Biometric and Forensics Ethics Group Chair

Biometric and Forensics Ethics Group Chair (BFEG )

Location : London (Meetings will mostly take place virtually, with at least one in person full day plenary per year. In person BFEG meetings will normally take place at Home Office Headquarters,

2 Marsham Street, London. Some BFEG meetings may take place at a suitable external venue.

Appointed by : Home Secretary

Reporting to : Lords Minister

Number of vacancies : 1

Time commitment : 30 day(s) per annum

Length of term : Three years

Status of Appointment : As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Application deadline : 11pm on 30 June 2025

Purpose:

The BFEG is an independent advisory non-departmental public body that provides independent, ethical advice to Home Office Ministers on issues related to the use of biometrics and forensics and the differentiation and identification of individuals. Additionally, and increasingly, BFEGs remit includes the provision of ethical advice on the Home Office use of large and complex datasets, this includes use of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems.

The BFEG Chair will be expected to deliver a key leadership role by harnessing the energy and expertise of BFEG members to deliver timely advice to Ministers. To enable this, the successful candidate will be required to develop and foster strong and constructive relationships with BFEG members and senior stakeholders, including Ministers, Parliament, Devolved Administrations, Government officials, and practitioners.

The Chair will, on behalf of the membership, provide the primary interface to Government Ministers and other stakeholders, including the public and media.

The Chair is accountable for ensuring the timely delivery of the BFEG’s programme of work.

The Chair will develop and foster strong working relationships with the BFEG’s Secretariat as well as policy officials from departments, including the Home Office.

The Chair will work with the key policy sponsors and ministers in updating and widening the remit of the group, to reflect changing priorities in the Home Office and the importance of ethical considerations in a range of policy areas. This will include supporting an internal policy board to act as the sponsor in the future.

The BFEG Chair will meet, at a minimum, annually with the responsible Minister.

Essential criteria

Applicants should be able to evidence the following skills and experience:

• Leadership: ability to set strategic vision and drive forward priorities of the BFEG and wider Government, with strong track record in relevant senior leadership roles.

• Committee experience: at a senior level including experience of chairing high profile multi-disciplinary meetings and facilitating discussion through to agreed conclusions.

• Expertise: ability to work with Government and demonstrate a clear understanding of the policy environment and the role of scientific and ethical advice in informing policy in an area of sensitive political and public attention.

• Ethics: ability to draw out an appropriate balance of ethical, legal, and moral issues and considerations in relation to these of public interest and importance (within the remit of the BFEG).

• Relationship Building: strong negotiating and interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with Ministers, policy owners, Government departments, and other key stakeholders, including the scientific community, practitioners, and law enforcement.

• Judgement: ability to think logically and objectively to analyse complex information, identify key issues, and make effective decisions, including excellent judgement under pressure.

• Collaboration: ability to work closely with BFEG members and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge, and assurance as appropriate.