Chair of Pig Health and Welfare Council (PHWC)

Responsibilities

• The Chair will provide strong strategic leadership. They will be responsible for ensuring that the PHWC provides value for money and is recognised as the ‘go to’ place for governments, industry, the media, and other interested parties looking for specific expertise
• The Chair will be instrumental in drawing up a plan, prioritising activity and driving change and delivery, setting up and monitoring (with funders) the progress in order to deliver against the performance targets
• Provide advice to the chairs of the subgroups when requested and support the work of those subgroups
• The Chair will encourage fair and representative input from the group members, seeking consensus and identifying actions to progress the PHWC’s objectives
• Act as a spokesperson for the PHWC when necessary and represent the PHWC to the public and the media and other stakeholders where appropriate
• Maintain close relationships with key members of the Government and with key influences including the CVO (UK), CVOs from the devolved administrations, Food Standards Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate
• Act as a spokesperson for the PHWC when necessary and represent the PHWC to the public and the media and other stakeholders where appropriate including at external functions, meetings and events

Role Description:

• Provide inspirational independent leadership
• Be a passionate advocate of the UK pork sector, with strong networking and influencing skills and the ability and knowledge to lead through honest, transformative action
• Ensure that the values of good governance are upheld
• Attend meetings of the PHWC, currently 3 per year. The Chair may also attend meetings of the subgroups when necessary. The Chair is expected to have regular meetings with AHDB and to represent the PHWC at various events and meetings with key stakeholders. Estimated at an average of 2 days per month
• Agree and publish PHWC’s priorities and objectives and ensure that the delivery of these accelerates the pace of progress on exotic and endemic pig diseases and pig welfare
• Maintain excellent relationships with Defra, Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and industry stakeholders
• Through the Chair’s example and dedication, the UK Pork sector will find it has a single, unified voice, able to celebrate success and provide constructive criticism when needed

Essential Criteria

• A proven ability to provide influential leadership and drive industry change
• Pork health and welfare expertise / experience
• Significant experience and expertise of disease surveillance
• A passionate advocate of the UK Pork sector
• The skills and ability to communicate clearly together with strong networking and influencing skills
• The ability to think strategically, focus and prioritise
• The ability to achieve consensus though open discussion with all areas of the sectors
• A veterinary degree and membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would be considered an advantage

The successful candidate must abide by the Nolan Principles of Public Life (attached in Annex B).

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 27 June 2025. Shortlisting will be complete by 4 July 2025. We expect to hold panel interviews from the week commencing 21 July 2025, with a start date of the 4th August 2025. It is essential that your statement of suitability gives full but concise information relevant to the appointment, clearly demonstrating how you meet each of the essential criteria above.

At the shortlist meeting the panel will assess each application against the essential criteria and decide who to invite for final interview. The Interview Panel is yet to be finalised but you will be informed of who will be on the panel prior to interview.

Interviews are expected to take place at AHDB, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry, CV3 4PE and will last for approximately 45 minutes (including a 10 minute presentation - the title of which will be notified in advance). Further details about the format will be provided to you in advance. 

Candidates will be informed of the results by AHDB.

Please apply now and include the following with your application: 

• A CV of no more than two sides of A4
• A supporting statement (2 A4 pages/max 1000 words) setting out how you meet the essential criteria – make sure you refer to the contents of this document

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Mandy Nevel, Head of Animal Health and Welfare on 07875 306905 or mandy.nevel@ahdb.org.uk

At AHDB, you'll find we are committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. This applies to both our workforce and the practices we follow.