Chair of Land Registry
December 2015
Contents
1. The Organisation 3
2. The Role and Board 3
3. Job Specification and Selection Criteria 3
4. Terms of Appointment 4
5. Selection Process 4
6. How to Apply 5
7. The Appointment Process and Making a Complaint 5
8. Conflicts of Interest 6
9. Diversity and Equal Opportunities 6
10. Political Activity 6
11. Candidate Summary Form 6
12. Diversity Monitoring Form 10
13. Political Activity Questionnaire 13
14. The Seven Principles of Public Life 14
15. Consent to receive information on other Appointments...15
1. The Organisation
Land Registry delivers statutory land registration services in England and Wales as part of the conveyancing process. It also holds a small number of other statutory registers, and has a small commercial revenue stream. It currently consists of circa 4000FTE operating out of 14 offices.
2. The Role and Board
This is a rare opportunity to lead an exciting, evolving board at a time of significant change for this unique, successful, information business. The incoming Chair will lead a body preparing itself for strategic and operational change, following the Chancellor’s recent statement that the Government will consult on options to move operations of the Land Registry to the private sector from 2017.
The new Chair will need to bring a substantial track record of business leadership through a period of significant change and growth, and the ability to lead an established Board. They will also bring complementary knowledge, experience and skills to the Land Registry.
3. Job Specification and Selection Criteria
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
The incoming Chair will:
· lead the Board in the development of privatisation options and the formulation of a credible strategy to deliver the option chosen by Ministers;
· maintain an effective Land Registry Board, bringing colleagues together around a shared vision and goals, developing their collective and individual capabilities, utilising the skills and experience of existing Board members;
· chair Board meetings effectively, and provide non-executive leadership to the organisation as a whole;
· work in partnership with the Chief Executive as an ambassador and representative on the Land Registry’s behalf, identifying, accessing and influencing key stakeholders, customers and partners;
· with the Chief Executive, manage the relationship with Land Registry’s government owners, ensuring information, feedback and context are shared appropriately;
· guide, coach and line manage the Chief Executive, realising his potential; and
· ensure that the Land Registry has appropriate governance, risk management and oversight arrangements in place to ensure the organisation’s financial, operational and reputational health.
Personal qualities, skills and experience:
The ideal candidate will bring:
· An outstanding track record of leadership through periods of significant strategic or market change, at Board level or equivalent;
· Experience or ability to manage transactions gained as either a principal or advisor;
· A track record of the leadership and development of diverse Board teams, and the skill, judgment and ability to lead a senior, technically strong, Board;
· Excellent inter-personal skills, including the ability to build and manage complex and collaborative relationships at a senior level, in a multiple stakeholder environment, with colleagues, stakeholders and partners;
· Strong communication skills;
· A track record of achievement in a non-executive leadership role, ideally as a Chair;
· Good analytic skills and strong intellectual capability, with the capacity to think strategically and creatively;
· Leadership experience in a commercial or Government business; and
· An appreciation of the public ownership context in which the Land Registry works, and a commitment to the values of public service.
The successful candidate will need to commit to:
· The UK Corporate Governance Code and best practice in the area of commercial governance;
· The Nolan principles of public service (Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership); and
· The principles of diversity and equal opportunities.
4. Terms of Appointment
Time Commitment and Remuneration:
part-time non-executive position (2 days per week), up to £55,000.
Length of appointment: up to 3 years.
Location: The Board meets up to twelves times a year, either in Croydon or periodically at the other 13 offices spread across England and Wales.
5. Selection Process
(Indicative timetable)
Closing date: 12th January 2016 (midnight)
Longlist /Shortlist panel meeting: end January
Final panel interviews: early / mid February
Ministerial decision on whom to appoint: mid March
Security clearance / Appointment to be announced: April
The selection panel membership is planned to be:
Chair of Panel: Ceri Smith, Director BIS Shareholder Executive
Independent panel member: to be confirmed.
Specialist panel member: to be confirmed.
6. How to Apply
The closing date for applications is 12thJanuary 2016
Please submit the following documents:
1) a full CV;
2) a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) summarising your proven ability relating to the candidate background and selection criteria;
3) a completed copy of the candidate summary form;
4) a completed copy of the diversity monitoring form; and
5) a completed copy of the political activity questionnaire.
Applications should be sent by email to: Karen Harvey
.
Alternatively they may be sent by post to:
Karen Harvey
HR Resourcing Team Manager
HR Group, HR Operations
Land Registry Nottingham Office
Castle Wharf House, 2 Canal Street
Nottingham, NG1 7AU
Tel: 0300 006 2819
The applicant pack can be made available in an alternative format on request.
7. The Appointment Process and Making a Complaint
If you feel that you have any complaint about any aspect of the way your application has been handled, we would like to hear from you. In the first instance please write, or e-mail, the Leo Geddes, Shareholder Executive, at the address or e-mail address given below.
Leo Geddes
Executive Director
Shareholder Executive
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET Tel: 0207 215 3291 e-mail:
This appointment is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
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 Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is committed to attracting the widest field of candidates and to make the best possible appointments. All applicants are asked to complete an anonymised Diversity Monitoring Form which is used for data gathering information only and to check that it is recruiting from the widest possible pool.
BIS 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 FORChair of Land Registry
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 …………………………………………………………
Gender …………………………………………………………
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)
Mostly in the private sector
Mostly in the third sector/charity
Mixture of above, please state:
------
Religion or Belief (optional)
You may wish to let us know your faith / religion / belief. Please tick against one of the following:
Agnostic / JewishAtheist / Muslim
Buddhist / Sikh
Christian / Other please specify:
Hindu
Humanist / Prefer not to say
------
Sexual Orientation (optional)
You may wish to let us know how you describe your sexual orientation ?.
Bisexual
Heterosexual
Homosexual
Lesbian
Transgender
Prefer not to say
Other, please state:
Thank you for completing this form.
13. Political Activity Questionnaire
All applicants for a public appointment should complete the questionnaire 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. You should tick all relevant categories.
Within the last five years I have been politically active, and as follows:
Obtained office as a Local Councillor, District / County Councillor, MP, MEP, MLA, etc. Please state:
Stood as a candidate for one of the above offices, Please state:
Spoken on behalf of a party or candidate
Acted as a political agent
Held office such as Chair, Treasurer or Secretary of a local branch of a party,
Please state:
Canvassed on behalf of a party or helped at elections, Please state:
Undertaken any other political activity which you consider relevant
Made a recordable donation to a political party[1]
I have not carried out any of the activities listed above in the
last five years (please place a cross in the box)
Name of Party for which activity(s) was undertaken……………………………………………
Applicants Name…………………………………………………………………….………………
14. The Seven Principles of Public Life
In 1995, the Committee on Standards in Public Life defined seven principles, which should underpin the actions of all who serve the public in any way.
Applicants will be assessed on merit, and all candidates for public appointment will need to uphold the standards of conduct set out in the Seven Principles of Public Life. These will be tested as part of the selection process and the selection Panel must satisfy itself that all candidates for appointments can meet these standards; which are:
Selflessness
Holders of Public Office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or other friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
Carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.