Lancaster University is a research-intensive UK top 10 University and is in the top 130 higher education institutions globally. The University was established in 1964 by Royal Charter and its campus occupies a beautiful 560-acre parkland site just outside Lancaster city centre. Lancaster University is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities with a collegiate system. Its mission is to be a force for good by bringing together communities to engage, inform and transform. Its ambitious vision is to become a sector leader and innovator that delivers the highest quality research, teaching and student experience, and that engages locally, nationally, and internationally.

The University is divided into four faculties; Arts and Social Sciences, Health and Medicine, Science and Technology and Lancaster University Management School. In the REF 2021, Lancaster was deemed to deliver world-quality research, with 91% of its research independently rated as 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading', including 46% rated in the highest category of 4*. 99% of Lancaster’s overall research environment is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. This includes areas such as research support, training and facilities. Lancaster is 21st overall out of 157 institutions ranked by Times Higher Education placing them above eight Russell Group universities for research quality. It has a pivotal role in the development of national cyber security research and innovation and is the only university in the North West with triple accreditation or excellence in cyber security research and education. Lancaster University will lead a major £1.2 million project ensuring world-leading cyber security research generated in the North West is exploited to deliver a ‘step change’ for the region’s business and economic growth.

In addition to numerous international research partnerships, Lancaster has four strategic overseas teaching partnerships; Beijing Jiaotong University, Lancaster University Ghana, Lancaster University Leipzig and Sunway University, Malaysia. These offer validated Lancaster degrees and help enrich the student experience and create exciting opportunities, while also enhancing Lancaster's ability to engage with world-leading, transformational research. In July 2022, the groundbreaking higher education institute, University Academy 92, co-founded by Lancaster University and the Class of 92 celebrated its inaugural graduation ceremony at its Manchester campus. The joint venture operates in partnership with leading industry names such as Microsoft, Talk Talk, KPMG and Manchester United to deliver courses across business, media, sport and digital. A new Digital Academy opened in September 2022 and Deakin University and Lancaster University have announced that they are working together on proposals that could see the development of an international campus in Bandung, Indonesia.

The University gained an overall student satisfaction score of 83.6% in the National Student Survey 2022, ranking 1st in the North, 8th in England and 11th in the UK. It has a number of projects and initiatives in train to help achieve its goal of carbon net-zero for carbon emissions from electricity and heating by 2030 and net-zero for all other emissions by 2035. In February 2022, the University secured planning permission for a 16.5MW photovoltaic Solar Farm on its Forrest Hills site and is aiming to deliver the project between 2023 to 2025.

The University is ambitious, and under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield it has set in motion its strategic plan 2021-2026. This focuses on three areas: recognition as a global leader, advancing a strong national profile and accelerating its transformative impact in the communities in which it operates.

This is a co-opted committee member role which does not sit on the main Council (Board of Trustees). Successful candidates would join at least one committee which in this case would likely be the University's Estates Committee. The responsibilities of the Estates Committee are: 

To develop and recommend to Council for approval:

• The Estates master plan
• An Estates strategy which underpins and facilitates the University strategic plan including Digital Lancaster
• A review annually of the Capital Programme, prepared by the Capital Planning Group

Recommend for approval by Council, through the Finance and General Purposes Committee;

• A review the Estates master plan every three years
• Monitoring of progress on current capital projects
• Monitoring of major building project design/plans as they develop, ensuring they fit with the master plan and are able to be recommended for approval by the Finance and General Purposes
• Ensuring that development of the estate incorporates both the Digital Lancaster strategy (or other IT development) and the University’s sustainability goals as part of the design/plans
• Approving policies related to estates and facilities activities and periodically monitor their efficacy
• Advising the Council, through Finance and General Purposes Committee, about the acquisition and disposal of land and buildings in accordance with the schedule of financial delegations
• Monitoring engagement with the district authority’s Local Plan and developments in South Lancaster to ensure the University’s best interests are represented
• Reviewing estates performance through determining and monitoring appropriate performance indicators and annual benchmarking

Lancaster University is seeking individuals with one or more of the following areas of experience to join as a co-opted committee member: Estates / Digital Infrastructure / Sustainability.

Successful candidates could come from any sector but will have senior experience in either estates, digital infrastructure or sustainability. They should feel comfortable supporting, guiding and constructively challenging non-executives and executives on strategic matters across those areas because these are key strategic priorities for the University. This role would particularly suit high achieving individuals looking to gain non-executive experience. Individuals who can provide insights into capital development / contracting on the estates side are particularly encouraged to apply.

Successful individuals should be strong communicators, collegial and be passionate about higher education and the values and mission of Lancaster University. 

To find out more about the Council members, please see here. As a Sub-Committee co-opted member, individuals would be serving alongside some members of the Council and Professor Ella Ritchie is the Chair of the Estates Committee.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Committee meets five times a year. The majority of Sub-Committee meetings tend to take place online via Teams with ordinarily one meeting per year in-person, usually at the campus in Lancaster. The appointment is for a three year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

Estates Committee 

• Tuesday 9 January 2024 2-4pm
• Wednesday 6 March 2024 10-12pm
• Tuesday 4 June 2024 2-4pm

UK - North England (Lancaster)

Lancaster University welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. 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.