Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Fixed Term Four-Year Contract

Salary £100,000 - £125,000

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) exists to connect, develop and support the Parliamentarians and staff of the Commonwealth’s Parliaments. The Secretary-General is accountable for the overall success of the Association by driving, managing and promoting all aspects of the CPA’s aims and objectives. The Association has a key role at a critical period for the Commonwealth and its democracies. The Secretary-General will be at the heart of that: consolidating the Association’s financial position, winning the trust of its political leadership and delivering programmes which make a difference to Members and their Parliaments.

The CPA Secretariat is based in London, UK. The role of Secretary-General is an international appointment, and where required, the Association will provide all reasonable assistance in obtaining any necessary permission for the appointed candidate to remain and work in the UK.

Full details including the Job Description and Person Specification can be found here.

In the search for the next Secretary-General, the CPA’s nine Regions have been asked to seek expressions of interest from their territories (or indeed beyond). The British Islands and Mediterranean Region of which CPA UK is a member is keen to contribute to a strong field. Any applicants outside this Region who are interested should apply directly to their regional branch – contact details can be found here.

To be considered, please send the following to the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region Secretariat c/o cpaukrecruitment@parliament.uk:

• A letter setting out why you are interested, and how you meet the Person Specification, in particular the Essential elements;
• Your CV

If you have a disability,

• Please let us know if you require adjustments prior to submitting your application
• Please let us know when submitting your application if you require adjustments should you be invited for an interview.

All correspondence should be sent to cpaukrecruitment@parliament.uk.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 GMT on Sunday 1 December 2019. All submissions must be delivered by that time. Applicants are advised that late submissions will not be considered. Applicants may be invited to have a follow-up call and/or attend an interview in either week commencing 16 December 2019 or week commencing 6 January 2020.  Please ensure that you provide an email address and telephone number on which you can be contacted. If you have not been contacted prior to 16 December 2019, please assume that your application has not been taken forward. 

• The Region hopes to put forward up to the permitted maximum of three Regional candidates to the next stage by 15 January 2020.
• The CPA Secretariat will engage a recruitment firm to reduce a “long list” of candidates from the nine Regions to produce a shortlist of five, by 31 January 2020.
• A Selection Panel of representatives from all Regions will interview these five candidates during February 2020.
• The Panel will aim to recommend one name for appointment, and one reserve, for decision by the CPA Executive Committee at its meeting in early April 2020.
• The successful candidate would be expected to commence duty on 1 August 2020.