Jisc Trustee

Jisc is seeking a principal of a UK further education college to join our board of trustees.

You can make a real difference to the sector as a trustee of the largest sector agency, leading the conversation on digital transformation and our role as the sector data body.

We will be looking for additional expertise and skills gained as a college principal to drive our strategy forward to enable digital transformation by delivering the right solutions, empowering communities and driving change as a force for good.

If after reading about the role you have any queries you can contact governance@jisc.ac.uk.  You can also view our Board of Trustees here

Jisc is the UK tertiary education, research and innovation not-for-profit organisation for data, digital services and solutions. Our vision is for the UK to be a world leader in technology for education, research, and innovation.   We launched our three-year strategy in 2022 which builds on our core strengths and leverages the collective power of the sectors to allow us to maximise our impact.  Our strategy encompasses delivering the right solutions to enable digital transformation, empowering communities and driving change as a force for good. 

Role of the Jisc board

The board determines Jisc’s strategic direction and priorities to reflect the present and future needs of the education and research communities and to ensure that Jisc is a sustainable and financially viable operation into the future.  The role of the board is strategic and ambassadorial with the day to day running of the organisation delegated to the Chief executive and Executive leadership team.

Key duties of the board

The Jisc board:

• approves the strategic aims for Jisc and its values and standards, ensuring that financial and human resources are in place to meet these aims
• reviews management performance, to ensure that Jisc's obligations to its owners and funders are understood and met
• oversees the integrity of the company's accounting and financial reporting systems and external audit process, approving the annual financial statement based on advice from the Audit and Risk Management committee

Responsibilities and duties of Jisc trustees

As non-executive directors of Jisc, trustees have a fiduciary duty to Jisc and are responsible for making decisions that are in the best interests of the organisation.  The Companies Act 2006 describes the duties of directors to:

• Act within powers
• Promote the success of the company
• Exercise independent judgement
• Exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence
• Avoid conflicts of interest
• Declare any interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement.

Person specification

We are looking for a new trustee from the further education sector anywhere in the UK, who holds the role of college principal.   The appointment term for trustees is an initial term of 3 years unless terminated earlier by either party. Trustees are eligible for re-appointment at the end of the initial term of office for one further period of 3 years, at the discretion of the board based on a satisfactory performance review.

The Jisc board meets 4 times per annum for business meetings and once annually for an overnight strategy-focussed event. Trustees are also expected to participate in one of the key stakeholder engagement activities (at least once a year) and other Jisc events as necessary to fully discharge the role of trustee.

Jisc has a number of guiding principles which are active across the company, including ‘Always Inclusive’ acknowledging that we are a culture made up of diverse minds, identities and backgrounds, choosing to be actively inclusive and anti-racist. 

We know that diversity in experience, approach and personality is critical both to Jisc’s success and to the success of our members. A governance structure with individuals of different gender identity, ethnicity, age, disability status or other identity, plus intersectional differences, adds immense value to the organisation. Our board and committee diversity policy outlines our commitment to have a board of trustees that reflects our diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who will add to a diverse board.

Knowledge and experience    

• Clear understanding of the importance of technology in education and research 

• Experience of absorbing complex information, participating in constructive debate and demonstrating sound judgement   

• Experience of developing and evaluating strategic options at board level  

• Clear understanding and acknowledgment of the legal duties and responsibilities of the role of a trustee.  

Skills and abilities  

• The ability to apply high level governance skills and adherence to the principles of good governance, including collective responsibility, discharge of fiduciary duties and the seven principles of public life (the Nolan principles)  

• Strong influencing abilities   

• Highly effective interpersonal and networking skills.   

• Demonstrable independence of mind and decisiveness  

• Strategic leadership  

Personal style and behaviour  

• Independent and strategic thinker  

• Fair and impartial and able to act in the interest of Jisc 

• Strong team player  

• Committed to Jisc and willing to uphold its values  

• Respectful of the confidential nature of board discussions 

Equality, diversity and inclusion:

At Jisc, we strive to be best in practice and are working hard to achieve progressive change. ‘Always inclusive’ is one of our six guiding principles - a principle which actively encourages acceptance of differences within individuals. We know that diversity in experience, approach and personality is critical both to Jisc’s success and to the success of our members.  A governance structure with individuals of different gender identity, ethnicity, age, disability status or other identity, plus intersectional differences, adds immense value to the organisation.

Our aim is to have a board of trustees that reflects our commitment as a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation and therefore we particularly welcome applications from candidates who will add to a diverse board. 

How we use your personal information  

When you apply for a position with Jisc we need to collect and process some of your personal information. We’ll use it, as described in our recruitment privacy notice and overarching Jisc privacy notice. 

When you apply for a Trustee role, we will ask you for sensitive personal information such as ethnicity, age, disability status, religion, gender, and sexual orientation ‘Diversity Information’.   

This information is collected in  line with our board and committee diversity policy which sets out how we at Jisc avoid discriminating against people and how we create a safe and inclusive atmosphere.   

Our lawful basis for processing this Diversity Information is your explicit consent and answering the questions is completely voluntary.  You can choose not to provide this information when you make your application by ticking the ‘prefer not to say’ option.   If you change your mind and wish to withdraw your consent for us to process this Diversity Information you can contact us at any time. 

Once we receive your application, we will separate the application data and Diversity Information to be used for reporting against the Trustee role, which will be stored separately in an anonymous format. Whilst we will make every effort to store Diversity Information anonymously, due to the small number of applicants there is a risk that the Diversity Information will enable you to be identified. 

We will only share information about the applicant pool to our nominations and governance committee. 

Application process:

Please do let us know what reasonable adjustments you need made to the application or selection process so you can do your best. We will be happy to help you.

Please apply by providing a max 2 page Personal statement on the skills, background and experience that make you a great fit for this opportunity.

Applications are welcome by 12 noon on 10^th January 2025