Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is inviting individuals to explore two opportunities to join its Board as independent Governors at a particularly exciting moment in the University’s journey.

A bold and ambitious civic university, LJMU sits at the heart of the Liverpool City Region and plays a vital role in shaping opportunity across the region and beyond. With strong local roots and an increasingly global outlook, the University is committed to supporting social mobility, advancing knowledge and preparing graduates who are ready to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world. Its TEF Silver award, alongside a Gold rating for Student Outcomes, reflects the strength of LJMU’s student experience and its clear focus on graduate success and employability.

As the higher education landscape continues to evolve, governing bodies are expected not only to provide rigorous oversight but also to help guide institutions through periods of growth, transformation and opportunity. LJMU is therefore seeking to strengthen expertise within two key committees of its Board and welcomes interest from individuals who are motivated to contribute their insight, experience and independent judgement.

The opportunities currently available are:

Governor – Audit & Risk Committee Member
An individual with experience in audit, risk, regulation or governance who can support the Committee’s oversight of internal controls, risk management and institutional assurance.

Governor – Finance Committee Member
A senior finance professional with the expertise and credibility to contribute to financial oversight and strategic financial decision-making.

Both roles offer the opportunity to play a meaningful part in shaping the future direction of a major civic university. Alongside committee responsibilities, Governors contribute to the wider strategic work of the Board. For candidates with the appropriate experience, there may also be opportunities over time to take on committee leadership roles as part of the Board’s succession planning.

We welcome interest from individuals with sound judgement and board-level perspective. Relevant experience may come from the commercial, public, regulated or higher education sectors. A connection to the Liverpool City Region, or the ability to attend meetings in person when required, will be important.

LJMU is committed to broadening the diversity of its Board and particularly encourages interest from women and candidates from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.

We invite you to explore the information provided and consider whether one of these opportunities could be the right next step for you.

A University Transforming Its City and Shaping the Future

For more than two centuries, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has stood at the heart of one of the UK’s most dynamic and diverse cities. What began as an institution built to educate Liverpool’s working people has evolved into a globally connected, modern civic university whose mission remains rooted in transformation, of people, of place, and of possibility.

Today, LJMU is one of the most impactful universities in the UK, recognised for combining academic excellence with deep civic purpose and global reach. We have 25,000 students on campus and 23,000 more studying worldwide through our 17 international partners.

Yet despite this scale, our identity is as an anchor institution in the city and the region that we call home. We are shaped by the ambitions of our communities, responsive to the needs of our people, and committed to ensuring that opportunity is not defined by background.

Our guiding principle has remained unchanged for 200 years and is unwavering: students are at the heart of everything we do.

Every investment, every initiative, and every decision is determined by the desire to create the most enriching, inclusive and empowering learning experience possible.

This is an institution driven not by prestige, but by purpose, one that measures success through real-world impact, life-changing outcomes and by truly making a difference.

Student Experience

We are committed to supporting our students to success, and these achievements reflect an institution-wide focus on research-led, evidence-based educational design and student support.

We are removing barriers to equality of opportunity and deliver positive outcomes across our diverse student base.

Our innovative work to embed employability and to drive social mobility is producing tangible outcomes. High Skilled Employment rates for UG students has grown at over four times the rate of the wider sector over the past five years, while the figure for postgraduate students has remained above the sector average.

We continue to build one of the strongest National Teaching Fellowship networks in the sector and our new Framework for High Quality Teaching and Learning is further strengthening teaching quality and intellectual challenge.

Research That Changes Lives

LJMU’s research institutes deliver breakthroughs that shape public understanding, inform policy, and change lives.

We are proud recipients of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education (2025) for the pioneering forensic work of Face Lab, making LJMU one of only two institutions to win this honour twice.

The Astrophysics Research Institute (ARI) our other recipient of the above prize continues to inspire and connect thousands of schoolchildren to the wonders of the universe, through the National Schools Observatory.

Our research and knowledge exchange portfolio includes our Public Health Institute, the Liverpool Research Institute for Climate and Sustainability, the Global Centre for Maritime Innovation, the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory and the Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Science.

Driving Regional Prosperity and Social Value

In 2025 an independent report confirms LJMU as a major economic engine: £474m annual contribution to the city region economy supporting 6,218 jobs; supplier of 28% of all local graduate employees, more than any other university in the region; generating £880m GVA nationally and supporting over 10,600 jobs across the UK.

LJMU generates £174.6m in annual social value, driven by graduate wage premium, equality-of-opportunity gains, and 1.08m student volunteering hours (£11.5m) for local organisations and good causes. Our widening participation work reaches 43,000 pupils annually.

Strategic Leadership and Financial Strength

Through careful financial planning and resource management we have achieved a resilient financial position and in December 2025 we launched our We’re in a Great Place and Growing campaign to attract 40 new academic staff.

Our estates plan is focused on investing in our existing campus – enhancing teaching and learning spaces within our property portfolio and ensuring that we make best use of our city-based presence.

LJMU today is a university of scale, strength and purpose. We deliver transformative education, world‑leading research, exceptional social impact and deep civic leadership. We are creating a better future for Liverpool, the UK and the world and we are an exemplar of a modern university.

You can view our 2025 annual finance report here

Our strategy

Finance Committee

Appointment status and terms

• Independent lay member of the Board
• Term: Initial term of three years with appointees eligible to serve one further three year term with service typically limited to two consecutive terms. In exceptional cases the Board may approve up to three additional one year extensions.
• Time commitment: approximately 9 days per year comprising in person Board meetings held four times year (usually September, December, April and June) and online Finance Committee meetings held three times a year in November, March and June, together with a full Board Strategy Day in January and evening workshop in May.
• Unremunerated (expenses reimbursed in accordance with the University’s expenses policy)

Audit & Risk Committee

Appointment status and terms

• Independent lay member of the Board
• Term: Initial term of three years with appointees eligible to serve one further three year term with service typically limited to two consecutive terms. In exceptional cases the Board may approve up to three additional one year extensions.
• Time commitment: approximately 10 days per year comprising in person Board meetings held four times year (usually September, December, April and June) and in person Audit and Risk Committee meetings held four times a year in September, November, March and June, together with a full Board Strategy Day in January and evening workshop in May.
• Unremunerated (expenses reimbursed in accordance with the University’s expenses policy)

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the university. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 10 April 2026.

Final panel interviews are currently scheduled for the following, at LJMU:

Applications should consist of:

• A full CV.
• A covering letter (maximum of two pages) outlining how you meet the criteria of the person specification and confirmation of which role you would like to be considered for.
• Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

For a confidential conversation, please contact Helene Usherwood at helene.usherwood@andersonquigley.com or
+44 (0)7719 322 669 or Carolyn Coates at carolyn.coates@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7825 871 944.