candidate brief for the position: university secretary

Candidate brief for the position:UNIVERSITY SECRETARYUniversity of London Vice-Chancellor’s Office

September 2021

2 | Role: University Secretary

Welcome to the

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

The University of London is a federation of 17 Member Institutions based in London. It offers a range of undergraduate

and postgraduate programmes to 240,000 students in the capital and around the world.

We were founded in 1836 to promote access to higher education. We pioneered distance learning in the days when railways and steamships were the pinnacle of transportation. We were the first University in the world to admit students regardless of their gender, race or religion.

In 1878 we were the first UK university to award degrees to women, and today we are the only UK University to be led by an all-female

leadership team. Improving access and equality of opportunity remains our mission to this day.

Our new 2020–2025 Strategy ‘Transforming Education…Creating Futures’ is an ambitious academic vision for a digital age. Through it we want to draw on the expertise of our Member Institutions, leverage our collective power as a federation and cement our position as an anchor institution in London, supporting the communities around us.

Our aim is to enrich our academic work in the pursuit of excellence in education, research and knowledge exchange through collaboration with our Member Institutions. We do this by developing academic programmes, networks and partnerships that further our federation’s goals across London, the UK and internationally.

Professor Wendy Thomson CBE Vice-Chancellor


51,681

392,000

1839

17

33,000

1868

2.8m

152

1969

(Worldwide, School of Advanced Study and University of London

Institute in Paris)

of building owned

When 29 students received the first University of

London degrees

The first women in the UK admitted to special

examinations at the University of London. In 1912 appointed the first female professor and in 1948 the first

female Vice-Chancellor

University of London Institute in Paris

incorporated into the University of London

form the University of London federation

(halls and private)since the University of London overseas

examinations in Mauritius

Students

square metres

Member Institutions

Students housed

Moodle VLE users

years

WHO WE AREThe University in numbers


WHAT WE DOThe University of London is home to the following:

University of London Worldwide

A collaboration among Member Institutions to provide distance and flexible learning to nearly 50,000 students in 190 countries. Former students include six Nobel Prize winners.

School of Advanced Study (SAS)

A nationally recognised resource and centre of excellence in the promotion and facilitation of research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It comprises eight internationally renowned research institutes and attracts large numbers of subject specialists globally. It has four nationally and internationally recognised specialist research libraries.

Senate House Library

With its unique research collections in the Arts and Humanities, it is considered by some to be the largest and best library in the world, attracting scholars from over 1,000 institutions worldwide.

University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP)

A small and specialised institution with a long-standing academic partnership with Queen Mary University of London, the Institute provides undergraduate programmes in French Studies and International Politics.


PEOPLE

Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr Pro Vice-Chancellor Strategy, Planning and Partnerships

Responsible for business intelligence, communications and marketing, development, regulatory compliance and delivery of the University’s strategy.

Professor Mary Stiasny OBE Pro Vice-Chancellor International Learning and Teaching

Provides strategic direction and leadership for the delivery of the University of London’s 100+ online, blended and flexible programmes.

Professor Jo Fox Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Engagement

Champions, supports and facilitates humanities research, elevating its profile, nationally and globally through engagement.

Rita Akushie Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for Finance, ITDS, Human Resources, Residential Services and Estates & Facilities Management,

as well as for CoSector, a leading provider of innovative digital services.

HRH, The Princess Royal Chancellor

HRH, The Princess Royal has been the Chancellor since 1981. Her role involves representing the University at a wide range of engagements each year and is the 10th person to hold the post since foundation.

Professor Wendy Thomson CBE Vice-Chancellor

The principal officer of the University, responsible to the Board of Trustees for the organisation and strategic leadership of the University of London.

The Senior Executive Team


The University’s Strategic Plan for 2020–2025 has as its aim:

To enrich our academic work in the pursuit of excellence in education, research and knowledge exchange through collaboration with our Member Institutions; developing academic programmes, networks and partnerships that further our federation’s goals across London, the UK and internationally.

The University has a distinctive academic mission:

• To transform people’s lives through education, driven by a commitment to diversity and inclusion and a belief in their power to create new ways of knowing.

• To deliver innovative training and postgraduate education for the new world of research and work.

• To realise the benefits of the humanities and social sciences for society, to advocate for their importance, and to provide the intellectual infrastructure to enable new discoveries.

• To provide value to the Federation, leveraging the collective power of its members and enabling us all to reach new constituencies and tackle new problems.

• To strengthen bonds across regional, national, cultural, economic and political boundaries.

Strategic Objectives

University of London

STRATEGY

1

2

3

Furthering our position as the UK’s leading provider of distance learning worldwide, delivering cutting-edge programmes to increased numbers of people who can benefit most from education.

Stimulating innovative intellectual exchange and effective public engagement, drawing on our expertise across the University in the humanities, distance learning, careers and employability, and inclusivity/ widening access

Developing and continuously adapting our organisation and capacity to anticipate the university of the future.


UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCEA key part of this role will be completing the implementation of the governance review (approved in 2020), which simplified decision-making and established an Academic Board, a Finance Committee, and made changes to the terms of reference of sub-committees of the Board of Trustees.

