CEO Role
with Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

AFBI CEO

£113,060 - £123,946 per annum - (Analogous to Senior Civil Service Grade 3)

Key Responsibilities

The person appointed will be able to articulate and implement an ambitious vision for the Institute, leading the Executive Management Team and staff of AFBI to ensure its continued development as a science-led organisation across the areas of its remit.

Key priorities include development of innovative career structures designed to recruit and retain talented scientists and science-enablers, renewing the Institute’s data capability to ensure it is fit for purpose, and continued strategic development of the AFBI Estate.

The AFBI CEO is accountable to the Board for all aspects of AFBI’s work, and for maintaining the high standards of corporate governance necessary to deliver the Institute’s scientific mission. They will be capable of maintaining productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Sponsor Department, AFBI staff, users of science services provided, relevant industry bodies and other science organisations and public sector bodies.

As Accounting Officer, the CEO is, in addition, personally responsible for ensuring that AFBI has a robust corporate governance framework which ensure propriety, regularity, value for money and the safeguarding of public funds. This is to provide sufficient assurance to the Board and the Permanent Secretary/Departmental Accounting Officer enabling them to have confidence in the effectiveness of AFBI’s systems of internal control.

Accounting Officer responsibilities include ensuring AFBI has in place an effective suite of management, procurement, corporate and business planning, performance management and reporting, human resource management, risk management, information assurance, security, asset management and internal audit tools which inform their Annual Governance Statement.

The CEO will

Provide dynamic leadership in furthering AFBI’s strategic direction, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality across all the Institute’s activities.

Drive a culture of high performance, with a programme of continuous improvement and innovative thinking.

Develop the capacity, capability and performance of the team through implementing policies and practices to implement AFBI’s vision, mission, and corporate planning objectives.

Ensure appropriate balance and synergy between the various activities of the Institute, and between its commitments to the Sponsoring Department and complementary opportunities to deploy its science for the public good.

Further build partnerships and networks with cognate science delivery organisations, and with relevant funders, nationally and further afield.

Deploy mechanisms, including robust peer-review, to ensure AFBI science, and the strategic development of its workstreams, delivers the best possible outcomes and impacts for Northern Ireland.

Maintain robust systems of internal control and governance.

Carry out any other duties that may be assigned by the Board.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, have:

A minimum of three years’ experience in senior management* of a multidisciplinary organisation.

Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in a complex organisation, encompassing the ability to inspire, build trust, and influence staff and external stakeholders.

Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative working relationships, internally and externally.

Experience of the effective and efficient management of resources, governance, business and financial planning, risk management, commercial acumen and value for money.

A track-record in change management, setting priorities, and continuous improvement to enhance organisational performance.

Knowledge and an appreciation of the public sector, and of science informed policy context in areas of the Institute’s remit.

Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences.

Demonstration of resilience in the face of challenges.

In providing evidence, it will be essential that candidates draw upon specific examples of work they have undertaken to illustrate the extent to which they possess the experience and skills required. It will not be sufficient simply to list the duties and responsibilities of posts held.

*Senior Management level includes being an integral part of an Executive Management Team, providing detailed advice to a Board and its committees or equivalent or taking decisions with particular emphasis on governance, accountability, financial management and providing strategic advice and guidance.