The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish)

Operations DirectorFebruary 2017

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Operations Director - Candidate Brief

Contents

1. About Seafish Page 3

2. Job Description Page 8

3. Person Specification Page 11

4. Terms and Conditions Page 12

5. How to Apply Page 13

6. Selection Process Page 14

7. How We Will Handle Your Application Page 14

8. Equal Opportunities Page 16

9. Dealing with Your Concerns Page 16

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About Seafish

Who we are

Seafish is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry.

We are funded by a levy on the first sale of seafood products in the UK, including imported seafood.

At Seafish, our mission is to support a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future for the seafood industry. Our remit includes everything - and everyone - from fishermen and processors through to importers, retailers and food service providers.

As an organisation, we also take a great interest in the consumer: the people who buy and eat seafood. Maintaining a well-regulated seafood industry which delivers high-quality, safe, sustainable seafood to UK consumers is one of our highest priorities.

We therefore listen to, and cooperate with, a broad range of voices in the industry. By balancing our priorities and maintaining a high degree of transparency in our operations, we endeavour to meet the needs of everyone that we represent.

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Our Role

Seafish Vision: the authority on seafood

The work that Seafish carries out to provide reliable information to industry, media and regulators, underpins everything that we do. Seafish should be the first organisation that comes to mind when seafood data, interpretations or advice are required, so that we become recognised as ‘the authority on seafood’. Only by having a high level of expertise can our work on educating consumers and dealing with the public image of the seafood industry be convincingly authoritative.

Seafish Values: the guiding principles by which we work

Our values have been developed with our staff and are a guide to how we go about our work; they set out the behaviours we need to exhibit if we are to be at our best for industry - accountable, driven, expert, collaborative, innovative and always working with integrity.

High Level Objectives and Strategic OutcomesOur work is aligned to the following three High Level Objectives:

Promote Consumption - More people, eating more fish, more oftenTo enable a sustainable increase in seafood consumption, we will support our regional teams to deliver our values across the UK. We will also co-ordinate marketing and communications, while supporting exporters to deliver their goods across markets.

Enhance Reputation - A trusted and resilient industryBy supporting our industry partners, promoting sustainability and social responsibility - we can enhance the UK seafood industry’s reputation as being trusted and resilient.

Inform Decisions - Data to inform decision-making is readily availableWe aim to be the authority on seafood, providing reliable information to industry, consumers, media and regulators. We pride ourselves on the quality of our data, and will ensure stakeholders have access to all of the information they require.

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These objectives relate directly back to our mission and vision, and to our statutory duty to promote efficiency in the industry, whilst having regard to the end consumer.

Our work programmes and projects

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Seafish run a number of work programmes and projects that allow us to deliver our high level objectives, an overview of some of these are provided below:

Responsible Fishing SchemeThe Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS) is a voluntary vessel based programme certifying high standards of crew welfare and responsible catching practices on fishing vessels.

Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood (RASS)We have developed a fisheries risk assessment tool (known as RASS) that will help buyers make an informed judgement on the risks they face when sourcing seafood.

Fish is the DishFish is the Dish is a digital campaign which showcase to consumers that fish is a healthy, quick and easy choice to feed the whole family.

The National Fish & Chip AwardsNow in their 29th year, the National Fish & Chip Awards continue to recognise and reward businesses producing the best fish and chips across the UK.

Market insightWe conduct market research to advise and inform those working in all sectors of the seafood industry.

For further information on all Seafish work programmes and projects, visit www.seafish.org.

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Structure

All of our work is subject to regular review by the Sector Panels and Board, allowing our objectives to be refined and tightened as the programmes develop.

The Seafish Board consists of nine non-executive roles comprised of Chair and Deputy Chair, who are independent of the UK seafood industry, two further independent members and five industry representatives.

There are also four executive board members, who work together with the non-exec directors to strategically to shape the direction and policies of the organisation. The non-executive directors are appointed by the UK's four government fisheries administrations.

Seafish has three advisory Sector Panels; Domestic and Exporters, Importers and Processors, and Supply Chain and Consumers. The members of these Panels are drawn from all industry sectors and provide advice and recommendations to the Board on the activities and resources for Seafish operations. 

The sector panels must follow the strategic direction of the Board, provide advice to the Board on areas of work, and consider the benefits of the work programmes they propose.

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Job Description

SummaryThis is a superb opportunity to join the seafood industry at a time of exciting change and evolution. As Operations Director, your role as a leader internally and an ambassador externally is crucial to the continuing success of the organisation. You will work in partnership with the Chief Executive, Marcus Coleman to drive forward policy and strategic vision of Seafish. You will directly make a difference to the lives of a broad range of people involved in this critical industry.

