Appointment of Board Members to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Board (AFBI)

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking to appoint up to 11 new Members, with a wide range of skills/knowledge, to the Board of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

AFBI is a DAERA Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) set up under the powers of the Agriculture (NI) Order 2004.  It is empowered under the Order to undertake scientific work (research and development, testing, advice and information on scientific matters and dissemination of the results of scientific research) in fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, food, fisheries, forestry, rural development and enterprise with a particular emphasis on the natural environment.  The AFBI Board has five sub-committees which assist it in meeting its Statutory Responsibilities. 

The Sub-Committees are:

• Audit and Risk Assurance
• Organisational Development and Human Resources
• Business and Finance
• Oversight and Governance
• Science Strategy

Each appointee will need to demonstrate relevant knowledge relating to the essential criteria for the competition, including experience or knowledge of the agriculture or food sectors and/or a business development and/or change management process in any sector in order to contribute effectively to the Board.  A chartered accountancy qualification would be desirable for some of the roles.

Time Commitment and Remuneration

The Member role requires approximately 20 days per annum. This position is remunerated at £402 per diem (under review).  Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred on official business will also be reimbursed.

Terms of Appointment

All successful candidates will be appointed for a three year period with four appointed from 3 May 2021. A further four will be appointed from 6 September 2021 with a final three appointed from 3 January 2022.  An additional two year term may be offered subject to satisfactory performance and attendance.

Application Process

A merit based process will be applied alongside the Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants with a disability. Applicants will be expected to complete an application form demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria for appointment.

Essential criteria

Relevant Experience; Financial Planning and Management; Corporate Governance; Risk Management and Accountability; Influencing and Directing Change; and Communication. Short listing is an extension of the sift process, and if deemed necessary in this competition will involve incrementally increasing the value of the criterion pass mark in the following: Financial Planning and Management and Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Accountability.

A sift of applications will be carried out and short listing criteria applied if necessary. A panel interview will follow.

More information about this competition and about public appointments in general is available from the NI Direct website

An application form can also be downloaded from this website.

Application form and Guidance

This is a Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Regulated appointment.  The Commissioner’s role is to regulate, monitor, report and advise on the way in which Ministers make appointments to the Boards of many public bodies in Northern Ireland.

An application pack and further information is available by contacting Dolores Kelly, Ballykelly House, 111 Ballykelly Road, Ballykelly, Limavady BT49 9HP Tel: 028 7744 2025 or e-mail PublicAppointments@daera-ni.gov.uk

This material will also be made available, on request, in other formats such as Braille, large print, audio, etc.  All reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate the needs of applicants/candidates with a disability.

Closing date: Completed applications must be returned to the Department by 4:00 pm on Friday 29^th January 2021.

Equality of Opportunity: DAERA is committed to the principle of public appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. DAERA is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation or whether or not you have dependants.  Since young people, people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and people with disabilities are currently under represented on the AFBI Board, applications from these groups would be particularly welcome.

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