The University of Birmingham is looking for two new external Members to join its Council. They will contribute their skills and experience to the work of the Council and will have sound judgement, an ability to challenge constructively on a range of topics and to influence with tact. The new Council members will have successfully operated in a senior leadership role in a large and complex company, charity or public sector organisation.
About University of Birmingham
Ranked in the top 100 universities globally, the University of Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group, and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities. It ranks highly among employers seeking to recruit graduates and is a diverse community, with staff and students from Birmingham and the West Midlands, across the UK and around the world.
The University’s thriving student population enjoys a wide range of courses, and exceptional campus and research facilities. It works with industry, business, universities, and governments worldwide to develop innovative research solutions to address key global challenges and improve areas as broad as rail engineering, maternal health, inter-faith studies, air and water pollution, and social inequality. The 10 Nobel Laureates among its staff and alumni have contributed to some of science’s greatest discoveries, including in recent times the Higgs Boson and Gravitational Waves.
Through its Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework, the University has set an aspiration to become a top 50 global institution. This is a genuinely challenging aim, which will require a vibrant, intellectually exciting, and diverse University community for research and education, as well as working closely with its partners in Birmingham and around the world. Birmingham 2030 also strengthens the University’s commitment to sustainability as one of the core pillars of its activity. With this ambitious strategy, now is a truly exciting time to join the Council and help shape the future of the University of Birmingham.
See links:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/our-strategy
https://russellgroup.ac.uk/
https://universitas21.com/
Role specification
The Council is the University’s governing body and has ultimate responsibility for the University and the conduct of its business. Council sets the mission and strategic vision of the University and monitors and evaluates institutional performance against the University’s strategy as well as long-term academic and business plans. It oversees the University’s human resources, estate and finances, including annual budgets and accounts, and scrutiny of proposals for major investments by the University. Council also has an important role in the assurance of academic quality, standards and the student experience and the University’s legal and statutory compliance.
The Council has 24 members, two-thirds of whom are external and independent ‘lay’ members (neither employees nor students of the University). The remainder are academic staff and students. The Chair of the Council, the Pro-Chancellor, is elected from amongst the lay members. Mervyn Walker is the current Pro-Chancellor.
Person specification
The University of Birmingham is looking for two new external Members to join its Council. They will contribute their skills and experience to the work of the Council and will have sound judgement, an ability to challenge constructively on a range of topics and to influence with tact.
The new Council members will have successfully operated in a senior leadership role in a large and complex company, charity or public sector organisation. It is expected that one of the successful individuals will bring non-executive experience in a similar sized organisation. Individuals will ideally have a connection to the city, the West Midlands region or the University but more importantly, they will have the time to commit to the role.
Above all, the new Council members will have a strong commitment to higher education and to the objectives of the University of Birmingham. They will bring enthusiasm for the University’s vision and values and will be willing to engage with the University’s stakeholders, including its students and staff.
Board Composition
To find out more about the current Council Members, please visit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/leadership/governance/council
Diversity
The University of Birmingham 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
Council meets five times per year in person (currently October, November, February, April, and June). Two of these meetings are full strategy days (with dinner the evening before) and the remainder consist of an evening presentation and dinner followed by a Council meeting of approximately three hours the following morning. Members are also expected to be willing to serve on one Committee of Council, which also meet in person (normally once per term) but with the option of joining these meetings via Zoom / Teams if necessary. Dates are set over a year in advance. The role is for a four-year term which may be extended, with the agreement of the Council, normally for one further period of four years, on the basis of performance in office. Membership of the University Council does not carry remuneration, but reasonable travelling and other associated expenses are paid.
To apply for this position, please contact:
Brigitte Stundner
The University of Birmingham 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/6601b7699ec4072722559b22.
If you’d like to informally find out more about the role please contact Brigitte Stundner: brigitte.stundner@nurole.com
