| Job description | Director Environment & Climate Change
Contract type: Permanent
Location: London or Newcastle offices
The salary range for Directors at the NAO is £91,188 to £119,340. Internal candidates will be appointed in line with the NAO’s policy for pay on promotion. There may be flexibility on the salary available for exceptional candidates
Hours: Flexible working and part time hours will be considered.
Closing date for applications is the 11.55pm 7th July 2024
Nationality Requirement:
• UK Nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
Please note, we are not able to sponsor work visas or accept temporary visas as we are looking to hire on a permanent basis. Please contact the HR Service desk (hrservicedesk@nao.org.uk) should you have any questions on your nationality eligibility.
Director, Environment and Climate Change
The main purpose of the role is to lead our work on environmental sustainability and climate change.
Government has set ambitious goals for net zero by 2050 and in its environment plan. Over the last five years the NAO has produced value for money reports examining government's spending and activities in pursuit of these goals. Sustainability reporting requirements are also evolving rapidly for both the public and private sectors. The National Audit Office has an important part to play in ensuring that the system of public sector sustainability reporting that develops is useful, reliable and proportionate, as well as holding government to account for how it pursues its long-term goals.
We are looking for someone with the experience and vision to develop our strategy for environment and climate change work and to build our capability to deliver insightful value for money work, effectively draw out learning and good practice, and to assure sustainability reporting in government. Drawing on your specialist knowledge you will lead our engagement on these issues with senior stakeholders in government and the private sector as well as with national and international standard-setters and expert communities.
You will lead the team delivering our work on environment and climate change insights and developing our approach to sustainability reporting and assurance. You and your team will produce reports for Parliament and relevant good practice guides, as well as supporting value for money teams across the NAO to deliver insightful and impactful reports.
This is an exciting time to join this new team and build a rewarding and fascinating career at the NAO. For more information on the work of the NAO, including our 2022 report on measuring and reporting public sector greenhouse gas emissions see our website www.nao.org.uk
The role
Specific responsibilities
Provide expert advice on sustainability assurance and reporting matters to relevant groups and consultations, working with NAO experts in financial and non-financial audit
Build and maintain external networks with senior civil servants, Parliament, expert communities, standard setters and representative bodies
Work with the Deputy Head of the Financial Audit service line and our Financial Audit Practice and Quality Team to develop our methodological approach to sustainability assurance, in accordance with relevant standards, good practice and guidance
Set and deliver a programme of value for money (performance audit) work on environment and climate change issues and good practice from across government
Manage or advise on relevant assurance work undertaken by the NAO, including auditing sustainability metrics, pre-assurance work with government bodies, and fieldwork to support assurance opinions
Take a central role in the development of a learning and professional development plan for performance audit of environment and climate change programmes and sustainability reporting and assurance skills at the NAO
Keep abreast of significant future developments, changes, emerging trends, and relevant issues in the external environment
People management
Contribute to the development of our people and organisation as part of the NAO senior management
Be a credible and effective thought leader and bring together insights from our people
Build effective working relationships across the NAO corporate services, and financial and value for money audit teams
Be an effective team leader and coach and motivate professional development across a wide network as well as through your direct line management role
Relationships
Reports to: Executive Director, Infrastructure Group. The team sits within the NAO’s Infrastructure Group but you will also work closely with other senior leaders in the NAO including the Executive Director for Knowledge and Insights as well the Deputy Head of Financial Audit.
Internal relationships: Directors of other specialist insight teams, audit teams covering a range of audited bodies, practice and quality teams for value for money and financial audit, external communications and parliamentary relations.
External relationships: External experts within government and in external organisations; national and international standard-setters; parliamentary officials, MPs and relevant Committees, including the Environmental Audit Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
Staff resources managed: You will manage a core team with two senior managers, one focused on developing our methodologies and approach to reporting standards, and one leading our reports for public and parliamentary scrutiny, as well as a small team of analysts and auditors. You will also be able to draw in others from across the NAO where needed on a project basis.
The role can be based in either our London or Newcastle offices.
Desirable skills
We are looking for someone who can:
Demonstrate an understanding of environment and climate policy in the UK and internationally, as well as good practice and the challenges in sustainability reporting and assurance.
Bring an established relevant network of environment and climate policy and assurance experts.
Be highly credible in representing the NAO’s work with external experts, Parliament and senior stakeholders.
Oversee and deliver well-produced written outputs which support our findings and recommendations and are designed to engage a wide audience.
Make sound, independent judgements when advising others.
Build and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally, drawing on excellent communication, relationship management and influencing skills to work collaboratively across all organisational levels.
Lead, develop and motivate diverse teams and support all colleagues to deliver great work and achieve their potential.
Show creativity and innovation in how we do our work and build insights and support teams to do so.
Attributes
In addition, we are looking for the candidates with the following attributes.
A strong commitment to self-development, to delivering the NAO's strategic objectives, and keeping yourself up to date in your work and specialism.
Compliance with corporate responsibilities and interest in supporting others to do so.
Working in accordance with the NAO's values and champion our diversity and inclusion strategy.
Intellectual curiosity, especially about using data and evidence to answer questions.
Determination and flexibility to overcome obstacles or challenges to achieving goals.
Passion for improving government and the ability to defend and promote your point of view.
Education/work experience
We are looking for candidates who have experience analysing or auditing environment and climate policy interventions; a sound understanding of relevant frameworks, principles and standards for sustainability reporting and assurance; as well as experience in managing projects and producing high quality, accessible written outputs. Experience working closely with Parliament and with central government is desirable.
You might have relevant audit and assurance qualifications (e.g., CA/ACA, ACCA, CIPFA, CIA, MIIA, CIMA) and relevant experience. Or relevant experience in sustainability/ non-financial assurance, research, analysis, or performance audit. This may include, but is not limited to, experience in management or other consultancy experience, internal audit or academic research or policy development.
Conflicts of interest
It is essential that the NAO upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest standards of propriety in its governance, and potential candidates will need to ensure that they do not hold any non-executive posts, any other appointments, or any other interests which may be in conflict with their NAO role.
Equal opportunities and diversity
We welcome applications from candidates who work part-time or who wish to fill posts as a job share, and are keen to support colleagues to work flexibly.
Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confidence scheme should confirm this when submitting their application. Under this scheme we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets the minimum requirements for the role. You should also let our HR Team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process at hrservicedesk@nao.org.uk
Applicants will not be discriminated against on the grounds of any protected characteristic or any other extraneous factor.
How to apply
To apply please visit our website and provide the following:
• An up-to-date CV (no longer than 2 pages using size 10 font)
• Covering letter setting out briefly why you are suitable for the role (no longer than 2 pages using size 10 font)
If you experience any issues during the application process, please contact kevin.carey@nao.org.uk |
|---|
