Defra has announced the creation of a new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England, which is to meet for the first time in the second half of 2011. The Board will be the principal source of Departmental advice to Ministers on strategic animal health and welfare matters relating to England.
We are seeking a Chair and around seven other independent Board members. They will serve alongside the senior Defra animal health budget-holding officials, the Chief Veterinary Officer, and the Chief Executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, making a Board of around 12 in all.
The independent Chair and Board members will have a key role in making the new Board a success, bringing knowledge and experience from outside Government, and gaining the confidence and respect of livestock farmers and other animal keepers through regular meetings.
The Chair will have a proven track record of leadership, strategic thinking and decision making - able to build a consensus between diverse interests on controversial issues and effectively represent the Board publicly. Ideally they will also have experience of animal keeping and science.
The Board Members will bring the ability to contribute effectively to the Board’s deliberations and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Collectively they will have experience and knowledge of all the major species of kept and farmed animals (including pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep, horses and aquaculture), animal health and veterinary science (including public health implications), animal welfare and wider public interests (including safety and security of the food chain and environmental issues). Individually they will have experience of one or more of these areas and be able to demonstrate that they have the confidence and trust of at least one relevant set of stakeholders.
The Chair’s remuneration will be £400 per day for up to 50 days a year.
The Board members’ remuneration will be £250 per day for up to 40 days a year.
As well as preparing for and attending between 6 and 10 Board meetings a year, appointees will be expected to meet regularly with stakeholder organisations, for which reasonable travel and subsistence will be reimbursed. The appointments will be made by the Minister for initial terms of 2 or 3 years.
For further details, including how to apply and an information pack, please visit the Responsibility and Cost Sharing website athttp://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/animals/diseases/sharing/ or emailAHWBE.Appointments@defra.gsi.gov.uk or call 0207 238 4953.
Please note the closing date for recieving applications is 5pm on 7th June 2011.
Defra is committed to improving the diversity of its public appointments and welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or gender re-assignment. We particularly welcome interest from under-represented groups, including individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic communities; and disabled people – for whom we offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
