Commissioners Equality and Human Rights – Cabinet Office

Dear Candidate

The Minister for Women and Equalities is seeking to appoint dynamic and dedicated Commissioners who will continue to develop the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and support long-term change and improvements to equality and human rights issues. The postholders should be committed to ensuring that the Commission’s overall direction reflects its vital role as the UK’s leading equalities regulator and National Human Rights Institution.

This appointment fulfils the requirement of the Equality Act 2006 that the Secretary of State should appoint Commissioners to the Commission.

As a commissioner you will help to develop and maintain high-value relationships with Ministers, influential partners, governments at home and abroad, opinion formers, industry and others. You will demonstrate awareness, judgement and adaptability whilst maintaining integrity and resilience in the face of challenge and adversity.

The successful candidates will be exceptional organisational leaders and advocates for equality, and credible and effective public faces for the organisation with the ability to operate strategically. They will make an important contribution to the collective decision-making of the EHRC Board.

Applications are welcomed from as diverse a range of applicants and mix of backgrounds as possible. This candidate pack will tell you more about the purpose of the Commission and the nature of a Commissioner’s role.

Director of the Office for Equality and Opportunity

The Minister for Women and Equalities wishes to appointat least four Commissionersto the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

These appointments fulfil the requirements of the Equality Act 2006, that there must be between 10 and 15 EHRC Commissioners.

Public Appointments to the EHRC are normally for 4 years dependent on the requirements of the Board.

The Commissioners have responsibility for:

Agreeing the strategic direction and maintaining oversight of the Commission;

Ensuring the Commission discharges its statutory duties under the Equality Acts and obligations under the Paris Principles within the policy and resources framework (i.e. the Framework Document) agreed with its Sponsor Department and in accordance with high standards of corporate governance and principles of public law;

Ensuring the Commission effectively fulfils its statutory duties and operates within its statutory and delegated authority, including any conditions relating to the use of its grant-in-aid, specifically the use of public funds more generally in compliance with Treasury Guidance on ‘Managing Public Money’;

Ensuring that effective arrangements are in place to provide assurance on risk management, good governance and internal control;

Determining the Commission’s performance metrics and monitoring performance against them; and ensuring it demonstrates resources are being used to good effect, with propriety, and without grounds for criticism that public funds are being used for private, partisan or party political purposes;

Holding the Chief Executive to account for the performance and delivery against strategic and business plan priorities; objectives and budgets including follow-up actions on its decisions;

Formulating a strategy for ensuring the Commission is open and transparent in all that it does, providing Parliament and the public with as full information as may be requested concerning its policy decisions and actions. This includes full compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998, as amended and its adopted complaints procedures;

Making publicly available annual reports, and, where practical and appropriate, hold open Board meetings, release summary reports of meetings and invite evidence from members of the public on matters of public concern;

Promoting and protecting the Commission’s position, values, mission, vision, integrity, image and reputation, and

Ensuring high standards of corporate governance that command the confidence of the Commission’s stakeholders are observed at all times.

The EHRC is Great…