Board Secretary

About the Role

The Board Secretary is responsible for providing expert advice and support to the Chair, Board members, the Principal, members of the College Leadership Team (CLT) and other stakeholders as required, including advising board members on corporate governance matters, in particular regarding meetings and proceedings of the Board of Governors and its sub-committees.

Key Responsibilities

· Leading the Board of Governors’ corporate governance systems, including developing and implementing changes and improvements, as required.

· Organisation of agendas and the co-ordination and distribution of papers and reports for the Board and its Committees in association with board members and members of the CLT.

· Attends all board and committee meetings in a Board Secretarial role, to ensure the College’s governance arrangements are met and that recognised standards of good corporate governance are complied with.

· Prepare, and monitor the completion of, accurate and succinct action plans for all meetings, working to advise chairs and senior management to ensure the actions are completed timeously.

· Work with the Chair, Committee Chairs and the Principal to plan the business of the Board and its committees on at least an annual basis.

· Advising on and ensuring the Board and its committees adhere to approved policies, procedures and relevant legislation or national guidance.

· Engaging with the CDN governance professionals group to identify and share best practice across the sector and to inform, develop and enhance the College’s arrangements.

· Organises board events/seminars to ensure that board members are kept fully aware and knowledgeable on major strategic and service issues.

· Manage the process of Board appointments, ensuring that the Board fully takes account of the College Sector Board Appointments: Ministerial Guidance and ensuring that all Board members are kept up to date with progress.

Qualifications and Experience

o Degree level qualification or equivalent experience.

o Experience of dealing with a wide variety of challenging tasks, often to tight deadlines.

o Experience of dealing with a wide range of customers and providing high levels of customer service.

o Experience of planning, prioritising and organising work or resources and proactively working with others to achieve team / project objectives.

o Experience of working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships and systems.

o Experience of providing board secretarial duties within a tertiary education environment.

o Experience of working in a public sector organisation with board members who have a wide variety of expertise and knowledge.

Skills and Attributes

o Ability to work autonomously without reference to a senior member of staff.

o Effective verbal and written communications skills.

o Ability to obtain, assimilate and share complex and sensitive information, often at pace and in high pressured situations.

o Ability to work effectively as a team member, and to develop effective working relationships.

o Proven ability to multi-task under pressure, with the ability to demonstrate attention to detail.

o Ability to deliver a high quality and professional service.

o Ability to react and be flexible to changing priorities.

o Ability to deal confidentially and effectively with enquiries and requests.