West Herts College Group is seeking to appoint two new Governors to enhance the breadth of skills, experience, and perspectives on its Board. The successful candidates will bring strategic insight, creativity, and the confidence to support and challenge the executive team constructively.
West Herts College Group is partnering with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, for this search. You can find out more and apply here. To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact
Role specification
The Board of Governors provides strategic oversight of West Herts College Group, ensuring that it delivers on its mission while maintaining high standards of governance and accountability. The Board supports the College in fulfilling its statutory obligations, overseeing financial sustainability, and monitoring educational performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Contribute to setting the strategic direction of the Group and monitoring progress against objectives
- Support the Board in ensuring the Group’s policies, practices and culture are inclusive and equitable
- Provide constructive challenge and oversight in a respectful and collaborative manner
- Attend and engage with Group events, including learning walks, open days and staff / student activities
- Maintain familiarity with governance best practice, including adherence to the Nolan Principles
- Ensuring the Group's financial sustainability and probity, including approval of budgets and monitoring of financial performance
- Safeguarding the Group's assets and reputation
- Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
- Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion across the Group community
- Acting as an ambassador for the Group with external stakeholders, including employers, local authorities, and community partners
- Attending Board meetings and, where appropriate, serving on sub-committees
Governors are expected to act with integrity, objectivity, and in the best interests of the Group and its students. They must be prepared to challenge constructively and support the executive team in delivering the Group's strategic objectives.
Person specification
West Herts College Group is seeking to appoint two new Governors to enhance the breadth of skills, experience, and perspectives on its Board. This is a pivotal moment for the Group as it continues to deliver high-quality education and training across multiple sites, supports local communities, and develops the workforce of tomorrow.
Governors will bring senior leadership experience with exposure to charities and / or community engagement. Experience in further education or higher education would also be welcome. In addition, the Group is also interested in hearing from exceptional leaders who bring wider skills and expertise, as long as candidates are passionate about transforming life chances and supporting lifelong learning.
Candidates should bring:
- Strategic leadership experience in similarly large and complex organisations
- A sound understanding of good governance, including experience operating in accountable, decision-making environments
- The confidence to challenge constructively
- Ability to engage with complex, sometimes contested issues and help the Board reach clear, timely decisions
- A values-led approach with a credible commitment to education, skills development, and opportunity for learners, demonstrated through professional, voluntary, policy, or lived experience
- Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills to contribute effectively to an inclusive, high-performing Board culture
Additional Personal Qualities
Successful candidates are likely to be:
- Energetic, intellectually curious, and able to bring pace and clarity to discussions without losing nuance
- Decisive and outcomes-focused, helping move complex discussions to resolution
- Independent-minded and courageous, willing to challenge assumptions and conventional thinking
- Collaborative and respectful, building trust across diverse perspectives
The Board is keen to strengthen its capacity for community representation and leadership; new Governors will play an important role in championing the voices of learners, employers, and local stakeholders, helping to shape a responsive and inclusive strategy that reflects the diverse communities the Group serves.
Interviews
Interviews are scheduled to take place in person on w/c 8 June at the Watford campus.
Board composition
To find out more about the Board, please see here.
Diversity
West Herts College Group welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As women and those from minority backgrounds are under-represented on the Committee, these individuals are particularly encouraged to apply. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
Terms of appointment
Term: The initial appointment is for two years, with the possibility of renewal at the discretion of the Board.
Remuneration: This is an unremunerated role. Reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Time Commitment: Approximately six Board meetings per year and three Committee meetings, plus preparation time and occasional additional commitments such as induction, training, and College events or visits.
Location: Meetings are held predominantly in person at West Herts College Group campuses, with online attendance permitted only in exceptional circumstances.