Chair of Students' Union Trustee Board

Aston Students’ Union (ASU) is looking for motivated and talented Chair for our Trustee Board. The role will be key in supporting the Trustee Board and its oversight of the organisational strategy.

What will you be doing?

The Chair of the Trustee Board will have oversight of the organisational strategy, finances and governance structures, along with the support and accountability of the CEO, providing a solid structure of expertise and experience to ensure the Students’ Union achieves its charitable aims.

About Aston University Students’ Union (ASU)

The Students’ Union is an incorporated association and registered charity (1152067). Aston SU strives to be an SU for everyone. Following the pandemic and we want to give students the experience they deserve. ASU is going through an exciting and transformative process. Fuelled by growing student members and increasingly high expectations, it aspires to make the student experience at Aston the best it can be. The award winning SU Building, in the heart of campus, is allowing more students than ever before to experience the Union. We are looking for motivated and talented individual to become our Chair of the Trustee Board ASU is membership organisation, made up of the 18,000 students studying at Aston University. Our members are as diverse as the city itself.

What are we looking for?

Why we need you – Experience and Skills

Every University is required to have a Students’ Union by virtue of the 1994 Education Act. The objectives for each students’ union are to represent the needs of students to the University, to provide, where relevant, welfare services, to ensure there are opportunities to play sport and engage in recreational activities and to run free and fair elections for our own governance. Each Union is also regulated by the Charities Commission and, as an affiliate of the National Union of Students (NUS), is part of a network of 7 million students. You’ll be part of a team of up to 12 other trustees made up of a mixture of officers, external alumni and students. There are normally four to six trustee meetings each year. ASU believes the eclectic mix of trustees ensures decisions will be student-focussed with a firm consideration on the sustainability of the organisation. You will be the chair of the board You have an opportunity to play a key leadership role in one of Birmingham’s biggest and most exciting charities.

What difference will you make?

Trustee Responsibilities

“Trustee boards don’t do, they ensure things get done”

Charity trustees are the people who serve on the governing body of a charity. They may be known as trustees, directors, board members, governors or committee members. Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of a charity, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. As Chair of the Board you have the further responsibility of supporting and holding the charity’s CEO to account. This takes place both formally – for example annual setting of objectives and KPIs and informally – short regular catch up meetings.

Before you apply

Deadline for Applications is Monday 27th November 2023 at 12 noon.

Interviews will be online and will be on Wednesday, 6th December 2023 and Friday, 8th December 2023.