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Board recruitment and appointments

In 2023 we undertook a successful recruitment for members to join our Agency Board. New appointments will be announced early in the New Year by Public Appointments Scotland and member information will be added to our website. 

The appointment of members to the Board is between three and four years. If you would be interested in joining the Board at the next opportunity please download our leaflet and find out a bit more about what our Board members do. Further information is available from the FAQs below. 

Further information

If you're interest in joining the Board, more information on the roles is available below and advice to support the application process is available from Public Appointments for Scotland.

What does the role involve?

The Chair, along with Board colleagues, helps to deliver the Corporate Plan and Annual Operating Plans, delivering environmental protection in ways that, as far as possible, also create benefits for communities and businesses. You would help to shape the relationship SEPA has with communities and regulated businesses, supporting the organisation in being a regulator that is trusted, and people have confidence in.

The Chair has additional responsibilities over and above those of Board members, particularly in relation to leadership and the conduct of Board business. The Chair is accountable to the Scottish Ministers.

You would also be responsible for ensuring that our policies and actions support the Scottish Ministers’ wider strategic policies if these apply to us and that our affairs are conducted with probity. The Chair is appraised by the relevant Director or Deputy Director in the Scottish Government on behalf of Ministers.

The Chair role is to ensure effective functioning and performance of the Board, which includes, developing the Board, succession planning and undertaking annual appraisals for Board members. It also includes in consultation with the Board as a whole, the appraisal of the performance of the Chief Executive.

What kind of person are you looking for?

The Chair should be an inspirational leader who can support and challenge the Board and the Corporate Leadership Team, and steer the organisation through a period of transformation, finding new ways to deliver our purpose and strategic priorities. You will be at the heart of Scotland's approach to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and create a cleaner, greener and better protected environment. To be successful you will need to be able to demonstrate extensive and relevant evidence of leadership, strategy, governance and communication and influencing. Further information is available in the Chair application pack.

What is the time commitment?

The Chair role requires 12 days per month. 

How long is the appointment for?

The appointment is for four years from 1 January 2024.

What is the salary?

The role attracts £341.75 per day and is non-pensionable.

What does the role involve?

As a Board member, you will provide strategic leadership and support our staff as they deliver regulatory and flooding services. You will also provide support to the Chair and contribute effectively to the setting and monitoring of SEPA’s corporate strategy, delivering environmental protection in ways that, as far as possible, also create benefits for communities and businesses. You will also help shape the relationship SEPA has with communities and regulated businesses, supporting the organisation in being a regulator that is trusted, and people have confidence in.

Taking a strategic view and contributing to collective leadership, you will provide appropriate support and challenge to senior staff, promote the efficient, economic and effective use of resources consistent with the principles of Best Value, and have the ability to identify and use evidence and analysis to make well-informed decisions.

What skills, experience and qualifications are you looking for?

A passion and enthusiasm for the environment is sought from our Board members, and we are looking for people who can demonstrate expertise in a range of sectors or areas that can add value to the SEPA Board, including organisational transformation, digital, people and performance, and audit and risk.

We are also looking for applicants with essential skills in analysis and decision making and communication, collaboration and influencing. Further information will be available in the application pack. 

Do I need to have experience or knowledge about the environment or science?

SEPA is about more than science and are looking to create a diverse board with different experiences. The Board should reflect the diversity of the country we serve and will benefit from a range of experiences and points of view. 

What time commitment am I expected to give?

Members of the Board will be expected to commit to between a minimum of 24 days and a maximum of 30 days per year.

How long is the appointment for?

The appointment is for between three and four years from 1 January 2024.

What is the salary?

The role attracts £293.29 per day and is non-pensionable.

What is the application process?

The application form is very important. It is the key document that will be assessed to determine whether you meet the required criteria and proceed through the assessment stages. You must clearly demonstrate evidence to show how you meet the published essential and desirable criteria. Please do not substitute a CV for the completed application form as this will not be considered on its own. This is to enable us to consider all applications on an equal and transparent basis.

Application form

There are three sections to the application form:

  • application form;
  • declaration;
  • monitoring form.

The application form seeks evidence about the priority skills required for the role and asks for the evidence to be presented as a tailored career history. You should provide clear and succinct evidence about how you have demonstrated the skills that are being sought during your career or from your personal experiences.

If providing examples, you should choose the ones that best demonstrate to the selection panel what it is you did and what specifically about your approach affected the outcome. The selection panel will not make assumptions about your examples, so it is important you take the time to ensure that the information you are providing in respect of your application fully demonstrates how you meet the required competencies.

You may be asked to expand on your answers if you are shortlisted for the final assessment stage so it is a good idea to retain a copy of your application form.

The application form also has a declaration statement, and by virtue of submitting your form, you are declaring the information you have provided is true and complete.

The monitoring form is never seen by the selection panel and the information contained in it is not used to assess your suitability for appointment.

Conflict of interest and other ministerial public appointments held

You are asked to complete a section in the application form that provides details of any other involvement in public life or potential conflicts of interest, which will be explored further with you at interview or checked as part of the final assessment.

Assessment

Assessment will happen in two stages. 

  • Firstly the selection panel will assess your application. The applicants who most closely demonstrate the evidence requested will be invited to attend the final stage assessment. You will be advised of the outcome by email if your application is progressing to the final assessment stage.
  • The final stage of assessment will include an interview with the selection panel as well as an additional exercise involving the analysis of a SEPA Board Paper. Full details will be given to those invited. Those invited to the final stage will also be subject to a social media review.

Who decides whether I am suitable for appointment?

A selection panel will assess applications.

Is there anything that could disqualify me from being appointed?

There is no bar on non-British nationals applying for and being appointed to the board of Non-Departmental Public Bodies. However, you must be legally entitled to work in the UK.

Applicants will be ineligible to apply for this appointment if they have already served a total of eight years as a Member of the Board.

Applicants are also ineligible to apply if they are:

  • a member of the Scottish Parliament;
  • a member of the House of Commons;
  • a member of the European Parliament.

If you have previously held such office and wish to apply, one year must have elapsed from the day on which this office was last held.

Who currently serves on SEPA’s Board?

You can find out about who currently serves on our Board on our Board members page.

Can I be a Board member if I am in full-time employment?

Yes. Some positions involve more time than others - from a day every month or two, to a few days every week. As such, some people manage to fit their duties around their full-time jobs (for example, within their holiday entitlement), while others have flexible working agreements with their employers. It is a good idea to discuss this with your employer as early as possible - even before you apply. Most employers are supportive in this case, as you will gain useful experience and skills if you are appointed, but it is best to check with your employer.

What is SEPA's approach to diversity and inclusion?

We are committed to diversity and equality, and value the benefits of having different points of view and experiences on our Board. We hope to receive applications from a wide range of talented people irrespective of their religion or belief, sex, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, race, political belief, relationship status or caring responsibilities.

We value very highly the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Board. We would particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics that are currently under-represented, such as women, disabled people, LGBTI+ people, those from black and minority ethnic communities and people aged under 50.

If I have applied previously, can I apply again?

Yes, each application is treated as a fresh application and the selection panel membership changes. You cannot apply if you have already served eight years on the SEPA Board.

Where can I find out more about the SEPA Board and its work?

You can find out more about our Board on our Board webpages.