Summary
Job Description
The University of Law Students’ Union (ULaw SU) is looking for three people to join our Governing Board, and help see us through a period of significant development over the next three to six years. We are looking for one Chair and two other External Governors.
Currently, ULaw SU is a department of the university and is not registered as an independent organisation. In November 2022 we will be holding a vote with our Student Parliament members and the wider student body which asks whether we should be an independent body and register with the Charity Commission. In the event that this vote passes, we will be aiming to register with the Charity Commission and transfer to being a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) by September 2023. In this situation, all of our current Governors would become Founding Trustees.
To complement the skills of our existing Board, we would ideally like to attract Governors with knowledge / experience, or both, of one or more of the following:
• Business Development / Strategy
• Human Resources / HR Management
• Financial management, income generation and enterprise
• Charity governance
• Digital and communications strategy
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Time Commitment
We run all of our business virtually, which means that in ordinary circumstances we won’t require you to do any travelling to participate in Board activities. Meetings take place via either MS Teams or Zoom, so all you need is a stable internet connection.
• 1x training / induction day per year (9am – 5pm)
• 4x Board meetings per year (usually 2.5hrs each plus preparation)
• Up to 2 sub-committee meetings per year
Person Specification
Applicants should have:
• A demonstrable interest and commitment to ULaw SU’s democratic structures, values, mission and aims
• An understanding of the wider Students’ Union sector (preferable)
• A willingness to devote the time and effort required to fulfil the requirements of the role
• The ability to think strategically and creatively
• The ability to exercise sound and independent judgement
• A willingness to make positive contributions to discussions and decision-making
• An understanding of the 1994 Education Act and our related responsibilities
• An active commitment to the value of diversity and to the removal of barriers to equality
• The ability to understand the need for and to maintain confidentiality
• A willingness to make and stand by collective decisions, including those which may be unpopular, where these are in the best interests of the Students’ Union
• The ability to manage challenging situations and handle competing priorities
• A willingness to potentially become a Founding Trustee of a CIO, if the student body vote to have an independent Students’ Union
Responsibilities
In addition to the above, all governors of the Students’ Union must:
• Undertake induction training and other appropriate training relevant to the role
• Attend all meetings of the Board, or submit questions and comments if attendance is occasionally not possible
• Prepare adequately for all meetings by reading the relevant paperwork and having completed any required actions
• Participate in meetings as fully as possible by listening, debating and seeking to make decisions as appropriate
• Familiarise themselves with the Students’ Union’s governing document, policies and procedures and how the organisation operates
• Support the Students’ Union Manager with strategic direction, internal budgets, management goals and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• Safeguard the good name, culture and ethos of the Students’ Union
• Ensure that appropriate and comprehensive policies are in place to govern the Students’ Union activities and to protect the organisation and its staff