As it plans for the long term, Jisc now seeks a new Independent Member of its Finance and Treasury Committee who will bring senior-level investment experience, and be able to provide scrutiny of external investment managers, as part of the Finance and Treasury Committee.
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Jisc is the UK's tertiary education, research and innovation not-for-profit organisation for data, digital services and solutions. It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Its vision is for the UK to be a world leader in technology for education, research, and innovation. It launched its three-year strategy in 2022 which builds on its core strengths and leverages the collective power of the sectors to allow it to maximise its impact. Its strategy encompasses delivering the right solutions to enable digital transformation, empowering communities and being a force for good.
Jisc's purpose is to improve lives through the digital transformation of education and research. This will be achieved by focusing on the needs of its customers, especially its members, their staff and students. Jisc will deliver a targeted range of managed services and its products and services will be delivered at pace, at scale and to a defined standard. It engages with emerging technologies and future infrastructure, seeing IT as an enabler, to ensure that it can address member needs in a complex environment.
Jisc provides managed and brokered products and services, enhanced with expertise and intelligence to provide sector leadership and enable digital transformation. Some of its key activities are the provision of the Janet Network which is the National Research and Education Network (NREN). This is used by 18 million people and uses sector specific intelligence to build in cyber security. Jisc is the designated data body for higher education following a merger with HESA.
The Finance and Treasury Committee is a sub-committee of the Board, which is responsible for scrutinising Jisc's financial performance, budget, its investment and property activities, and the successful delivery of mergers.
In addition to contributing more generally to the work of the Committee, this particular Member will be responsible for scrutinising the strategy and sound management of investments. Jisc invests its reserves with support from third party advisors, who are overseen by the CFO, as well as in projects to grow Jisc's infrastructure to support HE / FE institutions in providing a more digital offering to students.
Given the potential challenges to income from government and the education sector, and the need to support members facing an ever-changing technological and cyber-security landscape, prudent management of Jisc's investments is more important than ever. This Independent Member will provide guidance to the Committee on how Jisc's investments can be used to both provide excellent services to members going forward while also securing a strong financial footing in the years ahead.
Jisc seeks a new Independent Member of the Finance and Treasury Committee who will bring senior-level investment experience, and be able to provide scrutiny of external investment managers.
In terms of the size of Jisc's assets, it is ~£100m (investments and long term cash). This is documented on page 81 of the Trustees report, here.
Applicants will bring a background in investment banking or fund management. Previous experience of charity governance would be welcome but is not required.
Candidates will have operated in senior role in a medium or large organisation, and will appreciate the role of the non-executive and how they interact with the executive team to create maximum positive impact. They will be able to work collaboratively and constructively at a strategic level, think creatively, and bring good independent judgement.
Above all, applicants will have a strong commitment to Jisc's mission of the UK to be a world leader in technology for education, research, and innovation. Attention will also be given to improving the Board's diversity.
The composition of the Finance and Treasury Committee is:
The Committee meets five times per year and is currently holding one of these in-person in London with the remaining meetings taking place via Zoom. Meetings last for approximately three hours with papers being shared the week prior for reading and preparation. The Member will also attend quarterly meetings with Jisc’s investment managers. Committee members are invited to join the first day of the annual board away day which takes place in Bristol each Spring.
The role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Candidates will be UK based and able to attend one in-person meeting in London.
Jisc welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. As people from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. Jisc's Diversity policy can be found here
If you would like to register your interest in this role, please fill in the form below. A member of the Nurole team will be in touch ahead of the deadline to let you know whether it would be worth submitting an application and to discuss the process further.