Announcements (Archive)

Non-Executive Directors at the Office for Students

• Body: Office for Students
• Appointing Department: Department for Education
• Sector: Education
• Location: N/A Bi-monthly board meetings usually take place in London (these are currently through remote access).
• Number of Vacancies: 2
• Remuneration: £9,180 per annum.
• Time Requirements: The role has an expected time commitment of 20 days per annum.

Campaign Timeline

1. Competition Launched

   27/07/2021

2. Closed for Applications

   27/08/2021 at 12:00

3. Panel Sift

   14/09/2021

4. Final Interview Date

   Revised interview dates have now been confirmed . Interviews are scheduled for 1 November (pm), 4 November (am) and 10 November (all day)

5. Announcement

   22/03/2022 at 17:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

Office for Students: non-executive board member reappointments The Secretary of State for Education has reappointed Martin Coleman, Kate Lander and Katja Hall to the board of the Office for Students (OfS) as non-executive directors.

Martin Coleman and Kate Lander have been reappointed for 3 years from 1 July 2022. Katja Hall has been reappointed for 3 years from 1 January 2023.

Office for Students: non-executive board member appointments The Secretary of State for Education has appointed Dr Dayo Olukoshi, Dr Michael Spence and Mrs Rachel Houchen, to the board of the Office for Students (OfS) as non-executive directors.

Dayo Olukoshi and Rachel Houchen have been appointed from 16 March 2022 to 31 March 2025. Michael Spence has been appointed from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.

Remuneration for all non-executive board members is £9,180 per annum for an estimated time commitment of 20 days per year.

These appointments and reappointments have been made under Schedule 1, paragraph 2(1)(d) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, which permits the appointment of up to 12 ordinary or non-executive OfS board members.

The register of interests of board members is published on the Office for Students website. None of the appointees has declared any political activity.

The OfS is a non-departmental public body. It is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It regulates in the interests of students and prospective students from all backgrounds.

Date: 22/03/2022

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Assessment Panel

• Panel Member: Hannah Sheehan
• Added: 27/07/2021
• Panel Role: Panel Chair
• Positions: Director, HE Quality and COVID Directorate, Department for Education Departmental Official

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Political Activity	-
Notes	-

• Panel Member: Mary Curnock Cook
• Added: 27/07/2021
• Positions: Non-Executive Director, Student Loans Company Independent Member

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Political Activity	-
Notes	-

• Panel Member: Lord James Wharton
• Added: 27/07/2021
• Positions: Chair of the Office for Students Representative of Organisation

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Political Activity	• Conservative Peer in the House of Lords since September 2020 • Former Conservative MP for Stockton South from 2010 to 2017 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development from July 2015 to June 2017.
Notes	-

Vacancy Description

OfS non-executive board members play a key role in shaping the OfS strategic direction and supporting the reform programme. Board members are responsible for a wide range of activities including: Oversight for corporate strategy Reviewing risks, benefits and monitoring outcomes against plans Being responsible for the stewardship of public funds. It is essential that the board has the range of skills, knowledge and experience required to be the independent regulator of a sector which is of such strategic importance to the UK, including representation of the diversity of the higher education sector.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA  Excellent strategic thinking capability, experience of setting a clear vision and demonstrating strategic leadership. Strong commitment to the principles of real social mobility, levelling up, equality of opportunity and freedom of speech. Ability to influence and inspire confidence with a wide range of stakeholders both in formal environments (such as board meetings) and less formal environments. Good judgement and integrity, understanding of financial and corporate governance at a strategic level, as well as a commitment to the seven principles of conduct in public life www.public-standards.gov.uk/about-us/what-we-do/the-seven-principles. DESIRABLE CRITERIA Under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of the OfS’ members (between them) having experience of the following: Providing higher education on behalf of an English higher education provider or being responsible for the provision of higher education by such a provider Employing graduates of higher education courses provided by higher education providers covering a range of academic and practical disciplines Promoting choice for consumers or other service users, and encouraging competition, in industry or another sector of society Creating, reviewing, implementing or managing a regulatory system in industry or another sector of society Managing or auditing the financial affairs of an organisation and a broad range of the different types of English higher education providers. We welcome applicants with expertise in one or more of these areas, as well as encouraging applicants more broadly with other educational experience, not just higher education, who are committed to educational excellence and equality of opportunity. Applicants will be assessed against these criteria. If there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criteria.

Additional Information

Expenses

You will be reimbursed for any travel and subsistence expenses you necessarily incur while on official OfS business at the appropriate rate.

Pension

The post is not pensionable.

Other

You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct.

The successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to a Code of Conduct for members of the board, and must confirm that you have a sound understanding of, and commitment, to the principles of public life.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents by email to:

PublicAppointments.APPLICATIONS@education.gov.uk

1. A CV of not more than 2 pages 
2. Candidate Application Form
3. Diversity Monitoring Form

Please see the candidate pack for more details.

Please note the following:

• We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date.
• Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided
• Please refer to the advert and checklist to ensure you have provided the necessary documentation.
• Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt.
• Feedback will only be given to candidates who are unsuccessful following interview.
• When 30 or more applications are received, it is likely that your application will be “pre-assessed” before it is passed to the Advisory Assessment Panel for consideration. You should be aware that in this situation, your application might not be considered in full by all the members of the Panel.