CHAIR OF COUNCIL FOR INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY OF HEATHROW AIRPORT (CISHA)

VACANCY - Chair of the Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA)

Are you a proven leader within the private, public, or charitable sector with excellent communication and influencing skills?

Can you, regardless of background, clearly demonstrate an ability to be objective and impartial with a career to date that shows evidence of transparency and honesty?

Can you show evidence of strong strategic thinking, and the ability to maximise outcomes via a workplan that you help originate and implement, drawing in a complex range of stakeholders and interests?

If you can answer ‘yes’ then we may have the perfect opportunity for you as the priority role in your portfolio career.

Job role
The Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA) is seeking a new part-time chair (approximately 70 days per year). CISHA and its forums work with stakeholders and communities to make progress on the issues that matter to them providing an environment for information sharing, consultation and feedback, and transparent scrutiny. In so doing CISHA fulfils the role of an Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) as set out in Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act.

Responsibilities
You will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation:

• uses its independence to hold Heathrow Airport to account, acting as an ‘honest broker’ for stakeholders.

• influences Heathrow’s decisions through scrutiny, mediation, and the provision of advice, always acting as that ‘critical friend’.

• fosters the involvement of as diverse a range of stakeholders as possible to build relationships between Heathrow and their local engagement forums (Local Community Forum, Noise & Airspace Community Forum, Heathrow Area Transport Forum, Heathrow Sustainable Economic Growth Taskforce, Heathrow Air Quality Working Group, and the Heathrow Passenger Forum) and the wider community.

• offers new and unique perspectives through the commissioning of insight, research, and expertise.

• Is open and transparent in its work, being approachable and accessible to all stakeholders You will be supported by a Deputy Chair, another Non-Executive Director, a Chief of Staff and Head of Communications and Engagement. The team is remote, gathering in person efficiently around key meetings. Crucially, the Chair is responsible for:

• ensuring CISHA and Heathrow satisfy the requirements of an ACC, setting the strategic direction of CISHA in consultation with the forum chairs, stakeholders, communities, and Heathrow Airport, agreeing and delivering a rolling 12-month program of focused, relevant, and topic-based scrutiny.

• fostering constructive dialogue between all stakeholders and communities and working closely with the membership (especially the forum chairs), supporting them in their objectives where possible, helping debate, formulate, and escalate policy and issues.

• representing CISHA at the highest levels including with the Heathrow senior leadership team, UK Ministers, senior civil servants – particularly the 3 Department for Transport – local authority leaders, Members of Parliament, the Civil Aviation Authority, and business and transport leaders, and also engaging with the media from time to time.

• applying scrutiny to decisions and processes to ensure that fairness, transparency, and engagement has occurred. Acting independently, with integrity, giving impartial guidance, in accordance with the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

•  being the public figurehead of the organisation, not only by chairing meetings of CISHA and open forums but through active involvement with the Heathrow communities and engagement forums (attending around 50% of these on average over the year), and off-airport community structures.

Additional Skills
• experience in chairing boards.
• an ability to be comfortable and credible speaking with a diverse audience, from a community representative or airport trainee to a government minister or CEO.
• experience of complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• be comfortable dealing with the media.
• experience of regulated industries and/or infrastructure projects would be helpful.
• a history of living and or working in London or surrounding areas.

Terms of Appointment
CISHA is directly funded by Heathrow Airport Limited through an annual block grant, paid quarterly in advance. The Chair is employed by and accountable to the Heathrow Community Engagement Board Limited (the legal entity which constitutes CISHA). The appointment is made by a tripartite panel comprising representatives from the Heathrow Community Engagement Board, the wider community, and Heathrow Airport Limited. The term is for two years, mutually renewable, with the support of Heathrow Airport Limited. The role is remunerated around the public sector day rate. If you are interested

How to apply
To apply you should email the following;
• A covering letter explaining why you would be an ideal fit for the role
• Your CV
• Examples (not more than 2 pages of A4 in total) of where you have taken a leadership role in navigating a complex issue bringing people with you and delivering an outcome which participants supported.

This should be sent to chair@cisha.org to arrive no later than 30th August 2024. A final in-person panel interview will be held in late September or early October with an appointment made soon after. If you have questions about the role you can email the Deputy Chair markizatt@cisha.org The organisation’s website is rich in content and will be helpful as you consider your candidacy www.cisha.org