Interim Head of Governance

Anderson Quigley is delighted to be partnering with the University of Bristol on the appointment of an Interim Head of Governance, offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Practicalities:

We are ideally seeking someone full-time, with a start date no later than 1st August, though limited flexibility on start date may be possible in exceptional cases. This 12-month fixed-term role reports to the University Secretary and is primarily based at their Clifton campus. Hybrid working is available, with an on-site expectation of 2–3 days per week, although some reasonable further flexibility may be considered for the right interim candidate.

Overview:

This is a key interim leadership opportunity at one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions. Widely seen as a sector leader in governance practice, the university is now seeking an interim who can help maintain and further develop this high standard.

As the Interim Head of Governance, you will help lead the university’s core governance support function, acting as Clerk to the Board of Trustees, Senate and Court, and ensuring the effective delivery of all governance services in line with the university’s Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and regulatory requirements. You will oversee committee planning, statutory reporting, and constitutional compliance, and will work closely with the University Secretary to support institutional decision-making and strategy.

The governance function sits at the heart of a wider directorate undergoing structural review and organisational change. So, you will not only manage the day to day operations of the governance team, but you will also play a key role in helping to refine and embed a refreshed governance operating model.

As an innovator, you will bring fresh thinking, professional insight and measurable value to the function, while also creating the conditions that allow the University Secretary to focus on strategic, regulatory and sector-facing responsibilities. As an interim leader, you will oversee a small team of officers and administrators, and will need to operate in a highly collegiate, meritocratic environment. You will also contribute to the preparation of the university’s statutory returns in November and to the continued integration of compliance, internal audit, and corporate governance processes across the division.

Essential Criteria:

The university is seeking a governance professional with the credibility, judgement and insight to lead a core function in a complex and regulated academic setting, therefore senior management or leadership experience within the field of Higher Education Governance is essential.

As such, you should be highly familiar with university committee structures, constitutional governance, regulatory compliance and governance effectiveness practice. The ability to advise senior leaders with clarity and confidence, and to produce or coordinate high-quality written material for committees, is also key. You must also be comfortable leading a small team and providing support to colleagues across the university involved in governance activity. Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to embed quickly into a well-established and high-performing environment is also key.

Next Steps:

We are closing for applications on Friday 27th June, with interviews provisionally scheduled for Tuesday 2 July. To receive full details and to discuss your suitability further, please contact Eva Tomka immediately.