Job PurposeThe role has a broad remit including:

Support the Seafish Board with its strategic decision making and performance monitoring functions

Enable the Chief Executive to carry out his strategic outlook for leading and managing Seafish

Facilitate other members of Executive Team in leading and managing Seafish activities

Cooperate with Seafish staff in delivering the Corporate Plan

Collaborate with Seafish Stakeholders as and when they engage with Seafish events and activities and services

Lead and develop Seafish’s technical and commercial expertise, supporting the needs of the seafood industry in work areas as defined in the Seafish Corporate Plan

Extent of the roleYou will hold primary responsibility for the Operations Division budget of £2 million and the effective deployment of all divisional resources. You will have management responsibility for over 20 staff, located in Grimsby, Edinburgh and in home based locations.

Principal Accountabilities The role holds a broad range of vital and valuable accountabilities:

To exemplify the Seafish Values

To pro-actively support the Seafish working culture of empowerment, trust and autonomy

As part of the Seafish Executive team, the Operations Director has a primary role in working extensively with industry in creating and developing triannual Corporate Plans for Seafish

Ensure delivery against the key outputs and outcomes of the technical activities in the Seafish Corporate Plan

Ensure that Seafish has the skills, resources and staff needed to fulfil the technical and operational activities defined in the Corporate Plan

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Advise the Chief Executive and Executive team on progress against Seafish’s Corporate Plan ensuring effective and appropriate monitoring throughout the life of the activities

Advise Board on achievements against delivery of the Corporate Plan

To analyse and assess new challenges not contained within the Corporate Plan as and when these may arise

Assist the Board and Chief Executive in engaging with industry so that the interventions undertaken by Seafish are recognised and valued

Ensure operations, projects and services are undertaken within agreed budgets and secure additional financial support from industry and government sponsors

Provide effective guidance, direction, support, communication and motivation among divisional team members in the attainment of objectives and in continually improving performance

Ensure effective Project Management is in place to assist with delivery of the Corporate Plan

Planning and Organising As Operations Director you will enjoy a degree of autonomy within the confines of the Corporate Plan and budget, you will liaise as required with the Chief Executive, and work proactively with the wider Executive team, Technical teams and other teams across the organisation in working towards the achievement of longer term goals.

Decision Making / Use of Judgement As Operations Director you will enjoy a degree of autonomy, operating within organisational guidelines and as part of a cohesive Executive team, with decision making powers as devolved by Chief Executive.

Essential Internal and External RelationshipsThis role has a broad remit; success will be expedited through cultivating and maintaining strong and effective internal and external relationships with the following key stakeholders:

Internal The Chief Executive and other Executive colleagues in matters of planning,

policy, and delivery of results

The Chief Executive, Board and Sector Panels in identifying future plans and responses to industry

Seafish colleagues and direct reports in directing supporting and involving them in the delivery of Seafish activities

External Associated companies in working in partnership to improve services to industry

Industry leaders and Sector Panels in identifying, anticipating and delivering projects

Civil Servants from the four Fisheries Administrations in supporting policy aims and support for industry

Suppliers in negotiating and providing necessary services

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Person Specification

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Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required This complex role requires candidates to have the following range of skills and experience.

Qualifications: Essential: Degree in a related discipline. Desirable: Post-Graduate qualification in a relevant subject

Experience: Significant strategic management experience in a similar size organisation. Proven experience of managing, supporting and motivating people across a

range of functions. Demonstrable ability to develop effective relationships with the external

community and opinion formers, instilling confidence in colleagues and a wide range of stakeholders across private and public sectors.

Excellent track record in the food industry and good knowledge of issues facing primary sector, coupled with significant experience at a senior management level and of creating and delivering effective, innovative and proven strategies.

Strong commercial and political acumen with the ability to consolidate change, develop organisational stability, deliver budgetary control and strategic/operational outcomes.

Experience/knowledge of key issues, commercial, technical, political and environmental pertaining to the food industry generally, and the seafood sector specifically.

Proven ability and desire to work in and across the public sector, balanced with commercial and political acumen

Proven track record of strategic management experience, reporting to Board and leading operational delivery  across a broad functional areas

Personal Characteristics: As a highly motivated self-starter, be able to combine strategic thinking with

attention to detail, achieving quantifiable success against challenging targets.  Clear communication at all levels with excellent interpersonal and diplomatic

skills, able to integrate effectively a wide range of views and opinions.

