University Secretary

Our University Secretary is a newly formed role, and acts as a crucial bridge between our Vice-Chancellor and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. You’ll be responsible institutional scale governance, making sure this wide reaching and complex portfolio of work is delivered in the most efficient and effective way, while looking to for opportunities to simplify where they exist. Reporting to our Chief Operating Officer, you’ll be a key advisor connecting the executive and non-executive functions, supporting the organisation through provision of first-class guidance and decision-making, across a wide range of compliance and regulatory matters. Your profile externally will be as important as internally, and you’ll build productive relationships with partners in the city, government bodies and Higher Education specific agencies. You’ll lead our internal governance team in support of the University’s governance framework and have oversight of all internal audit activity.

• Overseeing and maintaining the University's governing instruments, including Charter, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations, and Policies.

• Providing constitutional advice and secretariat support for the Board, Senate, Court, and key committees.

• Advising on governance matters, including Board membership, succession planning, and regulatory compliance.

• Acting as the focal point for the Accountable Officer in dealings with the Office for Students and compliance requirements.

• Leading on internal audit oversight, information compliance, and Freedom of Information governance.

• Building effective internal and external relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies and sector agencies.

• Managing and providing leadership to the University Secretariat and Governance team to ensure efficiency and value for money.

• You have significant experience supporting Board-level governance within the public or charitable sectors.

• You are educated to degree level or have equivalent professional experience.

• You have excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

• You possess resilience and can provide constructive challenge to support governance objectives.

It would also be beneficial to:

• Have knowledge of compliance requirements for UK universities, including statutory and regulatory frameworks.

• Hold a relevant professional qualification (e.g., full membership of the Chartered Governance Institute).

Benefits of working for the University include-

• A total of 40 days annual leave per year including bank holidays
• Automatic entry to an extremely generous, hybrid pension scheme (both defined benefit and defined contribution elements)
• Hybrid working environment
• Inclusive culture, valuing the diversity of thought, beliefs and background

More details of our full offering can be found here: What we offer

Please visit our web site at www.bris.ac.uk/jobs, enter the vacancy number SUPP112213 into the job search and follow the link to the online application process. ​

Process details: ​

• A Selection Panel has been established to review all applications for this post. ​
• Short-listing will take place during week commencing 24th March.​
• Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 10th April​

You may be contacted about pre-selection during the shortlisting process, if required.​

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 16th March 2025. ​ ​

Formal expressions of interest should be submitted thorough the above vacancy and you will be contacted to arrange an initial conversation by Liam Taylor, Head of Resourcing (liam.taylor@bristol.ac.uk)​

Our University Secretary is a newly formed role, and acts as a crucial bridge between our Vice-Chancellor and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. You’ll be responsible institutional scale governance, making sure this wide reaching and complex portfolio of work is delivered in the most efficient and effective way, while looking to for opportunities to simplify where they exist. Reporting to our Chief Operating Officer, you’ll be a key advisor connecting the executive and non-executive functions, supporting the organisation through provision of first-class guidance and decision-making, across a wide range of compliance and regulatory matters. Your profile externally will be as important as internally, and you’ll build productive relationships with partners in the city, government bodies and Higher Education specific agencies. You’ll lead our internal governance team in support of the University’s governance framework and have oversight of all internal audit activity.

• Overseeing and maintaining the University's governing instruments, including Charter, Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations, and Policies.

• Providing constitutional advice and secretariat support for the Board, Senate, Court, and key committees.

• Advising on governance matters, including Board membership, succession planning, and regulatory compliance.

• Acting as the focal point for the Accountable Officer in dealings with the Office for Students and compliance requirements.

• Leading on internal audit oversight, information compliance, and Freedom of Information governance.

• Building effective internal and external relationships with stakeholders, including government bodies and sector agencies.

• Managing and providing leadership to the University Secretariat and Governance team to ensure efficiency and value for money.

• You have significant experience supporting Board-level governance within the public or charitable sectors.

• You are educated to degree level or have equivalent professional experience.

• You have excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

• You possess resilience and can provide constructive challenge to support governance objectives.

It would also be beneficial to:

• Have knowledge of compliance requirements for UK universities, including statutory and regulatory frameworks.

• Hold a relevant professional qualification (e.g., full membership of the Chartered Governance Institute).

Benefits of working for the University include-

• A total of 40 days annual leave per year including bank holidays
• Automatic entry to an extremely generous, hybrid pension scheme (both defined benefit and defined contribution elements)
• Hybrid working environment
• Inclusive culture, valuing the diversity of thought, beliefs and background

More details of our full offering can be found here: What we offer

Please visit our web site at www.bris.ac.uk/jobs, enter the vacancy number SUPP112213 into the job search and follow the link to the online application process. ​

Process details: ​

• A Selection Panel has been established to review all applications for this post. ​
• Short-listing will take place during week commencing 24th March.​
• Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 10th April​

You may be contacted about pre-selection during the shortlisting process, if required.​

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 16th March 2025. ​ ​

Formal expressions of interest should be submitted thorough the above vacancy and you will be contacted to arrange an initial conversation by Liam Taylor, Head of Resourcing (liam.taylor@bristol.ac.uk)​