Job Description

Watney College is a growing independent college in East London committed to delivering high-quality further and higher education. We offer a range of professional and vocational qualifications accredited by recognised awarding bodies such as Nqual, ATHE and OTHM. We are working towards partnerships with UK universities and registration with the Office for Students (OfS), aiming to establish ourselves as a trusted higher education provider. We are seeking an External Member to provide independent external scrutiny, specialist advice and constructive challenge to the College Oversight Board (COB), Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committee (ARRC), Board of Directors (BoD) or other designated committees.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent external scrutiny, specialist advice and constructive challenge to the College Oversight Board, Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committee, Board of Directors or other committees to which they are appointed.
• Attend scheduled committee meetings, review papers in advance and contribute to discussions in a professional, objective and evidence-based manner.
• Review reports, policies, action trackers, risk registers, audit evidence, quality assurance records, student experience information and performance data submitted for governance consideration.
• Support the College Oversight Board by contributing to oversight of learner experience, academic quality, student outcomes, complaints, progression, support arrangements and institutional improvement.
• Support the Audit, Remuneration and Risk Committee by reviewing risk management, internal controls, audit findings, compliance evidence, financial sustainability, remuneration matters and mitigation actions where required.
• Support the Board of Directors by providing external perspective on strategic priorities, governance effectiveness, regulatory readiness, institutional sustainability and accountability.
• Question whether reports and recommendations are sufficiently evidenced, proportionate, risk-aware and aligned with relevant terms of reference, College policies and regulatory expectations.
• Contribute to preparations for OfS registration, awarding organisation activity, partner review, external audit, internal review, quality monitoring and other regulatory or assurance activity where relevant to their expertise.
• Assist in monitoring completion of agreed actions, recommendations and matters arising from committee discussions where these relate to the External Member role.
• Promote high standards of integrity, safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion, confidentiality, data protection and public accountability within College governance.
• Declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest and withdraw from discussions where required under College procedures.
• Operate within the advisory and assurance remit of the appointment, maintaining a clear distinction between external governance contribution and operational management.
• Undertake other proportionate committee-related duties agreed by the relevant Chair, Principal or Board of Directors in line with the role of an External Member.

Requirements

• The post holder must have good interpersonal, organisational and communication skills in English.
• Should have appropriate professional knowledge, sector experience or specialist expertise relevant to governance, education, quality assurance, finance, audit, risk, safeguarding, compliance, student experience or organisational leadership.
• Must have relevant experience of working in an advisory, audit, governance, senior management, professional or external assurance role.
• Should understand the role of externality, independent scrutiny and constructive challenge within a committee or board environment.
• Must understand the advisory nature of the External Member role and the need to operate within agreed terms of reference, reporting arrangements and delegated authority.
• Able to review committee papers, policies, risk registers, financial information, quality assurance reports, action plans and performance data, identifying key issues and assurance gaps.
• Should be confident in asking relevant questions and providing proportionate challenge in a professional, balanced and constructive manner.
• Able to contribute to discussions relating to learner outcomes, academic quality, student experience, financial sustainability, risk management, safeguarding and regulatory readiness.
• Should understand the importance of confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding, equality, impartiality, professional boundaries and conflict of interest declarations within an education setting.
• Must be reliable, objective and able to work constructively with the Chair, directors, non-executive members, senior managers, academic staff, administrative staff and other committee members.
• Able to act independently and in the best interests of the College while respecting the distinction between governance oversight, advisory input and operational management.
• Should demonstrate integrity, discretion, impartiality, sound judgement and the ability to handle sensitive College matters appropriately.
• Must be able to attend meetings regularly, review documents in advance, provide timely comments and contribute to agreed follow-up work where required.
• The post holder must not have any unspent criminal convictions as per the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, subject to the nature of the appointment and relevant legal requirements.
• Must be able to travel and attend College meetings, external meetings or training where required for College business.

Benefits

• Opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction and governance of a growing educational institution.
• Professional development and exposure to higher education governance, regulatory and quality assurance processes.