Position Description

Governors are members of the Board of Governors, which is ultimately responsible for all of the University’s activities, including its educational character and mission, senior management structure and financial solvency. As Leeds Trinity University is a registered charity, Board members also serve as Trustees.

Core responsibilities:

• Contribute to the collective leadership given by the Board of Governors and support the effective governance of the University
• Set and oversee the University’s strategic direction, ensuring that decisions align with its mission, values and long-term sustainability
• Safeguard the educational character and mission of the University
• Oversee financial sustainability, institutional performance and the effective stewardship of resources
• Ensure appropriate systems of governance, assurance and internal control are in place
• Provide oversight of risk, compliance and regulatory matters in a complex higher education environment
• Oversee the performance of the senior executive leadership and the effectiveness of the senior management structure
• Support high standards of conduct, accountability and decision-making across the institution
• Act in the best interests of the University and fulfil the duties of a charity trustee
• Contribute to Board and committee discussions with independence of judgement and a collegiate approach
• Promote equality, inclusion and a culture in which a wide range of perspectives is valued

Selection Criteria

Leeds Trinity University seeks Governors with senior leadership experience in one of the following areas: higher education or further education, highly regulated industries, commercial, finance, digital, media, or legal. Governors will bring sound judgement, strategic perspective, credibility in complex organisations and a strong commitment to inclusive, values-led governance.

Essential criteria

• Ability to contribute at Board level on institutional strategy, governance, organisational performance and financial sustainability
• Understanding of the complexity, accountability and regulatory environment of modern higher education
• Capacity to exercise independent judgement while working constructively as part of a collective governing body
• Personal credibility, integrity and discretion
• Willingness to uphold the mission and values of Leeds Trinity University

Desired criteria

• Experience of leading organisational change / transformation
• An understanding of, and affinity with, Catholic values is welcomed but not a requirement for three independent Governor roles. In addition to these roles there are several additional vacancies on the Board for Governors who are nominated by LTU’s founding partners; therefore, please mention if you are a practising Catholic.

Board composition

To find out more about the Board of Governors, please see here.

Location

Board meetings are expected to be attended in person in Leeds. Candidates should be willing to travel for Board and Committee meetings and for occasional wider engagement with the University. They will therefore be UK-based.

How to Apply

After we have closed the application window on the Nurole platform, our team of experts carefully assess your application against the criteria outlined in the role specification. We will select a group of the most suitable candidates to present to the organisation, who will then be able to view the full application. We will always get in touch to let you know the outcome of your application.

As the organisation will view the applications without edits, we therefore advise applicants to avoid using ‘see CV’ or ‘please call me to discuss further’ in your application as it may restrict your chances of progressing to the next round.

To read more about what to expect from the Nurole process, click here.

Take a look at Nurole guides on how to submit a strong application here.

Connected parties

This organisation has requested that candidates do not contact them directly. Instead, if you know someone at the organisation, please mention it in your Reason for Application. Nurole members who do not respect this may risk having their membership terminated.

Nurole is committed to fairness, inclusivity, and accessibility. If you require any reasonable adjustments or need support to access our website, application process, or interviews, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. You can contact us at [email protected] or by calling +44 (0)20 3637 1012.

Diversity

Leeds Trinity University welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As women and those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

Terms of appointment

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

There is c.6 Board meetings per year which are held in person (evenings). Governors are also expected to join one Committee, which typically meets six times per year. There is one to two strategy days per year, held in Leeds. Occasional attendance at university events is encouraged. The overall time commitment is c.12-15 days per year, with some months being busier than others. The role is for a three-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.