Lay Member of Council

Location: Highfield Campus

The University of Southampton is a leading research-intensive University, a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group, and one of the top 100 universities worldwide. We deliver excellent educational experience and world-leading research and we are known for successfully commercialising our research through enterprise.  

We are seeking new Lay Members to join our University Council. This is an exciting time to join the University of Southampton, and joining us as a Lay Member of Council, you will have the opportunity to help us make a tangible difference to future generations.    

The University Council is the governing body that contributes to the development of the University and plays an important part in shaping, determining and championing our Strategy and acts as a advocate for every member of our staff and student community. The Council has responsibility for the administration of the University, for managing its resources, and for supporting and guiding the senior management in the delivery of the strategy and achieving our bold ambitions.  

About the role

As a Lay Member, you’ll contribute to the Council helping to ensure the University’s senior management team are working effectively and in collaboration, you’ll be collectively responsible for overviewing the performance of the University and providing challenge, support and advice while respecting executive responsibility.  

Acting as an ambassador for the University you will represent us externally, contributing to our success as a member of various committees, which play key roles in the detailed governance and oversight of the University, such as Pension, Finance, Estates, and Infrastructure, and Remuneration Committee.  

About you

We welcome expressions of interest from individuals with a track record of success in their own field, who bring strategic leadership qualities established through senior roles in complex and diverse organisations.   

You will have previous executive or non-executive experience and confidence in operating in a boardroom environment with a flair for bold thinking, risk-taking and strategic decision-making. 

The Council meets seven times per year (one of which is a strategic awayday) and the time commitment for a Lay Member is approximately one day per month.  

This is a voluntary role, and in return for your commitment and contribution, you will benefit from being part of a successful and ambitious University seeking to maximise opportunities for its community. You will also have the opportunity to build professional networks, and further build your non-executive profile and impact.

The University of Southampton is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a diverse environment. Therefore, we particularly encourage applications that will continue to strengthen the diversity of our governing body. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and are immensely proud to have been awarded an institutional Athena SWAN silver award, which underpins our pledge to improve equality for women. We are also delighted to have received the Race Equality Charter bronze award from Advance HE, which recognises that we have a solid foundation for eliminating racial inequalities and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff and students. We work with our people to ensure their ideas are always heard, and we invite you to share your background and life experiences with us to help us create a truly unique working environment. 

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