Come Join Us - Make a difference – Become a Trustee

We have an exciting and challenging opportunity for an aspiring External Trustee to join our Trustee Board.

Working alongside our Sabbatical Officers and Student Trustees we are looking to bring specific skills and experience to the Board to strengthen the Unions governance with the ambition to contribute and make a difference for the benefit of our students.

Our External trustees help provide continuity and expertise to our beneficiary-led board, and ensure our students are empowered to challenge and shape their organisation. External Trustees are part mentor, part advisor and part ambassador for our organisation.

What we are looking for:

1. Advanced knowledge in any of the following areas:

• Human Resources and People Management
• Liberation, Diversity and Equality 
• Higher Education

2. Meet the eligibility criteria to become a Trustee – please see information here

3. Commitment to the time required for the role

4. A willingness to mentor our Sabbatical Officers and Student Trustees.

Requirements of the role:

• Attendance at Trustee Board meetings (5 times a year)
• Attendance at a sub-committee of Trustee Board (3-4 times per year for 2 hours per meeting
• Pre-reading of reports and other documentation before meetings
• Commitment to the role of at least 1 year and up to 3 years.
• To attend at least one strategic planning day per year and to contribute to the development of the current strategic plan of the Students’ Union.
• In addition to being a part of the Trustee Board the elected trustee will also be chair for the People and Culture Committee.

Please see attached Job Description for more role specific detail.

Time Commitment

Trustees are required to attend the Board meetings taking place approximately 5 times per year at a duration of 2 hours per meeting.

As well as the Board meetings the successful candidate will also be required to chair the People and Culture Committee which oversees all people, liberation and diversity matters of the Union and its subsidiary companies Committee meetings are typically between 3-4 meetings per year.

Total commitment time will be approximately 2-4 hours per month depending on meeting schedule. Papers for each meeting will be sent 1 week before and will require reading time.

Location

Trustee Board and Committee meetings are hybrid with the majority being online. Any in person meetings will be held at the Students’ Union, Oxford, Manchester, M13 9PL.

We are flexible to consider changing meeting arrangements to suit Board and Committee members’ availability, in order to be as inclusive as possible.

All reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Liberation, Diversity and Equality

Inclusivity is one of UMSU’s core values and we strive to have Committees and a Trustee Board that are representative of the diverse nature of our organisation and its members.

How to Apply

Please complete the application form, where you will be asked to answer 3 questions.

To find out more about this exciting opportunity and the University of Manchester Students’ Union, please read the Job Description ad Person Specification and the Information Pack below:

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If you have any questions about this position, please contact the HR & Governance Manager - becky.hudson@manchester.ac.uk

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