Animals in Science Regulation Governance Board Members and Chair

Posted by: Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Employed By: Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Job Title: Animals in Science Regulation Governance Board Members and Chair

Salary or salary range: Voluntary

Contract type: Other

Location of position: Hybrid, one in-person meeting per year

Application deadline: 20th August

We are inviting applications to join the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Governance Board. The Governance Board will support and challenge the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) by providing direct operational advice to the regulator and by assisting ASRU in shaping its strategy, setting priorities, and managing performance to effectively meet its goals and ensure compliance with ASPA*. ASRU has recently undertaken an ambitious programme of reform and structural changes. The board will play an essential part in ensuring ASRU effectively embeds these new ways of working to deliver best-practice regulatory activity.

An existing board, the Animals in Science Committee (ASC), currently advises Ministers through the Animals in Science Regulation Policy Unit and the Northern Ireland Department of Health on policy matters relating to the ASPA and its functions under it. The ASC also advises animal welfare and ethical review bodies on sharing best practice within the UK. The Animals in Science Regulation Governance Board will differ from the ASC by providing direct operational advice to the regulator and by assisting ASRU in shaping its strategy, setting priorities, and managing performance to effectively meet its goals and ensure compliance with ASPA.

About ASRU

ASRU seek to protect animals in science by maintaining compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), assuring that animals are only used in scientific research and testing where there are no alternatives and minimising harm to animals where they are used. ASRU also aims to deliver an excellent service to the science sector to facilitate progress on critical scientific research.

Role summary

The board will provide support and challenge to ASRU and monitor strategic objectives, which are currently: driving compliance with the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement); delivering a quality service for the science sector; facilitating performance and effective governance in the science sector; and directing activity based on evidence, risk and outcomes.

We are looking for up to seven board members, to cover the range of skills, knowledge and experience required. One of these members will be the Chair of the board, who will have responsibility for setting direction; communicating board decisions to ASRU; engaging with the ASC; facilitating decision-making; and contributing to the recruitment of new members where necessary. Further detail of the Chair’s responsibilities is below. Please specify in your application if you would like to apply for the Board Chair position.

Role Description

Board Members

Each board member is expected to contribute to the delivery of ASRU’s purpose, through activities in the following areas:

- Performance: Review ASRU’s delivery of statutory duties and performance framework; advise on improvements where needed.

- Strategy: Scrutinise and advise on strategic direction, assess effectiveness of changes and recommend adjustments.

- Risk: Review significant risks, including reputational ones, and ASRU’s mitigation plans; hold ASRU accountable and advise on risk management.

- Prioritisation: Support the Head of ASRU in setting priorities and resource allocation based on performance and risk reviews.

- Stakeholder Engagement: Advise on effective engagement with stakeholders, including the regulated community and the public.

Board Chair

The Board Chair will take on a leadership role for the board. In addition to the above, the Chair will have the following responsibilities:

- Engagement & Communication: Act as the main liaison between the board, ASRU, and stakeholders, supported by the secretariat. They will build strong relationships, attend ASC plenaries twice a year and meet the ASC Chair annually (virtual attendance at these meetings will be possible).

- Board Operation: Ensure effective board functioning and productive member contributions, supported by ASRU’s secretariat.

- Decision-Making: Harness the energy and expertise of all committee members, consolidate board views into clear recommendations where required. Reconcile differing opinions to represent the board’s position.

- Setting Direction: Align board agendas with ASRU’s goals and facilitate meetings.

- Appraisal & Recruitment: Conduct member appraisals and support recruitment, advocating diversity and inclusion within the board.

How to apply

Applicants should demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas. Please indicate clearly which criteria you are applying under.

- Senior-level experience in leadership, board membership, or management: Proven ability in setting strategy, assessing performance, managing resources and managing risk. You may have experience in governance, leading change, working across varied organisational contexts and understanding of the functioning of central government.

- Data & Analysis: Demonstrated use of data and evidence to improve organisational performance and outcomes. Ability to advise on data strategy, outcome measurement, and performance reporting for organisational improvement. You may have experience in data/tech transformation projects and strong analytical skills.

- Life Sciences: Knowledge or experience in the life sciences sector (e.g. academia, industry). It would also be beneficial to have familiarity with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) or work in ASPA-regulated areas (note: current ASPA licence holders are ineligible due to a potential conflict of interest). Knowledge of international life science sectors and use of animals in science would be beneficial.

- Regulation: Experience leading or advising on regulatory systems, including licensing, inspection, and compliance. Desirable: exposure to multiple regulatory or international contexts.

- Animal welfare: Experience leading work to improve uptake of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), and/or holding a veterinary or medical qualification. Knowledge of ethical frameworks and international protections for animals in science is also beneficial.

All applicants must demonstrate evidence within their application of the following:

- Influence & Accountability: Ability to challenge, hold to account, and influence senior stakeholders through clear, constructive, and direct communication.

- Sound Judgement: Capacity to quickly assimilate organisational information, understand complex organisational contexts, identify issues, and propose effective solutions.

- Collaboration: Strong teamworking skills, with openness to diverse perspectives and evidence-based discussion, contributing to meaningful and inclusive dialogue.

If applying for the Chair role, you must also demonstrate:

- Leadership: Proven ability to lead and foster an inclusive, engaged environment where board members are empowered to share their views. Able to reconcile differing views to form clear recommendations, represent the board effectively, and engage confidently with key stakeholders, including the Head of ASRU and the ASC.

We welcome applicants at varying stages of their career and particularly encourage those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

- A CV setting out your career history, including details of your professional qualifications

- A covering letter (with a maximum of 1,000 words) outlining the skill areas from the essential criteria that you are addressing in your application and how you meet these criteria. If you wish to apply to the Board Chair position, please also detail this in your application.

- Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues that may conflict with board membership.

Applications should be made to ASRUapplications@homeoffice.gov.uk