GovWire

You may not have heard of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), but have you ever:

• eaten meat, eggs, fish or honey
• drunk milk
• owned a pet or animal
• taken antibiotics

If you said yes to any of the above, you are directly affected by what the VMD does.

The VMD is the regulatory and policy lead body responsible for issues concerning the authorisation, use, and manufacture of veterinary medicines in the UK.

Our aim is to protect public health, animal health, and the environment, and promote animal welfare by assuring thesafety, quality and effectivenessof veterinary medicines.

We support the Defra objectives on public and animal health, the promotion of a sustainable, competitive and safe food supply chain, and growing the rural economy. All statutory services are charged for at full economic cost, representing a major component of our income.

We work in close collaboration with veterinary professionals, livestock industry, and other public and private sector stakeholders to implement the Governments current 2019-2024 Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. This is part of the Governments 20-year vison on Antimicrobial Resistance, and we are also leading the veterinary side of the development of the next 5-year action plan.

The VMD also leverages international collaboration opportunities in the post-EU landscape to advance global regulations and joint applications. We also have an active programme of supporting low and middle-income countries improve their regulation of veterinary medicines.

We follow an integrated approach, spanning policy development to delivery, supported by externally accredited quality systems and a programme of consistent improvement.

We are recruiting for two Non-Executive Director roles:

• One to join our Management Board and Chair the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
• Another as the Independent Member of our Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

Like many public sector boards, our Board is advisory its role is to challenge and support executives in delivering strategy, policy and customer objectives, and achieving value for money. Critical to the effectiveness of the Board, is its ability to influence its stakeholders and to bring its collective wisdom to help to constantly improve the work and reputation of the Agency.

All our non-executives contribute to the Boards work and the achievement of its objectives through Board and committee meetings, and other tasks assigned by the Chair.

Non-executive Board member and ARAC Chair

The appointed person will:

• provide advice about strategy and policy, and the delivery of customer objectives
• provide effective oversight of financial and risk management
• ensure issues are explored from a range of viewpoints, promoting inclusion and engaging with stakeholders when necessary
• review and provide advice about performance, respecting the principles of good governance, supporting and holding the executive to account without becoming involved in the running of the business
• make well informed and impactful contributions to debate and discussion at Board meetings to aid collective decision-making
• maintain high personal standards in relation to personal behaviour and uphold the Nolan principles of public life
• as Chair of ARAC, provide advice to the Board and executives about financial probity, risk management and governance
• review and refresh the work of the Committee, and effectively chair its meetings

Non-executive independent member of ARAC

You will advise the Board and Accounting Officer about:

• The strategic processes for risk, internal control and governance, and the Governance Statement
• The accounting policies, the annual report and accounts of the organisation, including the process for review of the accounts prior to submission for audit, levels of error identified, and managements letter of representation to the external auditors
• The planned activity and results of both internal and external audit
• The adequacy of management response to issues identified by audit activity, including external audits management letter
• Assurances relating to the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for the organisation
• Anti-fraud policies, whistle-blowing processes, and arrangements for special investigations
• The ARACs periodic review of its own effectiveness

How to Apply

The Candidate Information Pack (PDF, 3.1 MB, 16 pages) explains more about the roles and how to apply.

Applications must be received by noon

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