Interim University Secretary, UK University

Anderson Quigley is working with a UK university to appoint an experienced Interim University Secretary for an initial 9–12 month assignment.

This is a significant opportunity for an experienced governance leader to step into a University at an important point in its development. You will provide stability and confidence in the short term, whilst helping shape a stronger governance function for the future.

Working closely with the Chair, Board and Executive, you will provide senior leadership across the University’s governance arrangements and act as Clerk to the Board.

The University has a relatively new Board and is looking to strengthen its governance infrastructure, ensuring that its processes, structures and decision-making arrangements are robust, contemporary and fit for the future.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Provide trusted advice, guidance and constructive challenge to the Board and Executive.
• Strengthen the University’s governance and assurance framework.
• Review and improve governance processes, structures and decision-making.
• Ensure that risks are appropriately identified, escalated and managed.
• Support the University in navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
• Strengthen academic governance and the links between governance, risk and regulatory compliance.
• Assess the capability and capacity of the existing governance function and develop a proportionate model for the future.
• Build confidence and capability across the organisation, leaving a stronger and more sustainable governance function behind.

We are looking for an established University Secretary or senior university governance professional who can provide immediate credibility and authority.

You will bring:

• Significant and recent experience of university governance.
• A strong understanding of the contemporary UK higher education regulatory landscape.
• Experience working with Boards, Governors and senior university leadership.
• A sophisticated understanding of academic governance, risk and assurance.
• The confidence to provide both advice and constructive challenge.
• Experience of reviewing and strengthening governance processes and structures.
• The ability to operate effectively in an environment where there is complexity and change.
• A pragmatic, collaborative approach and the ability to bring people with you.

You do not need to be legally qualified; the University has established legal leadership in place.

Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that effective governance is not simply about process and compliance. It is about enabling good decisions, providing the right challenge and giving Boards the confidence that the organisation is being well led and well governed.

This is a genuine opportunity to make a difference. The University is in a positive position financially and has ambitions for the future. The successful Interim will have the opportunity to help ensure that its governance arrangements are strong enough to support that agenda – whilst shaping what the longer-term governance function could look like. If you are an experienced University Secretary or governance leader who enjoys building, strengthening and improving, this could be an unusually interesting interim assignment.

For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please contact Claire Lauder on claire.lauder@andersonquigley.com.