Common use of Lead Official Clause in Contracts

Lead Official. 11.1 DfE has appointed the Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division to manage the relationship with Invest NI and ensure effective partnership working. Engagement between the Department and Invest NI will be co-ordinated, collaborative and consistent. A clear sense of collaboration, co-design and partnership will be communicated and implemented to staff in both DfE and Invest NI in order to promote mutual understanding and support. The DfE Partner Team shall carry out its duties under the management of the Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division, who shall have primary responsibility for overseeing the activities of Invest NI. 11.2 In performing the duties listed below, the DfE Partner Team may seek support and advice from all DfE directorates as required. The Partner Team, with support from DfE Finance Division, shall advise the Minister on: • an appropriate framework of objectives and targets for Invest NI in light of the Department’s strategic policies, Ministerial priorities, current Executive commitments and the Departmental Business Plan; • an appropriate budget for Invest NI in the light of the Department’s overall public expenditure priorities; and • how well Invest NI is achieving its strategic objectives and whether it is delivering value for money. 11.3 The DfE Partner Team, with support from DfE Finance Division and the DfE Policy Directors shall support the Departmental Accounting Officer • ensure that, whenever possible, it signposts / directs the respective DfE policy staff who are developing new policies to the appropriate Invest NI division(s) at the earliest stage in the policy development cycle; • ensure that the Department provides written guidance to Invest NI, to ensure that decision-makers within the organisation understand and can operationally deliver all aspects of the Department’s strategic policies and Ministerial priorities; • ensure that the DfE Central Policy Unit proactively engages with Invest NI to promote better partnership working as the Department develops policies; • ensure that all DfE Grade 5s who are developing policy are aware of the latest Invest NI organisational structure and is in a position to direct DfE staff to their appropriate counterpart(s) in Invest NI; and • When identified, ensure that policies being developed by other NICS Departments, which impact upon the work of Invest NI, are brought to the attention of the appropriate Invest NI senior management and if necessary, the Board Secretary, at the earliest opportunity. • monitor Invest NI’s activities on a continuing basis through an adequate and timely flow of information from Invest NI on performance, budgeting, control, and risk management, including early sight of Invest NI’s Governance Statement; and • periodically carry out a risk assessment of Invest NI’s activities to inform their oversight of Invest NI, strengthen these arrangements if necessary, and amend this Partnership Agreement accordingly in agreement with Invest NI. The risk assessment shall consider the nature of Invest NI’s activities, the public monies at stake, the body's corporate governance arrangements, its financial performance, internal and external auditors' reports, the openness of communications between the body and the Department, and any other relevant matters. • in conjunction with DfE business areas, inform Invest NI of relevant Executive / government policy in a timely manner, if necessary, advise on the interpretation of that policy, and issue specific guidance to Invest NI as necessary; and • bring concerns about the activities of Invest NI to the attention of the Invest NI Chair, Board Secretary and the full Invest NI Board, and require explanations and assurances from the Board that appropriate action has been taken. Where possible, appropriate concerns should be raised in the first instance with the Chief Executive, and then, if not resolved to the satisfaction of DfE, raised with the Chair and the Board. 11.4 The Department will meet regularly with Invest NI senior officers to work collaboratively to identify policy gaps, monitor performance against targets and agree areas for greater engagement in relation to policy. The Department, through Accountability and Casework Branch, will advise the Minister on the value for money of any proposed Invest NI casework which requires Ministerial approval. 11.5 The Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division will ensure that where there are departmental staff changes, time is taken to ensure they have a full understanding of Invest NI’s business and challenges and vice versa for Invest NI staff changes.

Lead Official. 11.1 DfE ▇▇▇ has appointed the Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division to manage the relationship with Invest NI and ensure effective partnership working. Engagement between the Department and Invest NI will be co-ordinated, collaborative and consistent. A clear sense of collaboration, co-design and partnership will be communicated and implemented to staff in both DfE and Invest NI in order to promote mutual understanding and support. The DfE Partner Team shall carry out its duties under the management of the Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division, who shall have primary responsibility for overseeing the activities of Invest NI. 11.2 In performing the duties listed below, the DfE Partner Team may seek support and advice from all DfE directorates as required. The Partner Team, with support from DfE Finance Division, shall advise the Minister on: • an appropriate framework of objectives and targets for Invest NI in light of the Department’s strategic policies, Ministerial priorities, current Executive commitments and the Departmental Business Plan; • an appropriate budget for Invest NI in the light of the Department’s overall public expenditure priorities; and • how well Invest NI is achieving its strategic objectives and whether it is delivering value for money. 11.3 The DfE Partner Team, with support from DfE Finance Division and the DfE Policy Directors shall support the Departmental Accounting Officer • ensure that, whenever possible, it signposts / directs the respective DfE policy staff who are developing new policies to the appropriate Invest NI division(s) at the earliest stage in the policy development cycle; • ensure that the Department provides written guidance to Invest NI, to ensure that decision-makers within the organisation understand and can operationally deliver all aspects of the Department’s strategic policies and Ministerial priorities; • ensure that the DfE Central Policy Unit proactively engages with Invest NI to promote better partnership working as the Department develops policies; • ensure that all DfE Grade 5s who are developing policy are aware of the latest Invest NI organisational structure and is in a position to direct DfE staff to their appropriate counterpart(s) in Invest NI; and • When identified, ensure that policies being developed by other NICS Departments, which impact upon the work of Invest NI, are brought to the attention of the appropriate Invest NI senior management and if necessary, the Board Secretary, at the earliest opportunity. • monitor Invest NI’s activities on a continuing basis through an adequate and timely flow of information from Invest NI on performance, budgeting, control, and risk management, including early sight of Invest NI’s Governance Statement; and • periodically carry out a risk assessment of Invest NI’s activities to inform their oversight of Invest NI, strengthen these arrangements if necessary, and amend this Partnership Agreement accordingly in agreement with Invest NI. The risk assessment shall consider the nature of Invest NI’s activities, the public monies at stake, the body's corporate governance arrangements, its financial performance, internal and external auditors' reports, the openness of communications between the body and the Department, and any other relevant matters. • in conjunction with DfE business areas, inform Invest NI of relevant Executive / government policy in a timely manner, if necessary, advise on the interpretation of that policy, and issue specific guidance to Invest NI as necessary; and • bring concerns about the activities of Invest NI to the attention of the Invest NI Chair, Board Secretary and the full Invest NI Board, and require explanations and assurances from the Board that appropriate action has been taken. Where possible, appropriate concerns should be raised in the first instance with the Chief Executive, and then, if not resolved to the satisfaction of DfE, raised with the Chair and the Board. 11.4 The Department will meet regularly with Invest NI senior officers to work collaboratively to identify policy gaps, monitor performance against targets and agree areas for greater engagement in relation to policy. The Department, through Accountability and Casework Branch, will advise the Minister on the value for money of any proposed Invest NI casework which requires Ministerial approval. 11.5 The Director of Entrepreneurship and Partnership Division will ensure that where there are departmental staff changes, time is taken to ensure they have a full understanding of Invest NI’s business and challenges and vice versa for Invest NI staff changes.