Special Features In addition to the skills and experience outline above, this role demands some additional characteristics:

The ability to adapt and manage change, both personally and for the organisation Resilience when dealing with organisations and individuals with conflicting

interests and goals The ability to look at the strategic development of the organisation over a 3-5

year period An understanding and appreciation of alternative approaches to the management

of modern workplaces

Reporting linesThe Director of Operations reports directly to the Chief Executive of Seafish, Marcus Coleman.

Locations

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The Operations Director can be based from one of the two Seafish offices located in Grimsby or Edinburgh.

Terms and Conditions

SalaryThe starting salary range for this post will lie in the range £68,000- £77,000. More may be available for an exceptional candidate

ContractThe role is offered on a permanent basis with a six month probation period.

Annual LeaveYour holiday year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December each year. You are entitled to 27.5 days holiday per year pro-rata.

Maternity Leave, Paternity, Parental leave, Special leaveFurther details can be obtained on request.

PensionSeafish offer a Legal & General Stakeholder Scheme to all staff whereby employees can make a contribution of 5% of their monthly salary which is matched by a 10% employer contribution. Employees can contribute more than 5% of their monthly salary if they wish to, however Seafish contribution is capped at 10% of monthly salary.

ExpensesYou shall be reimbursed for all reasonable travel, accommodation and other expenses in accordance with Seafish rules as set out in the Seafish travel and subsistence (as amended from time to time), which are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in relation to the performance of your duties and responsibilities under this agreement. These will be published in accordance with the current government guidelines.

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How to Apply

As part of the application process, candidates are requested to submit the following documents:

• A full career CV;

• The names and contact details for two referees, who will be contacted should candidates proceed to the latter stages of the campaign;

• A supporting statement of suitability. This should contain evidence and examples of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the experience requirements from within the person specification detailed on pages 8 to 9.

Additionally, all candidates are requested to complete the following forms:

• Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire;

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme declaration form (where relevant; see further information under the equal opportunities section below).

These should be returned by email (preferred) by the closing date: 27th February 2017 to andrew.timlin@hays.com.

Alternative format versions of this candidate information pack are available on request from Andrew Timlin on 0207 259 8743. Reasonable adjustments can be made for all stages of the selection process.

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Selection process

Selection PanelThe selection panel will be chaired by Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive with panel members; Linsey Neill, HR Manager; Brian Young, Acting Chairman of the Board and Peter Hajipieris, Industry Board Member.

ProcessThe panel will select the candidate who best demonstrates that they have the specified qualities and experience for the role. It is therefore essential that your statement of suitability and CV give full but concise information and evidence relevant to the appointment.

InterviewsInterviews will take place in London at the following address:

Hays Executive,23 Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1W 0NT.

Candidates will be able to claim for reasonable expenses incurred travelling to and from interview. Additional expenses incurred because of a disability or because of caring responsibilities may be reimbursed to enable candidates to attend the interview.

How we will handle your application

The deadline for applications is 27th February 2017.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application documents via email. Please contact us if you have had no such correspondence within five working days.

Your application will be assessed against the required competencies and person requirements applicable to the post.

By the end of the week commencing 27th February 2017, the panel will have decided the candidates who will be invited to have a preliminary interview with Hays Executive. Preliminary interviews with these candidates will take place in week commencing 6th March at Hay’s Executive’s offices at 23 Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1W 0NT.

Following the preliminary interviews with Andrew Timlin and Jayne Macleod of Hays Executive, the panel will then consider which candidates will be invited for final interview by the end of the week commencing 13th March 2017.

The final panel interviews will take place week on Friday 24th March 2017, in Hays Executive offices in London as above.

Candidates selected for interview may be required to take part in a psychometric assessment exercise and will be provided with further details at this time.

They will also be offered the opportunity of an informal pre-interview conversation with the Chief Executive, Marcus Coleman.

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References will be taken up for candidates selected for final panel interview.

All candidates will be notified of the progress of their application after each selection stage of the process.

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Equal opportunities

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Disabled Applicants

Seafish operates a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled people. The Equality Act 2010 defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, a disabled candidate will be selected for interview if they meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you wish to apply for consideration under the scheme, please complete the declaration form and return it with your application. In addition, if you require any special arrangements at any stage of the process, please let us know so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Diversity Monitoring QuestionnaireThis questionnaire is for monitoring purposes only. This form is not part of the selection process and will be treated in confidence. It will be kept separate from your application and will not be seen by the selection panel.

Dealing with your concernsFor queries about your application in the first instance please contact:

Andrew Timlin or Jayne Macleod on 0207 259 8743.

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