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Appointment of Chair to Edinburgh College

Posted: 12th March 2020

Scottish Ministers are appointing a new Chair to Edinburgh College. The appointment will be for up to four years from 8 June 2020.

Information about Edinburgh College

Edinburgh College officially opened in 2012 following regionalisation of Scotland’s college system. The College is a leading provider of further and higher education offering a wide range of courses and training opportunities thatserve the people, communities and employers across Edinburgh and the Lothians and beyond. The College operates from four campuses – Granton, Midlothian, Sighthill and Milton Road.

The College is responsible for the delivery of academic, vocational, technical and professional education qualifications and skills training in a region that accounts for over 12% of the total population of Scotland. The College works in partnership with employers and other stakeholders to focus on providing the best opportunities for learners whilst also meeting the demands of key industry sectors in the region and beyond and works with 2,000 industry partners. The College ensures that its students develop the right skills and positive attitudes to support local, regional and national workforce needs, and plays a key role in helping to develop the city’s and country’s economy.

Edinburgh college has approximately 27,000 students and is one of Scotland’s largest colleges with 98% of successful full-time learners moving onto employment or further study within eight months of graduating – the College is the biggest
single provider of students to Edinburgh Universities. The College employs over 1,200 professional and experienced staff.

Role and responsibilities

As Chair, you will establish effective leadership of the Board ensuring that it fulfils its duties, roles and responsibilities, including those as an employer. You will work in partnership with employers and other regional stakeholders to focus on providing opportunities which meet demand in key industry sectors within the region and beyond, the College ensures that its students develop the right skills and positive attitudes to support the local, regional and national workforce needs, and plays a key role in helping to develop the regional economy.

You must already have board experience and be able to demonstrate experience, knowledge and expertise in all of the following:

An understanding of the economic and educational environment within which the college operates

Impactful Strategic Leadership

Effective Governance and Accountability which delivers results

Working collectively and collaboratively

Length of appointment

The appointment will be for up to four years with the possibility of reappointment subject to evidence of effective performance and satisfying the skills and knowledge required at the time of reappointment and beyond. Reappointment is not automatic. Any appointment and subsequent reappointment will not exceed a maximum total of eight years.

Time commitment

It is anticipated that you will devote up to 2 days per week to performing your functions as and when required, up to a maximum of 104 days per year. Whilst the majority of Board meetings will take place in the local area, you will be required to attend meetings, representing the board, in other venues across Scotland from time to time. Your time will mainly be spent attending meetings, reading documents, evening and weekend events and contributing to national debate and policy development relating to post-16 education, as well as keeping abreast of the wider context to address sector wide issues.

Remuneration

The daily remuneration rate for this position is £330, up to a maximum total fee of £34,320 per financial year.

Location

You will be based at 24 Milton Road, Edinburgh EH15 2PP

Interviews

Interviews will take place on 4 May 2020.

Further information: An Applicant Information Pack with further information on this appointment can be found in the ‘Additional Information’ section below.

The closing date for applications is 14 April 2020.

Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics that are under-represented at chair level on Scotland’s public bodies, such as women, disabled people, those from minority ethnic communities and people aged under 50.

Accessibility to public appointments is a fundamental requirement and the public appointments process promotes, demonstrates and upholds equality of opportunity and treatment to all applicants. The Scottish Government will always give consideration to disability-related reasonable adjustments that an applicant might request to enable them to meet the person specification and participate fully in the selection process. If you require any of the application pack documentation in an alternative format, please contact Scottish Government Public Appointments on Freephone 0300 244 1898 or by email at public.appointments@gov.scot.

Appointed on merit; committed to diversity and equality.

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