Founded in 1927, the University of Hull is a public research university in Kingston upon Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. As England’s 14th-oldest university, it has a proud heritage of academic excellence, and a history of creating and inspiring life-changing research and helping to build a better world. The University now has more than 16,000 students and around 2,500 employees, including more than 1,000 academic staff.

Committed to providing its students with top-class facilities and an ideal environment in which to live and learn, the University has undergone a £300m project to dramatically improve its buildings and facilities. It has invested £130m in its luxury accommodation complex Westfield Court, £28m towards the health campus, spearheaded by the state-of-the-art Allam Medical Building, inspiring the next generation of healthcare heroes and £9.5m on turning Middleton Hall into one of the region’s best performance venues and cinemas.

The University of Hull's renewed mission focuses on excellence in learning, teaching, research and enterprise, a transformative student experience and being an internationally-engaged anchor institution for its surrounding regions. Its vision is to create a fairer, brighter, carbon neutral future. Its ambitions are bold and challenging – the University will pursue its vision with a determination to exceed expectations, to contribute ever greater outcomes towards shaping a better world, and to encourage our students to strive for excellence.

Role specification

Main duties:

• Ensure that Council exercises control over the strategic direction of the University, and that the performance of the University against its strategic objectives is properly assessed on a regular basis
• Ensure that the University maintains its long-term financial viability, safeguards its assets and operates proper mechanisms to ensure effective internal control, risk management and value for money
• Contribute to debate, and make their knowledge and expertise available to Council as needs and opportunities arise
• Act fairly and impartially at all times, in the interests of the University as a whole, using independent judgement and maintaining confidentiality as appropriate
• Observe the seven “Nolan Principles” of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• Accept collective responsibility for the decisions reached by Council.

Key responsibilities:

• Attend meetings of Council and participate in discussions, acting as a “critical friend,” contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of University strategy
• Question intelligently, debate constructively, challenge rigorously and decide dispassionately, listening respectfully to the views of others, inside and outside meetings of the Council serve as a member of at least one Council Committee
• Attend some of the formal or informal events of the University, including degree ceremonies, as may be organised from time to time
• Act as an ambassador for the University, promoting its activities in the wider community including, for example, assisting with philanthropic activity and fund raising projects
• Attend any induction and training as may be required by the University to carry out effectively the role of a member of Council
• Contribute to regular reviews of the effectiveness of Council, both collectively and individually
• Submit an annual Registration of Interests return, and to ensure that the University is notified promptly of any material changes to these details as may arise during the year.

The University of Hull is looking for a new Lay Council Member and potentially some Sub-Committee members with backgrounds across one or more of: tech / digital, marketing, PR / media, property, finance and / or environment / sustainability. They will bring constructive challenge and strategic oversight to Council and senior colleagues, and  will help shape the University’s ambitious future.  

Candidates can come from a range of sectors and applicants from diverse and under-represented backgrounds with a keen interest and insight into the issues facing higher education would be welcome. This is an excellent opportunity for younger, high potential individuals looking to take on their first non-executive role. Candidates will be collaborative, committed and above all will be aligned to the mission and vision of the University to build a fairer, brighter and carbon neutral future.

The University of Hull welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from these individuals would be particularly encouraged.

To find out more about the Lay Council Members including their biographies, please view here.  

Lay members of Council are unpaid roles but they will be eligible to claim reimbursement of travelling expenses for attendance at meetings of Council and any University committee they are appointed to along with other events they may be invited to attend. There are five Council meetings which will be held in person and two-five Committee meetings which are held in a hybrid manner. The is also one away day per year. The time commitment is estimated to total the equivalent of 10-12 full days per year, spread over a greater number of separate visits to the University, including involvement on Council committees. The role will mostly involve daytime commitments, although there may be occasional evening engagements and prior reading. The role is for a three year term which may be renewed up to three times with the maximum length of service being nine consecutive years.