Role Description for the Chair of Corporation

 1. Appointment

a) The Chair to the Corporation is elected by the full membership of the Corporation, in accordance with the Colleges Standing Orders. The Chair is responsible solely to the Corporation.

2. Leadership

a) The Chair is responsible for the leadership of the Corporation. As the chair of its meetings, he is responsible for ensuring that the necessary business is carried on efficiently, effectively, and in a manner appropriate for the proper conduct of public business.

b) The Chair should ensure that the Corporation acts in accordance with the Instrument and Articles of Governance, other external regulatory requirements, and with the institution's own internal rules and regulations, and should seek advice from the Clerk in any case of uncertainty.

c) The Chair should ensure that the Corporation exercises collective responsibility, that is to say, that decisions are taken corporately by all members acting as a body. The Chair should encourage all members to work together effectively, contributing their skills and expertise as appropriate, and should seek to build consensus among them.

d) The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the Corporation conducts itself in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

e) The Chair shall ensure that the clerk maintains an up-to-date register of the Interests of members of the corporation, and shall make a full and timely personal disclosure. The Chair shall ensure that any conflict of interest is identified, exposed, and managed appropriately, in order that the integrity of corporation business shall be, and shall be seen to be, maintained.

3. The Business of the Corporation

a) The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the corporation exercises control over the strategic direction of the institution, and that the performance of the institution is adequately assessed against the objectives and indicators which the Corporation has approved.

b) The Chair should ensure through liaison with the Clerk that all relevant information (including regular and satisfactory management and committee reports) are presented to the corporation.

c) The Chair should, at all times, act in accordance with established protocols for the use of delegated authority as set out in the Colleges Standing Orders. All instances of the use of delegated authority should be reported to the next meeting of the corporation.

d) The Chair should endeavour to establish a constructive and supportive but challenging working relationship with The Principal recognising the proper separation between governance and executive management, and avoiding involvement in the day-to-day executive management of the institution.

e) The Chair should develop effective working relationships with the Clerk to the Corporation, and work closely with him in the operation of corporation business.

f) Any arrangement for the Chair to act as formal signatory on behalf of the institution e.g. in connection with the use of the seal or the approval of the financial statements should be stipulated.

g) In relation to new senior post-holder appointments (including the Principal), the Chair shall assist in compiling job descriptions and person specifications, and in the case of the Principal supervise the selection and appointment process.

h) The Chair will be responsible for instigating any disciplinary action against the holders of posts designated as senior posts and the Clerk to the Corporation.

i) In chairing meetings of the Corporation the Chair shall ensure that all bye-laws and committee procedures are complied with, and will liaise as required with chairs of corporation committees to ensure reasonable consistency of practice in corporation business.

4. The Performance of the Corporation

a) The Chair should ensure that the Corporation attempts to maximise its effectiveness through critical self-assessment of its own performance and processes, and through ensuring that appropriate performance review processes exist and are acted upon throughout the institution.

b) The Chair should ensure that the Corporation approves and operates a procedure for the regular appraisal/review of the performance of its individual members and should participate as appraiser/reviewer in that process. The Chair should encourage members to participate in appropriate training and development.

c) The Chair will be responsible for the appraisal/review of the performance of the Principal, and will make recommendations to the Remuneration Committee.

d) The Chair will be responsible for the appraisal/review of the performance of the Clerk to the Corporation, and will make recommendations to the Remuneration Committee.

e) The Chair should lead the process for the recruitment of new members of the Corporation, and should ensure that satisfactory succession plans exist for new recruiting members, which takes full account of the need to ensure a diverse membership with the necessary skills and expertise.

5. The External Role

a) The Chair will represent the Corporation and the College at external meetings, presentations, conferences and other external bodies to which he is elected.

b) The Chair may be asked to play an agreed ambassadorial role on behalf of the institution.

c) The Chair will be asked to play a major role in liaising between key stakeholders and the institution.

6. Personal

a) The Chair will have a strong personal commitment to further and higher education and the values, aims and objectives of the institution.

b) The Chair will at all time act fairly and impartially in the interests of the Corporation and institution as a whole, using independent judgement and maintaining confidentiality as appropriate.

c) The Chair is expected to attend all meetings of which he is Chair or a member, or give timely apologies if absence is unavoidable.

d) The likely overall time commitment required of the Chair for the effective conduct of the duties of the post 20 hours per month.

e) The office of Chair is not remunerated, but the Chair is encouraged to reclaim all travel and similar expenses incurred in the course of institutional business, via the Clerk. Directors’ liability insurance is in place and clerical support if required.