Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

Non-Executive Commissioners

Information for applicants

Closing date is 5.00pm on 31st October

A message from The Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

You may already have some idea about the important work of the EHRC and the following pages will tell you more about the purpose and the nature of a Commissioner’s role.

The EHRC is an independent body responsible for promoting and enforcing the laws that protect fairness, dignity and respect. It contributes to making and keeping Britain a fair society in which everyone, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Applications are welcomed from as diverse a range of applicants and mix of backgrounds and sectors as possible. We seek candidates with a business perspective and practical mind-set who can demonstrate both impartiality and collaboration, excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to operate strategically. Atrack record of driving transformational change and the credibility to challenge others is desirable.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

The Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP

Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities

About the Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It operates independently to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and protect and promote human rights. It contributes to making and keeping Britain a fair society in which everyone, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential. The EHRCenforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution. Find out more about the Commission’s work at:

EHRC vision and mission

Mandate

Parliament gave the EHRC the mandate to challenge discrimination, promote

equality of opportunity, and protect and promote human rights.

Vision

We live in a country with a long history of upholding people’s rights, valuing diversity and challenging intolerance. The EHRC seeks to maintain and strengthen this heritage while identifying and tackling areas where there is still unfair discrimination or where human rights are not being respected.

Role

The EHRChasdual roles as a National Equality Body and National Human Rights Institution. These underpin the four strategic aims that it has developed to guide its work in 2016-19. These are:

Significant impact – to secure advances in equality and human rights in priority areas.
A strong evidence base – to provide authoritative analysis and insight.
Sustainable infrastructure – to ensure an effective and sustainable infrastructure to protect rights in practice.
Improved capability – to be an expert, independent and authoritative national body.

The EHRC’s statutory powers give it a range of tools to address the equality and human rights issues that it has prioritised for action. It acts as:

a catalyst for change
an information provider
an influencer
an evaluator
an enforcer.

Further information

For further information about the EHRC please visit

EHRC Commissioner Person Specification

The Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities wishes to appoint up to three Commissioners to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). These appointments fulfil the requirement of the Equality Act 2006 that the EHRC should have not less than 10 or more than 15 Commissioners.

Expectations of EHRC Board Members

Individual Board members should:

a)work with the Chair and Chief Executive to set the strategic direction of the EHRC;

b)scrutinise the EHRC’s performance, and support the Chair in holding the Chief Executive to account; and

c)comply at all times with the Cabinet Office’s Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies (2011) and the EHRC’s Code of Conduct and conflicts of interest guidance (Part 4 of the EHRC’s Governance Framework).

Specific qualities and skills sought

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

Essential criteria

The ability to operate collaboratively at Board level, whilst also bringing a strategic mind-set, an understanding of the context in which the Commission operates and impartiality to steer the Commission’s work;
The ability to build constructive relationships and influence at the highest level, and to act as an ambassador for the Commission, promoting its role and aims to the public and a wide range of partners; and
A commitment to, and knowledge or experience of, equality and/or human rights and an understanding of how the Commission might most effectively uphold shared values of tolerance and respect to others. We are seeking to appoint a Commissioner who will bring particular insight in the sphere of religion and belief. We are also seeking candidates with knowledge or experience of gender identity and / or race equality.

Desirable criteria

A track record of driving transformational change across business or the public sector, and the credibility to challenge others to achieve improvement;
Experience of working in or with different sectors including business.

Applicants will be assessed against these criteria in their application form and at any subsequent interview. Applications which do not clearly demonstrate how applicants are able to perform against all essential criteria will be rejected at the first sift stage.

We guarantee to interview any disabled applicant whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post – this is known as a Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

Applications are welcomed from as diverse a range of applicants and mix of backgrounds and sectors as possible.

Supporting Information

How much time will I need to commit?

The Board meets at least six times a year and additionally at the Chair’s discretion. The meetings are usually held in London. Additional time will be required to liaise with the Chair, Chief Executive and other officers, to study papers and undertake representational work, such as visits, meetings with strategic partners etc. The likely time commitment for a Commissioner is approximately 1-2 days per month (up to 25 days per year).

Remuneration

The remuneration for the post is a per diem rate of £400/day for 1-2 days per month (up to 25 days per year).

How long is the appointment and when will it start?

Appointments to the EHRC are for between 2 and 5 years. It is envisaged that candidates will take up their roles in early 2018.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided, upon request, to those candidates that are unsuccessful at interview stage. Feedback will be in writing or by phone call where possible.

Standards in public life

It is important that all public appointees uphold the standards of conduct set out in the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Seven Principles of Public Life (ministerial responsibility, selflessness, integrity, merit, openness, diversity, assurance and fairness). In addition public appointees are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for board members of public bodies ( The EHRC has its own Code of Conduct and conflicts of interest guidance (Part 4 of the EHRC’s Governance Framework), which apply to all EHRC Commissioners on acceptance of the role.

