Closing date: 14 December 2004
Locations: Exeter, London and Reading

The selected candidate will be invited to take up the appointment immediately following the selection process (subject to reference/security checks).

The appointment will initially be for three years with provision for review after 12 months.

Time commitment
The Met Office Board meets nine or 10 times per year, usually in Exeter or London and once or twice a year at Reading University. The Audit Committee (which the selected candidate will chair) meets three times per year, either in Exeter or London. The total time commitment anticipated is an average of 2-3 days per month.

Remuneration
Remuneration (fees) can be paid at a daily rate of £600 or as an annual salary of £19,200.

Expenses
Expenses (e.g. travel, subsistence and ancillary costs) related to carrying out the NED duties will be re-imbursed. In addition, a wider range of expenses (e.g. for childcare provision) could be made available.

Areas of interest
Finance and Financial Services: Commercial Company Start Ups: Contractual Law: IPR, Licensing and Copyright.

Post description
The Met Office Board is responsible for developing and agreeing a corporate (strategic) plan for the Met Office to meet the strategic aims, objectives and targets placed on the Office by its Owner (the Secretary of State for Defence). The Board scrutinises Met Office performance against the plan, challenging and supporting the Chief Executive and his executive team to deliver against the objectives and targets set.

The Board is chaired by Clay Brendish, a Non-Executive Director appointed by the Secretary of State, and comprises currently three other NEDs, the Met Office Chief Executive, Met Office Directors, a stakeholder representative from the MOD and a Trade Union representative. The Board has two formal subcommittees reporting to it - the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

The Chair wishes to make a further NED appointment to build on the experience and expertise available within the Board. In addition to contributing fully to the corporate team effort outlined above, the candidate should have proven capability and experience at Board level of directing and managing financial systems. A qualified accountant would be preferred but this qualification is not essential. However, he/she must be able to demonstrate a complete understanding of commercial accounts, financial planning and budget management. The candidate will work closely with Met Office executives, and in particular with the Chief Financial Officer, to ensure that financial systems are fully aligned and integrated with management systems and with programme/project plans. The candidate will also assist in undertaking value for money analyses and in working with the Office to ensure that lessons learned from the financial evaluations of programmes and projects are carried forward into the Met Office's future financial management processes and procedures.

In order to support the Office's future strategic intentions, the candidate will ideally have direct experience in commercial company start ups including contractual law; and/or in issues related to licensing, copyright and IPR.

The candidate will also chair the Audit Committee. The Committee reports to the Met Office Board and its purpose is to advise the Board on the adequacy of the financial and management audit (both internal and external) arrangements and of the assurances provided in respect of risk and control in the organisation.

Personal qualities required
The selected candidate will need to demonstrate a robust independence of thought and analysis and to make her or his contribution in a positive, constructive manner. The individual will have an inquiring mind and display sound judgement when debating or communicating on complex issues. This will require skills in challenging plans and assertions within the collegiate environment of the Board. Ideally, the candidate will be able to demonstrate an understanding of public sector accountability to Parliament as a context in which his/her financial and commercial experience and expertise will be brought to bear.

Further information
The Met Office is a Trading Fund within the Ministry of Defence.
Further details about organisation and structure

Jo Brigham, the Met Office Special Advisor to the Board Chairman (Clay Brendish) can be contacted by interested candidates to discuss informally the requirements of the role and the experience and personal qualities of the individual being sought. She can be contacted through the Met Office Customer Centre or via e-mail to recruitment@metoffice.gov.uk.

Further details on the terms and conditions of the post should be addressed to Stephen Penfold, HR Director in the Met Office through the Customer Centre or via e-mail to recruitment@metoffice.gov.uk.

How to apply
Candidates are invited to mail a CV together with a short (two page maximum) presentation of the professional and personal qualities that they would bring to bear to:

Ms. Lorraine Gibson-Barton
HR Operations Manager
Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
Devon
EX1 3PB

or via e-mail to recruitment@metoffice.gov.uk.

Candidates short-listed for interview will be asked to provide references (and for personal detail required for security check purposes). The closing date for applications is 14 December 2004. An interview date for short-listed candidates will be agreed separately.