External Governor

The University of Portsmouth is a global employer of choice where exceptional people create, share and apply knowledge that makes a difference.

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Ambition, Responsibility and Openness drive our every endeavour. Join our esteemed institution with a proven track record of success, and where dedication to excellence is key. We want people to make their mark in a professional community that truly values people, innovation, and achievement.

The Role:

We are seeking a new Governor to join our Board.

The Board of Governors is responsible for setting the educational character, mission and strategic vision of the University. Governors work with the Vice Chancellor and Executive to ensure the University's success in a rapidly changing and competitive higher education environment. The Board is comprised of individuals who, together, can bring a world-view to the University to help it maximise its positive impact in the world and to perform optimally in its key mission around both Research, Innovation and Teaching and Learning.

Whilst it is not the role of the Board or any individual Governor to be involved in the operational management of the University, different ideas from different walks of life are often imparted through the Board, helping the Executive to reflect on optimal ways to implement the agreed strategy and to achieve strategic objectives.

The Board responsibility to monitor performance against core objectives or to oversee the effective and efficient use of resources is often best discharged when Governors with insights from other sectors and industries make constructive and informed challenge.

To be properly constructive, it is important for any challenge to be grounded in the Higher Education context, and so it is also the responsibility of a Governor to understand and have empathy with the environment within which the University operates. Not all Governors will have that background already, but the best contributions to university governance usually come from governors who have taken the time to understand the sector. The University of Portsmouth will assist any Governor who is new to the sector and requires some additional support.

We encourage our Governors to take an active part in the life of the University, and to be present on campus. The Corporate Governance team provide Governors with a monthly bulletin of news and policy views from the sector, including a round-up of University of Portsmouth in the News, as well as news from inside the institution. The team also maintains a web page, listing upcoming events at the University which Governors might like to attend. The Governance team will support any Governor wishing to find out more about the institution or the sector on an individual basis.

Time Commitment

There are five Board meetings per year, and one strategy away day. Meetings are currently from 11:30 to 16:30. Board packs are sent a week in advance of the meeting. Governor feedback is that the time commitment is generally around one day's preparation and a day for the Board meeting itself.

Governors are expected to join at least one standing committee of the Board.

Committee meetings are scheduled for two to two-and-a-half hours duration, and occur between four and six times a year depending on the thematic committee. Governors have fed back that the overall time commitment between preparation and the meeting itself is around one day.

Most meetings are in-person in Portsmouth.

The University would very much welcome its Governors spending as much time as possible on campus at events and occasions throughout the year, and we are developing a calendar of such events for Governors.

To Apply

Applications, which will be acknowledged, should be submitted by Friday 31st January 2025.

Applications should include:

• A one-page supporting statement explaining why the appointment interests you and the specific skills, attributes and experience that you would bring to the role.

• A concise Curriculum vitae (CV) giving details of relevant achievements in your recent roles.

For further information, view the attached candidate pack or contact Paul Mould (Executive Director of Corporate Governance) -

ED&I Statement:

We are strongly dedicated to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within our community. As an Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charter award holder, a member of Stonewall and a Disability Confident Employer we are passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, regardless of your background. We welcome applications from all talented people. In addition, we want our workforce to be representative of our diverse student population. Please see our EDI Framework and objectives .