How to apply

The process for this public appointment will adhere to the Governance Code on Public Appointments (2016). The Commissioner for Public Appointments provides independent assurance that public appointments are made in accordance with the principles of Public Appointments and the Code.

To apply, please send:

a CV of no more than three sides of A4;
a supporting statement of not more than two sides of A4, setting out how you meet the person specification for the role using specific examples;
from the applicants information pack:
Potential Conflicts of Interest form (Annex A);
Political Activity Questionnaire (Annex B);
Diversity Monitoring Form (Annex C). The Diversity Monitoring Form will be separated upon receipt and will not be sent to the assessment panel;
Guaranteed Interview Scheme form if this applies to you (Annex D); and
Details of two referees who can provide a reference for you. Note these may be taken up prior to interview, if this is not acceptable please note this on your application and references will only be sought if your application reaches interview stage.

Completed applications should preferably be emailed to:

Please mention ‘EHRC Commissioner’ in the title of your email or, if it is not possible to email, post a hard copy to:

EHRC Sponsorship Team

Government Equalities Office

Department for Education

Level 6, Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT

by 5.00pm on 31st October 2017.

The address for the Department for Education - Human Resources, where applicants should send the Diversity Monitoring Form at Annex C, is shown below:

DfE Public Appointments

Ground Floor (Church Side)

Bishopsgate House

Darlington

DL1 5QE

Email:

Key Dates

The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on the 31st October2017.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates are expected to be held in central London on the 18th and 19th January 2018.

Eligibility for the posts

Holders of the office of Commissionerof the EHRC are disqualified from membership of the House of Commons, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament.

You will be required to declare any personal or business interests, positions of authority or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies which may, or may be perceived to, influence your judgements in performing your duties (Annex A). Any actual or perceived conflicts of interest will be fully explored by the panel at shortlisting or interview stage.
Political activity in itself is no bar to appointment. Candidates must declare any significant political activity to enable the panel to explore this in the context of their ability to perform the role. Please complete the political activity questionnaire (Annex B) if this applies to you.

How we will handle your application

Candidates invited to final interview will be advised on the full selection panel membership.

After the closing date for applications:

The selection process will be evidence-led. Your application will be assessed against the criteria set out in the Person Specification from the information in your CV and supporting statement;
The panel will meet to agree a shortlist of applicants for final interview;
Final panel interviews are likely to be held in London on the 18th and 19th January 2018.Where a candidate is unable to attend interview on a set date, an alternative date will only be offered at the discretion of the panel;
At interview, the panel will question you about your experience and expertise and ask specific questions to find out whether you meet the criteria set out in the Person Specification.(Please note: The Department does not pay for travel expenses for those attending interview unless they relate to reasonable adjustments).
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence required under each of the specific qualities and skills sought. Applications from disabled candidates will in all other respects be treated in the same way as those from non-disabled candidates, except, of course, that reasonable adjustments will be considered. If you wish your application to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme please complete the GIS form (Annex D) and return it with your application form.

If, in the view of the panel, you have the skills for the post and are considered to be appointable, your name will be among those put forward to Ministers. It is for Ministers to make the final decisions concerning which candidates may be appointed to the vacancies.

Role of the Commissioner for Public Appointments

The role of the Commissioner for Public Appointments is to regulate Ministerial appointments to the boards of public bodies and statutory office to ensure that selection of appointable candidates is on the basis of merit after a fair and open process.

Complaints Procedure

The Department’s public appointments processes are conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments, which can be found at:

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Governance Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the EHRC Sponsorship Teamin the first instance.

Charles Ramsden

Department for Education

6th Floor Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3BT

We will reply to your complaint within 20 working days. If, after receiving our response you are still not satisfied, you may contact the Commissioner for Public Appointments:

The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Room G/8, Ground Floor

1 Horse Guards Road

London SW1A 2HQ

Tel: 020 7271 0849

Information about the Commissioner’s policy and manner in which complaints are investigated are set out in the Commissioner’s leaflet Your Guide to Making a Complaint about a Public Appointments Process which can be found at:

EHRC Commissioners recruitment

Indicative timetable

31st October / Closing date for applications
6th November / Sifting
18th and 19th January 2018 / Panel interviews, to identify appointable candidates. Recommendations submitted to Ministers

Monitoring Information

The Department collects diversity data to monitor how well it is encouraging applications to its public appointments and to help ensure the appointments it makes reflect the diversity of the people of the UK. Please complete the diversity monitoring form and return it along with your application to The diversity form will not be seen by the assessment panel.