Job Description and Person Specification

Main purpose of the role

1. The Board of Trustees is responsible for oversight of the administration and management of the Council, which is led by the CEO who is accountable to the Board. This includes setting and monitoring the implementation of the Council's strategy, and ensuring its financial sustainability and its compliance with legal requirements.

2. Trustees must always act in the best interests of the Council and take decisions collectively that they believe will best advance the Council's charitable purposes.

3. The Board of Trustees will play an important role in agreeing the next phase of the Council’s strategy, overseeing the continued growth of the Council and ensuring its financial sustainability.

Role and support in organisation

4. Accountable to: The chair of the board of trustees, other trustees and the membership as a whole.

5. Liaises with: Other trustees, the chair of trustees, the Council's senior staff team, committees and standing groups, members and wider stakeholders as required.

6. Works within a team of: The board of trustees of the Council.

7. Remuneration: The role is voluntary (expenses paid in line with the Council’s expenses policy.

Key responsibilities

8. As part of their shared responsibility trustees are required to:

• Contribute to the overall strategic direction of the Council, including assurance that the Council's strategy is being delivered and overseeing the development and implementation of an annual corporate plan to deliver that strategy.

• Ensure the Council complies with its governing document (its Articles of Association), company law, charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Be satisfied that the Council is acting in furtherance of its objects when making decisions and that those decisions are taken in the best interests of the Council.

• Oversee the Council’s financial management with the overall aim of achieving financial sustainability.

• Safeguard the organisation and advise on diversification of income to support the Council’s development.

• Engage as required with the Council's members, standing groups and other stakeholders, including groups from the four nations of the United Kingdom.

• Support and uphold principles of good governance including regular attendance at meetings during which valid contributions and constructive challenge are provided.

• Engage and contribute to any of the Council's committees of the Board and other groups and bodies as required.

• Work effectively and collaboratively with the Chair and other Board members in providing support and effective scrutiny to the Council's senior staff team.

General qualities and experience required of the Trustee

9. The trustees of the Council are expected to:

• Demonstrate a commitment to understanding the Council's business, the sector context and wider policy issues across the four nations of the UK;

• Act as an ambassador for the Council;

• Demonstrate excellent communication skills and an enabling, inclusive approach;

• Recognise the importance of good governance in a significant not for profit charitable entity;

• Think strategically and offer advice, guidance, support and constructive challenge to oversee the effective delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives;

• Have a track record of collaborative working in an organisation with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders;

• Ideally, have experience at senior management or board level in other organisations and preferably some experience of charity governance in the education/higher education sector.

The Board has recently undertaken a skills audit and at this point we are particularly seeking candidates with knowledge and understanding of charity law and regulation.

10. Evidence of these qualities and experience will be sought through either the application, formal interview or both. As well as demonstrating that candidates possess these qualities, the Board will take into consideration the overall skills mix on the Board and seeks to create a Board with a range of experience and perspectives, as well as a strong collaborative ethos.

Appointment and timescales

11. Nominations for the role will be assessed by the Council's Nominations and Remuneration Committee against this role description and the board skills matrix adopted.

12. The recommended candidate(s) for the trustee roles then follow the relevant appointment process. In the case of independent (appointed) trustees they will presented to the Board and the successful candidates will be appointed by the Board to take up office from 1 August 2025.

13. Trustees will be appointed for an initial three-year term and may be re-appointed or re-elected (as applicable) at the end of that term, subject to a maximum term in office of not more than nine consecutive years.

14. A trustee may be removed from office prior to the end of his or her term under the conditions set out in the Council's Articles of Association.

Statement on diversity

15. We are looking for people who can act as advocates for the Council of Deans of Health and who will be committed to our vision, mission and approach. Our approach to diversity supports everything else we are committed to do and we expect all our Board members to demonstrate a personal commitment to diversity. We are an equal opportunities employer.

16. We are looking to increase the diversity of our Board as we aspire to be more representative of our colleagues and the people we serve. We also know that people from different backgrounds bring perspectives and skills that create fresh ideas, thinking and approaches which make the way work is undertaken more effective and efficient.

17. All new Board members will be offered a full induction as part of the onboarding process.