Finance Committee

Board of Trustees

Collegiate Council

Academic Board

Research Committee

Teaching Centres Committee

Nominations Committee

Estates Committee

Remuneration Committee

Audit and Risk Assurance

Committee

Equality and Inclusion

Committee*

Health and Safety

Committee*

Research Ethics

Committee

Student Voice and Engagement

Committee

Transitioning towards consolidated sub-committee structure

* Reconstituted from previous committees

Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee

Academic Quality

Assurance Committee

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee

Investments Committee

Academic Promotions and Titles

Committee

Key

Existing committee

New committee

Sub Committee


JOB PURPOSEThe University Secretary is a key member of the University’s Senior Executive Team, with particular responsibility for effective governance, and for ensuring the University’s compliance with its legal and statutory obligations.

The post-holder will provide strategic advice and guidance to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior leaders on matters for which they hold primary responsibility. In addition to having direct accountability for functions essential to the University’s effective operation, the post-holder will act as an informal sounding board on a range of matters.

The post-holder will also act as Secretary to the Board of Trustees, organising the work of the Board and its associated committees. The post-holder will also act as a trusted advisor to Board members and a conduit through which the Board can interact with the University’s executive.

The post-holder will hold key working relationships with senior staff from across the University. They will establish and maintain working relationships with senior officers from across the Federation, as well as being a key contact for statutory authorities and representative bodies.


Key duties and responsibilities

As University Secretary:1. Responsible for:

• advising the Senior Executive Team and Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Group.

• ensuring the University meets its statutory responsibilities e.g. in relation to the Prevent Duty, Freedom of Expression, GDPR, Freedom of Information, public sector equality duty.

2. To lead on special projects for the Vice-Chancellor, which involve pan-University and/or cross Federation collaboration.

The University Secretary leads the following functions who are, in turn, managed on a day-to-day basis by senior staff:3. The Central Secretariat: supporting the

effective governance of the University through upholding its Ordinances and Statutes, servicing its Committees and advising on constitutional and governance issues.

4. The Legal Team: providing effective, efficient, and proactive legal services to stakeholders, whilst ensuring that the University complies with all of its legal and regulatory responsibilities.

5. The University Secretary will also provide management support to the Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing and the Director of Development. Both these post-holders will however continue to receive strategic input from the Vice-Chancellor.

As Secretary to the Board of Trustees:6. Maintain an effective and efficient governance/

committee framework for the University, which provides assurance to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the Vice-Chancellor and the University’s senior officers.

7. Provide advice and guidance on the application and interpretation of the University’s governing documents and related governance processes and procedures as they apply to the University’s business.

8. Ensure that committee meetings and business are conducted in line with best practice and that documentation is appropriate and provided on a timely basis.

9. Liaise with statutory and regulatory bodies as appropriate and ensure the Board of Trustees and other committees receive timely and relevant advice on key issues.

10. Manage the recruitment process for new Trustees, ensuring that the Board of Trustees’ skills mix is properly maintained and gaps in skills met.

11. Manage complaints, appeals, disciplinary cases, etc, as set out in the Ordinances and Regulations.

12. Maintain the Register of Interests for all committee members and senior officers, and ensure that the related documents are regularly reviewed and updated as required.

General:13. To actively follow and promote the University

of London policies, including the University’s Dignity at Work and Equal Opportunities Policy and actively promote these wherever possible.

Reports to Vice-Chancellor

Responsible for Head of Central Secretariat Head of Legal Head of Inclusion Data Protection and Information Compliance Manager Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Director of Development

Additional demands of the role To undertake national and overseas travel when required

JOB CONTENT


Experience and personal qualities

Essential:• Experience of supporting Board-level governance.

• Demonstrable record of working at a strategic and senior management level in the higher education sector.

• Evidence of strong people management skills, including: leading teams; setting objectives; delegating; and performance monitoring.

• Demonstrable excellent interpersonal, influencing, and communication skills.

• Knowledge of governance standards and codes of conduct.

Technical knowledge and skills

Essential:• Detailed understanding of current and future

developments in higher education, particularly in respect to corporate governance.

• Demonstrable strong record of operating in a complex regulatory environment.

• Demonstrable ability/judgement in giving advice on governance matters.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Desirable: • Experience of academic quality

assurance requirements.

• Familiarity with internal audit.

Education and professional qualifications

Essential: • Higher education degree.

Desirable:• A postgraduate degree or professional qualification

recognised by the Chartered Governance Institute.


Applications should be sent by the closing date of 5 October 2021

HOW TO APPLY

University of London has engaged the services of Odgers Berndtson to whom applications should be sent by the closing date of Tuesday 5 October 2021.

In order to apply, please submit a comprehensive curriculum vitae along with a covering letter setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the required criteria. Please include in a separate document your current salary details and the names and addresses of three referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without prior permission from candidates.

The preferred method of application is online at: www.odgers.com/83800

If you are unable to apply online please email your application to: [email protected]

All applications will receive an automated response.

All candidates are also requested to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form which will be found at the end of the application process. This will assist the University of London in monitoring selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. Any information collated from the Equal Opportunities Monitoring forms will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.

In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation.

Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone’s information or details (e.g. referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.

Recruitment timetable

• Closing date for applications: Tuesday 5 October 2021

• Odgers Berndtson Preliminary interviews: from mid-October

• Final panel interviews: w/c 8 November or w/c 15 November

Please diarise these dates accordingly.

Queries

For confidential enquiries contact:

Alex Acland – Partner and Head of the Global Education Practice Tel: +44 20 7367 0688 [email protected]

Nick Willis – Consultant, Education Practice Tel: +44 20 7529 6305 [email protected]

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candidate brief for the position: university secretary

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