Board and Committee Members | Bournemouth University

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Board and Committee Members Bournemouth University

Are you a senior strategic leader with expertise in finance or audit, estates and property, or higher education, seeking an opportunity to contribute your skills and time to enhance the experience of thousands of students every year? Bournemouth University is seeking Members to join the Board and its Committees or to be co-opted onto a specific Committee to offer support, challenge and scrutiny as critical friends of the institution.

• Location: Bournemouth, Dorset

About the role.

The University is seeking to appoint two full Board Members and three co-opted Committee Members to join them and contribute their expertise and time to support and enable the effective governance of the University.

We are seeking the following:

• 1 x Board Member (with finance/audit expertise who will also serve on the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee)
• 1 x Board Member (with estates/property expertise who will also serve on the Finance and Resources Committee)
• 2 x Co-opted Members (with finance/audit expertise to join the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee or the Finance and Resources Committee)
• 1 x Co-opted Member (with higher education expertise to join the Student Experience, Quality and Standards Committee)

The University Board and Committees:

Led by the Chair of the Board in collaboration with up to 13 independent Board Members, as well as student and staff representatives, the University Board oversees the strategic development of the University and ensures the effective use of resources and the general solvency of the institution.

The Board comprises independent members drawn from higher education, the public sector, industry and commerce, as well as representatives of the students and academic and professional services staff.

The Board’s responsibilities include:

• Approving, upholding and advancing the mission, strategic vision and values of the institution and be its legal authority.
• Appointing the Vice-Chancellor as chief executive.
• Ensuring an effective process for monitoring and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the strategy.
• Promoting equality and diversity throughout the institution.
• Ensuring the University’s compliance with its OfS registration conditions.
• Ensuring systems of control and accountability are in place, covering finances, operations and risk assessment, and being the principal financial and business authority of the institution.
• Conducting business in accordance with best practices in higher education corporate governance and Standards in Public Life principles.

Both Board and Committee Members:

You will be expected to act independently, making rational and constructive contributions to debate and making your knowledge and expertise available to the Board and/or Committee as opportunities arise. Members should establish constructive, supportive, but challenging working relationships with University employees, recognising the proper separation between governance and executive management.

Time Commitment

The Board of Governors meets in person five times a year, which includes one strategy day. Board Members will join at least one committee and can expect to commit up to 12 days per year to the role, which includes preparation time. Co-opted Committee Members do not attend Board meetings and, therefore, the time commitment is approximately 5 days per year.

All Members will be provided with a full induction, including mandatory training in areas such as safeguarding and IT Security. Further training opportunities are provided to develop in the role. You will also be invited to attend University events throughout the year, such as graduation.

These are not remunerated roles, but the University will reimburse reasonable expenses to fulfil the duties of the role. In return for your commitment, you will be provided with professional development and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to play an active part in the life of the University.

Who we are looking for.

Bournemouth University is seeking experts in finance and audit, estates and property, and higher education to join them as Board and/or Committee Members.

Candidates must bring a successful track record of senior or executive strategic leadership experience in their chosen field, sector or industry and demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and values of Bournemouth University and higher education in general. The University is a complex and multi-faceted business operating within a highly regulated sector subject to policy change. Therefore, we are keen to engage candidates who are able to demonstrate their experience of operating at this level within similarly sized and complex organisations.

With experience of operating at board level, candidates must demonstrate a good understanding of the difference between governance and executive management and a commitment to the accepted standards of behaviour in public life. As a critical friend of the institution, you will be able to offer support and challenge, and bring the right level of scrutiny to debate and decision-making in the best interests of the University.