Appointment of Members of the Board of Highland and Islands Enterprise

Scottish Ministers are looking to appoint up to three new Members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). We value very highly the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Boards and we are keen that people from all walks of life apply for public appointments. Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from women, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, people from ethnic minority communities and people aged under 50.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an ambitious organisation with a vital role in supporting businesses and communities across the Highlands and Islands to build a greener, fairer, and more resilient region that benefits everyone and makes a strong contribution to Scotland. Its five-year strategy, launched in August 2023, sets out a vision for a leading net zero region with a dynamic wellbeing economy.

Responsible for setting strategic direction, key decision making and effective governance, the HIE Board encompasses a range of skills, knowledge and experience that reflect the diversity of the region and the breadth of HIE’s remit. Board members come from a variety of backgrounds but have at least two things in common: passion for this part of Scotland and a commitment to make a positive difference to the wellbeing and prosperity of all those who live there.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring that the public body delivers its functions in accordance with Scottish Ministers’ policies and priorities
• Providing strategic leadership
• Ensuring financial stewardship
• Holding the Chief Executive and senior management team to account

It is the aim of Scottish Ministers to appoint candidates who have a very close affinity with and understanding of the issues impacting on the Highlands and Islands and of the opportunities to support economic and community development across the region. To ensure strong regional presence, ideally at least two of the three successful candidates will live, work, study, or invest in the Highlands and Islands.

Priority criteria include:

• Food and drink
• Energy, particularly offshore
• Tourism

Essential Criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding of the economic, cultural and fiscal issues impacting on the Highlands and Islands
• Knowledge and experience of strategy and long-term planning
• Communicating, influencing, collaborating and working in partnership
• Analysing and scrutinising performance and delivery

Applicants will wish to be aware that, for these roles, we are operating a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants.

Please follow these instructions to apply for the Board Member roles:

• Download the applicant information pack. This will explain more about the role, the board and the application process.
• You will be asked to supply some personal information and then complete the questions relating to political activity and any conflicts of interest.
• You will be asked to evidence the priority and essential criteria questions and upload your CV.
• You must complete these questions in order to apply for this role.

Completed applications must be received on or before 1pm on Thursday 23 April.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or further support with your application, please contact the Scottish Government Public Appointments Team by email at public.appointments@gov.scot.

Remuneration is £419.00 per day for a time commitment of up to two and a half days per month. Reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed. The appointments are non-pensionable.

Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of diverse Public Body Boards. People from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for public appointments.

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

Only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service. Reserved posts are generally those which, due to the sensitive nature of the work, require special allegiance to the Crown such that they can only be held by a UK national.