KCLSU is seeking to appoint a Lay Trustee who will Chair the Governance, Policy and Compliance (GPC) Sub-Committee and serve as:

• Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees (supporting the Chair, the elected President)
• Supervising Trustee, with a remit to help resolve disputes between Trustees
• Lead Trustee for Safeguarding, providing oversight and assurance in this area

This is a key governance leadership role at a time of significant strategic development for KCLSU, including a potential two-year democracy review and the embedding of a revised Governance Framework. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience in governance, democratic processes, policy oversight, or charity regulation. A background in law, particularly with regard to compliance, regulatory frameworks, or safeguarding, would be beneficial but is not essential. This is a highly rewarding voluntary position supporting student leadership and shaping the governance of one of the UK’s most historic and diverse students’ unions.

Key Responsibilities

Trustees are accountable for delivering the responsibilities detailed in the KCLSU Trustee Board Terms of Reference.
Specific duties for this role include:

• Provide leadership and guidance as Chair of the Governance, Policy and Compliance Committee, overseeing the Union’s legal and regulatory responsibilities and advising on policy interpretation and development;
• Ensure that the Union’s safeguarding duties are fully met as the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding, including liaising with the designated safeguarding officer and ensuring appropriate training and reporting is in place;
• Support the implementation and oversight of democratic reform, including the governance review and student representation structures

All Trustees have a duty to:

• Ensure that KCLSU acts in accordance with its charitable objects, Articles of Association, Bye-Laws, the Memorandum of Understanding between King’s and the Union’s other governance documents;
• Facilitate KCLSU being a student-led organisation;
• Assist KCLSU to achieve its objectives, improve and support the student experience of its student members, including their wellbeing during their time with King’s;
• Ensure that KCLSU complies with all relevant legislation and regulations, including relevant charity, education, data protection and company legislation;
• Ensure that KCLSU does not undertake activities that put its financial stability, members or reputation at undue risk;
• Work with other Trustees, staff and volunteers in a constructive manner and for the greater good of KCLSU;
• Participate fully in Trustee Board meetings and the Trustee Board’s Committees that they are invited to join, as approved by the Board;
• Use their personal skills and experience to ensure KCLSU is well run and efficient;
• Seek external professional advice where required, for example where there may be material or reputational risk to KCLSU, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties, or where the Union might be at threat of legal or other class action;
• Add value to the Trustee Board and KCLSU through generating ideas, challenging the status quo, broadening thinking, and supporting and promoting innovation and creativity;
• Ensure effective communication and cooperation with King’s College London to the benefit of student members, whilst retaining, protecting and preserving the independence of KCLSU from the University;
• Abide by the KCLSU Trustee Code of Conduct.

Lay Trustees have a particular responsibility to:

• Use their particular knowledge, skills and experience to improve the decision making of the Trustee Board and its Committees;
• Support and empower the Student and Student Officer Trustees to act as student leaders for KCLSU;
• Act as mentors, as required, for new or less experienced Trustees, or otherwise to ensure the learning and development opportunities are provided for those students serving on the Board to help them make the most of, and enjoy, the experience of being a Trustee at KCLSU.

Person Specification

Lay Trustees must:

• Be committed to acting in the best interests of the charity to achieve the purpose, within the Charitable Objectives and values of KCLSU;
• Have an understanding of Charity compliance;
• Have board or senior level charity sector experience in a fast moving organisation;
• Be agile to work with senior leaders at times of charity pressure to ensure a Lay Trustee view;
• Have the ability to work with complex issues where there are strong and passionate views to consider from Student Members;
• Be constructive, and respectful, about other Trustees’ opinions in discussions and in response to staff members’ contributions at meetings;
• Be committed to facilitating student leadership through mentoring, both within the Trustee Board and the wider structures of KCLSU;
• Be able to act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking Trustee Board responsibilities within the Regulatory Framework;
• Be able to maintain strict confidentiality;
• Understand the importance and purpose of Trustee Board and Committee meetings and be committed to preparing for them adequately and attending them regularly;
• Be able to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively;
• Be able to make collective decisions and stand by them;
• Be able to respect boundaries between management and governance functions;
• Be excellent role models who promote the highest standards of probity and integrity;
• Be a firm supporter and promoter of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

For full details, please review our Informative Vacancy Pack.

Application Process

Please send your CV and a cover letter (maximum 2 sides of A4) to KCLSU Governance Team at governance@kclsu.org by 2 June 2025.
Please write “GPC Lay Trustee Application” as the subject line of your email.
If you would like an informal discussion with the Head of Governance about the role, please contact email the KCLSU Governance Team at governance@kclsu.org, with “GPC Lay Trustee Informal Discussion” as the subject line of your email.