| Reference: | AQ3489 |
| Specialisms: | Board, Membership, Not for profit |
| Date posted: | 3rd March 2026 |
| Closing date: | 27th March 2026 |
Trustee (Digital & Technology), UCAS
Voluntary | London | Cheltenham | 10 -15 days per annum
Help guide the modernisation of a national shared service at the heart of UK higher education.
UCAS plays a uniquely important role in the UK’s education ecosystem. As the shared admissions service for undergraduate higher education and an independent charity, it supports more than one million people each year as they explore progression opportunities, with over half a million securing a place at university or college.
UCAS is now entering a significant new phase in its development. With strategy agreed and investment committed, the organisation has begun a multi-year transformation of its core admissions platform and digital capabilities. To support this journey, the Board is seeking a Trustee with substantial digital and technology expertise.
This is a governance role with real substance. UCAS operates at national scale, delivering high-volume, mission-critical services to hundreds of universities and colleges. The programme will modernise the core admissions platform incrementally, balancing innovation with operational stability. Alongside this, UCAS is strengthening its data, cyber and digital engagement capabilities to enhance resilience, improve the student experience and support widening participation.
We are seeking a senior leader who has personally led or overseen complex, large-scale digital transformation ideally including core systems modernisation or legacy migration in a live operational environment. Higher education experience is not essential.
You will bring:
The Board values depth of experience, intellectual flexibility and a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset. This is an opportunity for a seasoned transformation leader to help steward a nationally significant programme.
UCAS generates c.£57m in annual income, employs around 600 staff, and has a trading subsidiary – UCAS Media Limited – which gift-aids profits back to the charity. UCAS delivers services to over 350 universities and colleges across the UK and manages c.3m applications from over 750,000 people each year, combining national scale with tangible impact for hundreds of thousands of students.
Trustees are appointed for an initial term of up to four years (renewable). The time commitment is approximately 10–15 days per annum, including four Board meetings (primarily in Cheltenham or London), with some additional committee and strategy engagement. The role is unremunerated, with reasonable expenses reimbursed.
UCAS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and particularly welcomes applications from candidates from under-represented groups.
For an informal and confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment partners at Anderson Quigley:
Closing date: Friday 27 March 2026.
If you have any questions about your application, please get in touch.
