About University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a leading research-intensive University, a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group, and one of the top 100 universities worldwide. With campuses in Southampton and Winchester as well as third campus in Malaysia, the University of Southampton provides world-class teaching and research activities which are delivered across five faculties, each of which hosts several subject-specific schools and departments, the University has 26,000 students, including a community of over 10,000 international students from 130 different countries.
A top 20 University in the UK and top 100 internationally according to the QS World University Rankings 2024, the University of Southampton has an excellent reputation which is based on a range of criteria, including entry standards, student satisfaction, staff and student ratio, expenditure on facilities and resources, research quality, and reputation among employers and academics from other institutions. In 2021, the University of Southampton launched it’s strategy to prepare them for the future, with the aim of Southampton being positioned as a top 10 UK university and towards a top 50 internationally recognised university by 2027–28. With a Triple Helix approach, where research and knowledge exchange and enterprise (KEE) are intertwined even further by strengthening and increasing these links to achieve a greater impact and accelerate new ways to tackle the world’s most complex problems.
Despite operating in a challenging environment, Southampton is in a good financial health and there’s a real sense of momentum in its ambitious strategy. In addition, the University also has a growth strategy to help maintain its financial health and achieve its wider objectives. This will include growing student numbers in the UK and internationally from 26,000 to 33,000, expanding its footprint in the city, increasing its international campuses beyond Malaysia and developing its online learning offering. The University is also embarking on a capital project with a billion pound investment to further develop its physical and digital estate over the next ten years. This will include new cutting edge research facilities such as the Institute of Medical Innovation and will also increase its facilities and residences for students, all in line with its sustainability agenda.
Board Specification:
To find out more about the Council Members, please see here: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/governance/structure/people/the-university-council
Role specification
The University Council is the governing body that contributes to the development of the University and plays an important part in shaping, determining and championing the University’s strategy and acts as a advocate for every member of staff and student community. The Council has responsibility for the administration of the University, for managing its resources, and for supporting and guiding the senior management in the delivery of the strategy and achieving its bold ambitions.
As a Lay Member, you will contribute to the Council helping to ensure the University’s senior management team are working effectively and in collaboration, you will be collectively responsible for overviewing the performance of the University and providing challenge, support and advice while respecting executive responsibility.
You will act as an ambassador for the University and represent it externally, you will contribute to its success as a member of various committees, which play key roles in the detailed governance and oversight of the University, such as Pension, Finance, Estates, and Infrastructure, and Remuneration Committee.
There are currently six Sub-Committees of Council:
Nominations and Governance Committee
Pensions Committee
Remuneration Committee
Audit and Risk Committee
Finance Committee
Estates and Infrastructure Committee
As required by the Office for Students, all Council Members shall meet the “fit and proper person” test for members of the governing body of a registered provider of higher education.
Council Member (Finance)
The University of Southampton is looking for a new Council Member with a senior finance background to bring scrutiny and advice to the executive team and wider Council and its Committees. They could have operated as a Finance Director or CFO, for example, and will ideally have worked in a similarly large and complex organisation. For the right individual, there could be an opportunity to become Treasurer in a year.
Council Member (Property / Estates)
Due to rotation on the Board and with the new estates masterplan that will happen over the next ten years, the University of Southampton is looking for a new Council Member with a property / estates background. The new Council Member will bring senior leadership experience in property / estates, surveying, architecture and / or property development, having been involved in large building projects of a similar scale and complexity.
Council Member (Civic Experience)
The University of Southampton is looking for a new Council Member with strong civic experience to help build stronger ties, connections and relations with the local community and its residents. Experience could for example come from senior leadership roles in city regeneration, health, housing or the third sector but anyone who has experience of positively influencing their community at a senior level is welcome to apply.
Diversity
The University of Southampton 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 these 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
There are six Council meetings per year – four in-person and two online. The in-person meetings typically include an overnight stay the day before. These involve a dinner and can also include guest speakers, committee meetings, a tour of the University and other events. There are four Sub-Committee meetings and these tend to be held either during the Council meeting dates or virtually throughout the year. Though the role is unremunerated, the University will pay for accommodation, domestic travel costs and any other expenses incurred to attend Board meetings, such as childcare costs. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Council.
Location:
This University is based in Southampton and as Council meetings will take place in person, candidates will be UK-based.
To apply for this position, please contact:
Brigitte Stundner
University of Southampton is partnering with Nurole the leading board-level search platform on this appointment. If you’d like to view the full spec and apply please see links below.
If you’d like to informally find out more about the role please contact Brigitte Stundner: brigitte.stundner@nurole.com
Council Member (Finance):
https://app.nurole.com/roles/65cfa02dcfd2263f5cc20916
Council Member (Property & Estates):
https://app.nurole.com/roles/65d613535d5827001990e70b
Council Member (Civic Experience):
https://app.nurole.com/roles/65d71c70feb5f30017960bdf
