About University of Staffordshire
The University of Staffordshire is the UK’s foremost digital university, with campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Lichfield and HereEast in East London. Circa 20,000 students study its programmes across the globe and, as an anchor institution, it acts as a ‘catalyst for change’, changing lives locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. The UK higher education sector is evolving rapidly. An increasingly competitive student recruitment market, domestically and internationally, combined with changing student demographics, government policy and post-pandemic reverberations, makes higher education a challenging environment. The University of Staffordshire must now re-establish and re-assert itself in this changing environment, building on its track record of innovation, to ensure it delivers its mission and plays an important role in people’s futures. In recent years, the University launched its new £40m Catalyst building, opened its net zero carbon forest school and nursery, expanded the University of Staffordshire: London, and this September opens its new Student Village on the main university campus in Stoke on Trent.
The University of Staffordshire has a strong commitment to social inclusion, set out through its Access and Participation Plan, with a clear focus on widening access and improving outcomes for under-represented student groups. The University positions itself as a “catalyst for change”, driving social mobility and inclusion for its students and the communities it serves. This commitment has also been recognised in external guides, including now being ranked 2nd in England and Wales for Social Inclusion, rising from 4th place last year and is also placed 5th for the proportion of students from low participation neighbourhoods (Sunday Times / The Times Good University Guide 2026). For the third consecutive year, it was ranked 5th for first generation student participation in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026. In addition, the University is ranked 3rd in the UK for Career Prospects in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2025, based entirely on student feedback.
The University has been working on the delivery of the Towards 2030 Strategy, which was launched in 2022. This strategic plan, will shortly begin to be recast, taking account of the external market changes, and reflecting our next chapter. Operating in a context of hyper-competitive market dynamics and tariff pressures across the sector, the University has a solid financial footing, underpinned by strong financial management and a track record of prudent stewardship. The University continues to operate in surplus despite challenges to its student recruitment position. This next phase is about stabilising and growing income while continuing to generate a surplus, accelerating diversification and partnerships, together with building on the growth of its technical and vocational offering via apprenticeships. It is also aligning an ambitious estate masterplan with the core needs of the University community and its Strategic Plan. Now is an incredibly exciting time to be joining an innovative institution during its next phase of growth and transformation.
Role specification
The Chair of the Board of Governors:
Ensures the Board monitors the University’s strategic direction, delivery of the Strategic Plan, and performance against agreed objectives
Maintains a supportive yet challenging working relationship with the Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, including defining performance objectives and conducting annual reviews
Represents the University externally, including participation in ceremonial duties, events, and membership of the Committee of University Chairs
Provides leadership to the Board of Governors, ensuring meetings are conducted efficiently, effectively, and in accordance with legislation
Leads the Board in stewardship of the University, safeguarding its academic and financial sustainability
Ensures proper use of resources, financial controls, and asset protection
Promotes collective responsibility among governors, building consensus and encouraging effective contribution of skills and expertise
Oversees recruitment, induction, and ongoing training of governors, ensuring succession planning and attention to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Ensures the Board upholds high standards of behaviour in public life, including selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, and honesty
To find the full role description, please see here.
Person specification
The University of Staffordshire is seeking an inspirational Chair to lead its Board of Governors. The Chair will bring strong leadership, excellent communication, and relationship-building skills, serving as a trusted ambassador for the University with a wide range of stakeholders and partners. They will be innovative and commercial, with the credibility and diplomacy to lead the Board and manage relationships with senior executives.
The ideal candidate will have an impressive senior leadership track record and will ideally bring a blend of experience across the private and public or non-profit sectors. Candidates will have strong financial and business acumen and will have experience of leading organisations through periods of growth and transformation in similarly large and complex organisations (or larger). They will be commercially astute, with a strong grasp of business drivers, company structures, innovation and diversifying income generation.
Experience of operating in highly regulated environments is advantageous. An understanding of the higher education sector is desirable, ideally gained from non-executive board experience, though candidates with a passion for social inclusion, education and making a difference are also welcome to apply. Previous Chair experience is essential, and candidates must bring substantial board-level experience. A connection to the University is not necessary as long as candidates are passionate about what the University of Staffordshire stands for.
A strong personal commitment to the Nolan Principles of public service is expected.
Board composition
You can find out more about the current Governors and their profiles here: https://www.staffs.ac.uk/about/governance/board-of-governors
Location
Whilst a local connection would be welcome, candidates will be UK-based and will be able to attend the meetings and events in Staffordshire.
Diversity
University of Staffordshire welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. 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. It is important that we have a Board of Governors that is representative of the communities we serve.
Terms of appointment
The role of the Chair of the Board is a remunerated position, to recognise the role and responsibilities of the position. The role is remunerated at £25,000 per annum, based on a notional 30 days work per annum. The Chair is encouraged to reclaim all travelling and similar expenses incurred in the course of University business, via the Clerk to the Board of Governors. The University offers support for the Chair in a number of ways: through the provision of administrative support, IT equipment and the opportunity to attend training events organised by AdvanceHE, the Committee of University Chairs (CUC) and other providers. The role is for a three-year term, which can be reviewed once, for a maximum of six years.
For full details on the time commitment, please see here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PfURLsV06B86HxvtnDchFsX5gd1W5zR3/edit
To apply for this position, please contact:
Brigitte Stundner
University of Staffordshire is partnering with Nurole the leading board-level search platform on this appointment. If you’d like to view the full spec click here: https://app.nurole.com/roles/697b6f0785104cdd44ae58b7.
If you’d like to informally find out more about the role please contact Brigitte Stundner: brigitte.stundner@nurole.com
