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We are seeking a nominee from the higher education (HE) sector to represent the four UK HE funding bodies on the Board of Directors of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

The appointment is for an initial term of up to three years.

The deadline for applications is noon on Monday 14 September 2015.

To apply, please prepare a statement of no longer than one side of A4 which sets out how you meet the criteria outlined below, and provide any other information that you consider relevant.

The statement should be emailed with the subject ‘HEA Board application’ to HEABoard@hefce.ac.uk, or posted to HEFCE, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QD to be received by noon on Monday 14 September.

About the Board

The HEA Board of Directors has corporate responsibility for the strategic direction of the Academy and for the way in which it manages its business. It is currently chaired by Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Canterbury Christ Church University.

The HEA Board has oversight of business planning and is responsible for monitoring performance against agreed targets. It has overall responsibility for the conduct of the Academy’s finances.

The HEA Board comprises 14 directors and trustees: senior strategic managers drawn from across and beyond HE. Appointments are made by UUK and GuildHE; the funding bodies; and in consultation with the National Union of Students. The HEA Board also appoints six members with the relevant skills, expertise and professional experience to support its success. See the current membership list.

In line with HEFCE’s right set out in the Academy’s Articles of Association, working with other funding bodies, two members are appointed by the UK funding bodies in higher education. The current vacancy is for one of these two appointees. HEFCE is leading on this joint appointment on behalf of the four UK funding bodies: HEFCE, the Scottish Funding Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Department for Employment and Learning (in Northern Ireland).

The HEA Board’s work is currently supported by four standing committees:

• finance
• remuneration
• governance and nominations
• audit committee.

Responsibilities of the nominee

HEA Board directors have legal responsibilities as company directors and charitable trustees to the HEA, not to the funding bodies.

All Board directors are appointed for a three-year term of office, with the possibility of re-appointment.

The HEA Board generally meets four times a year in London. Meetings in 2015-16 have been arranged as follows:

• 18 November 2015, 1000
• 3-4 February 2016, to be confirmed
• 13 April 2016, 1000
• 6 July 2016, 1000

The HEA encourages its Board members to join at least one of its standing committees, which meet up to four times a year. It is estimated that membership of the HEA Board and one of its committees will require a time commitment equivalent to approximately one day per month, plus travelling time. There is no remuneration but expenses will be paid.

Criteria

The nominee will have significant and senior experience in financial and organisational management and have a sound understanding of charity law and corporate governance.

Ideally, you will have experienced and overseen changes to corporate status as a result of changes to business operating models, whilst engaging with a complex and diverse set of stakeholders.

You will have a broad understanding of the challenges and associated needs of higher education institutions in inspiring teaching and transforming learning to providing the best possible learning experience for all students.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to support and challenge the Academy in its work.

You will be able to establish good working relationships with other HEA Board members, with Academy staff and with representatives of stakeholder organisations including the UK higher education funding bodies, Universities UK and GuildHE.

Appointment process

To apply to be considered for the post, please prepare a statement of no longer than one side of A4 which sets out how you meet the criteria outlined above, and provide any other information that you consider relevant.

The statement should be emailed with the subject: ‘HEA Board application’ toHEABoard@hefce.ac.uk, or posted to HEFCE, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QD to be received by noon on Monday 14 September.

Further information

Any questions should be directed to Charlie Leyland, Higher Education Policy Adviser (C.Leyland@hefce.ac.uk, 0117 931 7479).

Following short-listing, the nominee will be chosen by a panel composed of officers of the UK funding bodies. The appointment will be confirmed by 5 November 2015. We will endeavour to keep you updated about the progress of your application, but if you have not received further detail about the appointment at that time, then please assume that it has not been successful in this instance.