SRUC - Non-Executives

The Role of Non-executive Directors on the Board

SRUC is seeking to appoint up to seven Non-Executive Directors, with appointments phased through to 2027 as part of a planned programme of Board succession and skills renewal aligned to SRUC’s Strategy 2026–2031. These appointments carry the responsibilities of both Company Director and Charity Trustee.

The Chair is responsible for the leadership of the Board and, together with the Board and the Principal, helps provide high-level strategic direction to SRUC to ensure delivery of its key objectives.

Board members collectively provide high-level strategic oversight and ensure that adequate control and monitoring arrangements exist to support the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) in exercising proper stewardship and working towards agreed strategic objectives.

Board members are asked to bring their expertise and experience to bear on this work. All members question intelligently, debate constructively, challenge rigorously and decide dispassionately, having listened sensitively to the views of others, inside and outside meetings of the governing body.

The Board is entrusted with funds, both public and private, and has a particular duty to observe the highest standards of corporate governance. This includes ensuring and demonstrating integrity and objectivity in the transaction of business, and wherever possible following a policy of openness and transparency in the dissemination of its decisions.  Board members must apply the highest standards of corporate governance and observe the accepted principles of public life.

Board members are expected to develop a deep and thorough understanding of SRUC, its teaching, research, innovation and commercial mission, and internal structure and culture. In addition, the Chair is expected to build understanding of SRUC’s relationships with relevant external agencies, partners, and the Scottish and UK higher education and tertiary education systems.

Qualifications and Experience 

Candidates are sought who can contribute to SRUC’s next phase of development as it delivers its Strategy 2026–2031 within a rapidly evolving tertiary education, research and natural economy landscape.

As part of ongoing Board succession planning and skills renewal, SRUC particularly welcomes applications from individuals with strategic leadership experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• audit and risk governance
• tertiary education, skills, research, and international collaboration
• rural and land-based sectors, including current farming experience
• digital transformation, data and cyber resilience
• equality, diversity and inclusion
• innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship
• strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and organisational reputation

SRUC also welcomes candidates who can demonstrate experience of collaborative working across industry, government, academia and communities, aligned with SRUC’s mission and strategic priorities.

Person Specification 

Individuals joining the Board will be expected to bring independent judgement to bear on matters of strategy, performance, governance and institutional development. Board members will contribute to the strategic oversight of SRUC and support the organisation in delivering its mission across education, research, innovation and engagement with the natural economy.

These are significant and rewarding opportunities for individuals who wish to apply their experience and expertise within a complex and evolving tertiary education environment.

Successful candidates will bring the credibility, judgement and strategic perspective required to make a meaningful contribution to Board discussions and decision-making. Candidates should be able to challenge constructively, think critically, engage collaboratively and contribute to an inclusive and effective Board culture.

SRUC is committed to ensuring that its Board reflects the diversity of the communities, sectors and stakeholders it serves. Applications are welcomed from all suitably experienced individuals who can contribute to the future direction and success of the organisation. SRUC particularly welcomes applications from groups currently underrepresented on the Board, including women, younger people, ethnic minority communities and disabled people.

Personal Attributes

Applicants will have a strong personal commitment to higher and further education, research, innovation and commercial consultancy and have empathy with the values, aims and objectives of SRUC. They will share SRUC’s vision and aspirations of national and international excellence and will understand the multiple academic and economic drivers needed to underpin this.

Individual Board members and the Board collectively should at all times conduct themselves in accordance with the accepted high standards of behaviour in public life, which embrace selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Essential personal attributes for Non-executives include:

• Diplomacy and sensitivity
• Sound judgement and judiciousness
• Ability to deal with conflict in a constructive manner
• Ability to establish good working relationships with a diverse range of people (staff, students, other Board members)
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to equality, human rights and inclusion
• Integrity, tact, discretion, independence and objectivity
• Calm, measured approach
• Ability to challenge constructively

Further details can be found in the candidate brief at the bottom of this page