Independent Governors (Trustees)

Introduction
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is going through a period of exciting change. The new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joanna Price, has shaped a new strategy for the RAU, and has built a new executive team to help develop and deliver a plan to improve and expand the University and guarantee its future.
The Governing Council, led by the recently appointed chairman the Right Honourable Michael Jack, is key to this process and will have a major influence on the progress of this distinctive, small, specialist University which has a unique opportunity to build upon its strengths and adapt its traditional position in the land-based sector.
"Governors (Trustees) have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, RAU's management and administration, in terms of it being both a limited company and a charity. They play a very important role, almost always unpaid, in a sector that contributes significantly to the character and wellbeing of the country.
Governors are not remunerated but are able to reclaim reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in the course of the University's business.
Trusteeship can be rewarding for many reasons - from a sense of making a difference to the charitable cause, to new experiences and relationships. But it is also likely to be demanding of your time, skills, knowledge and abilities. Being aware of the duties and responsibilities covered in this guidance will help you carry out your role in a way that not only serves your charity well but also gives you confidence that you will be complying with key requirements of the law.
The Role
The University has vacancies for three Independent Governors (Trustees) due to existing governors coming to an end of their term in office. The University is ideally looking for new independent governors who have skills and experience in higher or further education, digital marketing or finance. With regard to the latter, we are looking for someone to Chair our Finance & Estates Committee as part of their Governor role who ideally will be a qualified accountant. Knowledge of the agri-food/environment or land management sector would be a great advantage as would be a strong personal commitment to higher education, rural enterprise/ rural company and empathy with the values, aims and objectives of the RAU.
The Role Purpose
The key purpose of an Independent Governor role is three-fold:
• To assist the Governing Council and the Vice-Chancellor in setting a clear vision, mission and strategy for the University and to uphold its brand and values.
• To assist the Governing Council in monitoring the implementation of the University's new five year strategic plan and its KPIs by the Vice-Chancellor and the Senior Executive team.
• To accomplish this, an Independent Governor will need to build strong and effective working relationships with fellow governors, as well as developing and maintaining an excellent relationship with the Vice-Chancellor, the executive team and University staff and students.
• The role of Independent Governor is voluntary and although unpaid with it comes the satisfaction of having made a difference to the lives of students, staff and other stakeholders in the University.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The key areas of responsibility for an Independent Governor are summarised below:
1. To ensure the University complies with its governing document, the requirements of the Office for Students, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
2. To ensure that the University pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
3. To ensure that the University applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects (i.e., the University must not spend money on activities which are not included in its objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are).
4. To contribute actively to the Governing Council in developing its strategic direction to the University, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance of the ViceChancellor and her team against agreed targets.
5. To safeguard the good name, reputation and values of the University.
6. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the University.
7. To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
8. To protect and manage the property of the University and to ensure the proper investment of the University's funds.
9. To appoint the Vice-Chancellor and monitor their performance.
10. In addition to the above statutory duties, each Independent Governor should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Governing Council reach sound decisions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which an Independent Governor has special expertise.
What skills/attributes should an Independent Governor have?
Candidates for an Independent Governor should be able to demonstrate a selection of the skills/attributes set out below:
• commitment to the University and its vision, mission and values
• a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• understanding of the external context in which the University is operating
• independent judgement
• an ability to think creatively and strategically
• a willingness to speak their mind
• understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• understanding of Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
Not sure you tick all the boxes?
No-one will be equally strong in all these areas so our desire is to encourage an early conversation, if desired, prior to application. We are committed to providing good training and development support to the right person, and it may be that we will work with you to prepare you for some of the particular responsibilities of the role. Expected time commitment is approximately 12 days a year.
RAU
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is going through a period of exciting and dynamic change. At the forefront of agricultural education since our foundation as the Royal Agricultural College in 1845, the University now has some 1,200 undergraduate students from over 45 different countries studying at our historic campus, set in 25 acres of magnificent grounds in the heart of the Cotswolds. A full University since 2013, the RAU is an acknowledged leader in education and applied research relevant to the land-based industries.
Our recently appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joanna Price, is leading a process of strategic repositioning for the RAU.
The RAU offers undergraduate, masters and doctoral programmes with a focus on combining academic rigor with practical application across a range of academic disciplines. Courses are managed and taught by experienced staff and specialist consultants, many of whom are still engaged in professional practice.
Students can choose from more than 30 different degrees, at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Wellestablished undergraduate degrees include Rural Land Management, Real Estate, Agriculture, Food Production and Supply Management, Business and Enterprise, Environment, and International Equine and Agricultural Business Management. In some subjects, there is also the opportunity for students to progress from Foundation to BSc Honours degrees. At postgraduate level the RAU offers a range of taught MSc programmes.
The University offers a stimulating learning environment designed to address the changing needs of the employment market by combining high academic standards with practically applied research, enhanced by strong industry links. As a result, the RAU produces leaders and innovators across the food and land- based industries.
A Brief History
The University, known as the Royal Agricultural College (RAC) until 2013, was established in 1845 with Earl Bathurst as President. Funds were raised by public subscription with much of the support coming from the wealthy landowners and farmers of the day. Earl Bathurst leased a site to build the College, and construction in the Victorian Gothic style began in April 1845. Queen Victoria granted the Royal Charter to the College in the same year, and Sovereigns have been Patrons ever since, visiting the University in every reign. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales became President in 1982. The University motto is 'Arvorum Cultus Pecorumque'; a quotation from Virgil's Georgics meaning 'Caring for the Fields and the Beasts' and this is a major part of the University's core values today.
From its early days, the College was staffed with innovators and pioneers, and made a considerable impact on farming practice and agricultural science. The first modern degree programme, started in 1984, was a BSc (Hons) degree in Rural Land Management. The RAC had been independent of government control from its foundation until 2001, when it first received funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), allowing it to widen access to its courses to students of all backgrounds. In 2013, the Privy Council awarded the College full University Status, in recognition of its provision as a higher education institution.
The quality and success of the University is illustrated by the following:
• Silver TEF Award
• Guardian University Awards Runner up in the Entrepreneurship Category
• Finalist NACUE Student Entrepreneur of the Year (NACUE = National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs)..... click apply for full job details