 1
Name:
In what capacity, and over what period of time, has this individual known you?
Phone:
Email address:
------
Referee 2
Name:
In what capacity, and over what period of time, has this individual known you?
Phone:
Email address:
Potential or Actual Conflicts of Interest
Please give details of any business or other interests or any personal connections which, if you are appointed, could present a conflict of interest holding this role. These could include financial interests or share ownership, membership of societies, activities, associations or employment of a partner or friend in the particular field in which the public body operates.
Any potential or actual conflicts of interest detailed here will not prevent you going forward to interview but may, if appropriate, be explored with you during your interview to establish how you would address the issue(s) should you be successful in your application. If there are no potential conflicts of interest, please write "none".
12. Diversity Monitoring Form
Please tick or complete the appropriate boxes. The following information is required for monitoring purposes only and will not be provided to the selection Panel members.
Date of birth Date Month Year
Gender
Male
Female
Prefer not say
Ethnic origin
Please show which group best describes your ethnic origin or descent by ticking only one of the boxes in the right hand column below.
WHITE / EnglishIrish
Scottish
Welsh
White other, please specify
BLACK / of Caribbean origin
of African origin
of other black origin (please specify)
ASIAN / ASIAN BRITISH / of Indian origin
of Pakistani origin
of Bangladeshi origin
of East African origin
of Chinese origin
of other Asian origin (please specify)
MIXED / Asian and white
Black African and white
Black Caribbean and white
Of any other mixed background
------
Disability
Many people do not consider themselves to be disabled, however under the Equality Act 2010 you can consider yourself disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
Taking this into account, do you consider yourself to be a disabled person?
YES / NO------
Sectoral Background
Is your career background:
Mostly in the civil service
Mostly in the public sector (not including civil service)