Governance Volunteer Role: People and Culture Lead Trustee
UWC Atlantic is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity Number: 525761
About Us
UWC Atlantic is the founding College of the UWC global education movement. Its home is the beautiful 12th Century St Donat’s Castle in South Wales, where students from over 90 countries come for two years to live and work together in a dynamic learning landscape.
UWC is a deliberately diverse, mission-driven international college with a strong commitment to the educational principles of Kurt Hahn, its founder, and a passionate belief in the importance of education as a force for good in the world - to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
Since 1962 UWC has entrusted students with authentic responsibility and guided them to make appropriate choices and to learn from their mistakes. It is through this trust, responsibility and accountability that students learn that they can make a difference (‘You are needed’) and that through effort and engagement they can achieve far more than they ever imagined (‘There is more in you than you think’).
UWC empowers bridge-builders, systems changers and compassionate global citizens through the delivery of a pioneering and distinctive IB educational model. UWC’s student body is hugely diverse (365 students from around 90 countries) based on its ability to reach out across the globe to attract and encourage new students from vastly differing political, religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. These inspirational young people, the next generation of leaders, are drawn from across the world and across all backgrounds.
Role: People and Culture Lead Trustee
The UWC Atlantic Board is searching for an individual who shares our belief in the UWC mission, values and principles; who believes that education should be a force to unite people, nations and cultures; who wants to support a College and global movement that brings young people together to help them understand how our societies are structured, how they unite and divide and, importantly, impact our planet.
As part of our ongoing renewal of the Board of Trustees, we are looking for a volunteer Board member to fill the critical role of People and Culture Lead Trustee.
The role incorporates acting as a Trustee of a UK Charity, as a Governor of the College and as a non-executive Director of the Board. The Board provides support and guidance and acts as a critical friend to the Leadership Team, to ensure the College meets its strategic aims and continues to remain at the forefront of educational innovation.
All Board members bring passion and commitment to their role as ambassadors for the College and the UWC movement in general. A trusteeship at UWC Atlantic provides a genuine opportunity for individuals who really want to make a difference. In order to expand the knowledge, experience and diversity of our Board our aim is to make our Board better reflect the incredible diversity of a UWC community.
Atlantic Llantwit Major, South Wales
Responsibilities: People and Culture Lead Trustee
This trustee position will chair our Human Resources Committee (HR) and have the professional competence and experience to help support the College Leadership Team in all matters relating to HR.
The HR Committee has a monitoring and advisory role relating to the college’s staff establishment and appointment procedures, terms and conditions of employment, and an advisory role relating to the selection and appointment of new members to the Board of Governors and its sub committees.
As Chair of the Board’s HR committee, you will be responsible for ensuring the Board understands and fulfils its responsibilities in relation to HR. In addition, you will provide appropriate support and advice to the Board and the Executive on any occurring HR issues.
An understanding of the importance of both diversity, equality and inclusion, and the cultural dynamic of organisations, is key.
While the Chair of the committee and the Nominations Lead are members of the Board, other members of the committee are independent of the Board in order to ensure independence in its reviews and recommendations to the Board.
Responsibilities: People and Culture Lead Trustee
The position will also require:
● Empathy for the UWC mission and values, the importance of diversity, scholarship provision and student autonomy.
● A good understanding of working across a diverse, multi-faceted organisation, either in a charitable or a commercial company.
● An understanding of the distinction between a Trustee of the Board and the role of the Leadership Team.
● A positive attitude and enjoyment from working with an open, dynamic and engaged Board.
● Ideally an appreciation of the importance of networking and increasing the profile of the College, and a desire to help in this regard.
Commitment:
This is a voluntary, non-paid role, though reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. As a Trustee and Board member, you will be expected to attend three, two-day board meetings per year usually in Wales, and a number of other relevant committee meetings and College events. The HR Committee also meets three times a year in a hybrid meeting. On average, it is hoped an individual could provide approximately 20 hours per month.
How to Apply:
If you have the relevant experience, desire and passion to help us build on the strengths of UWC Atlantic, we would love to hear from you.
Interested applicants should send an email to our Clerk to Governors, tian.bersey@uwcatlantic.org attaching a letter explaining why you would want to join the UWC Atlantic Board, what difference you think you could make and what UWC means to you, together with a brief summary of relevant skills and experience, and with the names of two referees.
Application deadline:
Tuesday 31st January 2023.
The role will commence in March 2023 and will run for a three-year term with a possible option to renew for two further terms of three years.