Role of Governor and Person Specification

Details of appointment

Length:

Initial appointment of one year extendable to three years by mutual consent. Further possibility of re-appointment for a second term.

Time commitment(approx per annum):

Governors should be willing to devote 12 to 15 days per year to discharge their role effectively. This includes 4 Board meetings, 4-6 committee meetings, 1 Awayday (overnight stay included) training and induction as required, occasional invitations to corporate functions such as graduation ceremonies. There is also a time commitment for reading in preparation for those meetings.

Remuneration:

unpaid.

Expenses:

Expenses are provided for care allowance, travel and subsistence in relation to duties undertaken as a consequence of Board membership.

Role Specification:

The duties of the Corporation are set out in the Instrument and Articles of Government. Collectively individual governors contribute their professional, specialist and general management skills to the Corporation in a non-executive role. Our external governors play a key part on driving forward and strategically planning our future development. External governors are individuals with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and reputation in industry, commerce, the public sector, the practice of a profession, or equivalent, with a capacity to inquire, challenge and enhance. All nominations are welcomed, but sometimes we will specify experience in particular fields to maintain a balance of skills and experience amongst its membership. The Board encourages, supports and values diversity and welcomes nominations from all sections of the community. Nominations are particularly welcome from ethnic minority people who are currently under-represented on the Board.

Primary Duties:

  1. To play an active role in the high-level strategic planning process by contributing to:
    • The development of the University’s mission, vision and educational character
    • The development of strategic priorities
    • The setting of measureable targets to support the University’s development and budget
    • The monitoring of achievement against objectives
    • The development of plans to address major weaknesses
  2. To serve on one or more committees of the Board as required. The current Board structure has four established standing committees:
    • Audit Committee
    • Finance and General Purposes Committee
    • Governance/Nominations Committee
    • Senior Conditions of Staff Committee
    • plus one task group to oversee the development of the University’s Estates Strategy.
  3. To play an active role in one or more of the following as required:
    • Overseeing the management of financial, human and physical resources
    • Internal audit processes
    • The development of senior post holder pay policy and framework for the pay and conditions of service and all other staff
    • The recruitment of new governors
    • Contributing to the regular monitoring of the financial health of the University
  4. To comply with the Instrument and Articles of Government, the Standing Orders and Code of Conduct and any other related governance policies and procedures.
  5. To participate fully in the life of the University community by attending where possible ceremonial and public events and taking an active interest in the work of the University community.
  6. To get to know the University through meeting relevant staff, reading relevant papers and participating fully at Board and Committee meetings.
  7. To promote the University in the wider community. Governors are free at all times to speak and act in what they believe to be the best interests of the University. However governors are not mandated by any group to express views that are not held by them personally. Therefore governors can make a valuable contribution in terms of skills and expertise but cannot lobby on behalf of any group.
  8. To contribute to the University’s business in an effective, efficient, open and transparent manner.
  9. To observe the seven Principles of Public Life as set out in the first and second reports of the Committee of Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee).
  10. To undertake such training and induction as required to carry out the role of a member of the Board.

Person specification

Members should:

  1. have made a significant contribution to their field of endeavour and from their experience and qualifications bring real insight to the proceedings of the Board, have held positions at senior level in their workplace and/or in a voluntary organisation, have expertise in a field which is of relevance to the oversight of the affairs of the University.
  2. Understand the distinction between governance and management, be visionary for the future plans of the University and be able to establish quickly an effective course of action for achieving goals that can be monitored by realistic performance targets, be able to absorb complex information and rationalise appropriately and also think laterally and arrive at a pragmatic solution.
  3. Demonstrate an interest in and commitment to higher education and to public service, be able to develop a broad-based view of issues and events and perceive their long-term impact. Reflect the wider community, bearing in mind the need to ensure an appropriate balance between the genders and those from the ethnic minorities.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to exercise their responsibilities with independence and discretion, be able to attend, on average, one meeting a month at the university, work as part of a team: the Board of Governors exercises its responsibilities in a corporate manner, with all of the members acting as a body, demonstrate behaviour and skills that motivate others to achieve, inspire confidence in others to achieve objectives and respect the views of others.
  5. Demonstrate a full understanding and appreciation of the principles of governance, including collective responsibility, discharge of fiduciary duties and the seven principles of public life.

All nominations are considered by the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board and shortlisted nominees will be invited to attend for interview.

Further information is available from:

Teresa Kelly
Clerk to the Board of Governors at Middlesex University
Hendon campus
The Burroughs
London NW4 4BT

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8411 6018;
email: t.kelly@mdx.ac.uk

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