The Port of Dover are looking to appoint 2x Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) from May 2022

The Port of Dover is the UK’s primary gateway to Europe, its largest trading partner. More lorries enter and leave the country through Dover than through all other UK ports combined. The importance of the supply chain they carry has never been more obvious than during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the ferry terminal in the Eastern Docks stayed open every day and the flow of lorries kept supermarkets and pharmacies replenished across the UK.

Arguably it is also the most iconic port in the UK, framed by the world-famous white cliffs. In normal times, some 11 ferry million passengers pass through the port every year, travelling in some 2 million cars. Dover is also an award-winning cruise port, hosting 130 cruise vessels in 2019. A new cargo terminal opened at the port at the end of 2019, in the first stage of an ongoing redevelopment of the historic Western Docks, and now handles a range of commodities from fresh fruit to steel. A new 250-berth marina is due to open in 2022.

Alongside its national importance, the port also operates as a highly successful commercial enterprise locally, supporting around 22,000 local jobs.

The Port of Dover is controlled by the Dover Harbour Board. Created by Act of Parliament, it is owned neither by the Government nor by shareholders, and the Board is independent. The Board has a legal duty to administer, maintain and improve the harbour in order to keep it open for the shipping and unshipping of goods, and the embarking and landing of passengers; and surpluses are reinvested into the port for the future.

The Board comprises a Chairman and six other Non-Executive Directors, and two Executive members. The Chairman and two of the Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport; and the remaining four are Dover Harbour Board appointees. Two of these four are “Community Directors”, appointed for their local knowledge; the terms of the current appointees expire in April 2022.

The Board is accordingly now looking to appoint two Non-Executive Board Members fromt May 2022 who:

• have a special knowledge or experience of the position of the Port of Dover in its local community and the local economy;
• have a good working knowledge of the constitution of the Port, and of the financial and broader regulatory framework in which it operates.
• can demonstrate a sound understanding of the role and responsibilities of a director on the harbour Board, and.
• have also previously gained experience in significant business or non-commercial organisations of good standing, and can demonstrate a sound understanding of finance and corporate governance.

It is essential that candidates are able to demonstrate the following qualities:

• An ability to formulate and discuss strategic subjects in a board room environment in a coherent and structured way;
• The ability to contribute effectively to the strategy and forward plans of the Port, in particular by identifying and highlighting local considerations;
• Excellent internal and external communication skills, able to engender the confidence of their peers, technical specialists, and the Port’s stakeholders;
• Sufficient scope and availability to attend such Board meetings, Committee meetings and additional forum meetings as required;
• Commitment to working as part of a team which is engaged and ambitious for the Port.
• These are fixed, 3 year positions (with the option to renew for a successive 3 years) and pay a fee of £26,500 per annum.