Governor

Northampton College is seeking Governors to join the Corporation. 

Do you want to be part of a College that is at the forefront of its community, constantly working to secure ever higher standards of education and training for our students? 

Being a governor is a non – executive, Trustee role. The Corporation provides strategic input for the College, in both holding staff to account for the overall delivery of the offer to students in a professional manner and at the same time offering support. 

We are particularly keen to recruit Governors with professional backgrounds in accountancy/finance, legal, entrepreneurship, digital/IT, wider commercial/industrial experience within our local community. A level of seniority/experience in your own profession, business or activity or particular knowledge/experience of professional, industrial, business sector, public/community organisations or voluntary sector. This is merely an indication of the skills set of the individuals we would like to join our Corporation. This should not limit applicants from all backgrounds.  

As a college we provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting all individuals' differences. We would welcome applications by candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those identifying with all genders and disabled candidates. 

THE ROLE OF GOVERNOR AS A MEMBER OF NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE CORPORATION

In seeking to fill any vacancy, the Corporation endeavours to maintain a balance of skills and experience amongst its membership. The following are general and specialist attributes for Governors:

General Attributes

• Commitment to the ethos of Further Education and in particular, the support and development of Northampton College, its mission vision and values.
• Ability to recognise and respect all individuals' differences and to provide an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Ability to work positively with others and debate whilst maintaining a constructive professional atmosphere.
• Ability to both support and challenge the Executive Team staff in a professional, 
• constructive and timely manner and provide balance, support and perspective when necessary.
• Ability to communicate effectively, to think strategically and to be visionary for the future plans of the College.
• Ability to absorb sometimes complex information. 
• Ability to commit to attend Corporation meetings each year 
• Most Governors commit to being a member of one committee of the corporation, which meet 2-3 times a year.
• It is desirable for Governors to take part in other aspects of the College life by attendance at other major College functions, e.g. Awards Evenings, Marketing events.

Specialist Attributes

Experience in any of the following:

• Commercial, public, and not for profit sector 
• Manufacturing and services sectors 
• Professional services (particularly legal and audit)
• Financial services 
• SME’s and/or large corporate organisations
• Schools or colleges
• Entrepreneurship, 
• Digital/IT, 
• Own profession, business or activity 
• Professional, industrial, business sector, public/community organisations or voluntary sector

Purpose of the Role

• The Corporation, led by the Chair, provides support, checks, and balances to the Executive Team led by the Principal. 
• The Corporation is accountable for its stewardship of public funds to deliver a quality service and for the performance of its legal and statutory duties. 
• The Corporation approves the strategic direction of the College to enable the delivery of strong student outcomes and monitors the College’s performance against the agreed strategic aims and relevant internal and external measures.
• Collectively, individual Governors contribute their professional, specialist and general management skills to the Corporation (and its committees) in a non-executive role.  The day-to-day management of the College is the responsibility of the Principal and the Executive Team.  

Key collective accountabilities to: 

• The College's students and customers for quality of experience and outcomes. 
• The Government, ESFA and public for the use of public funds. 
• The local community for a local resource. 
• College staff as their legal employer.

Duties 

These are specified in the Instrument and Articles of Government. Governors are responsible for:

• Determination of educational character and ethos. 
• Articulation of vision, values, and strategic direction. 
• Approving the quality strategy of the institution.
• Oversight and monitoring of college activities. 
• Effective and efficient use of resources. 
• Financial probity. 
• Safeguarding assets. 
• Approving annual estimates of income and expenditure and three year financial plan.
• Approving strategic plan. 
• Appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal, appraisal, and determination of pay and conditions of the Principal and the Clerk. 
• Setting framework for pay and conditions of service of all other staff. 
• Agreeing retention and achievement targets, monitoring academic achievement and raising standards.
• Ensuring the correct policies and procedures necessary to fulfil its legal obligations.

In addition, the College has a Code of Conduct which reflects the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

Our present Governors come from a wide range of backgrounds, Details of which can be seen on the biographies page of our website http://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk/about-us/governance.html. There are strong professional working relationships between the Corporation and staff, which is a key element of how we work and our success. 

Eligibility

• Governors are required to make an annual declaration of eligibility and of interests. This is held by the Clerk and is made available to members of the public. 
• A person is not eligible to be a Governor of an FE college if he or she has been declared bankrupt within the last three years or served a sentence for a conviction within the last five years or been removed from office as a member of an FE Corporation within the last ten years. 
• Governors should not normally have a teaching role or be a student at the college unless they are appointed as staff or student members. 
• Although not a statutory requirement, Governors are required to agree to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and to confirm proof of identity on appointment and on re-appointment. 
• Governors are required to participate in the annual appraisal programme.

If you feel that you could fulfil the role of Governor and can commit to the time requirements as highlighted in the Job and Person Description then please submit a CV, along with a covering letter, to Ralph.Devereux@northamptoncollege.ac.uk expressing why you feel you are suitable for the role. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Nicky Johnson, PA to the Principal by emailing Nicky.Johnson@northamptoncollege.ac.uk or call 01604 734200.