Governors (Corporation and Audit & Risk Committee) | East Durham College

Peridot Partners; North East; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution is seeking Governors for its Corporation and Audit & Risk Committee. Responsibilities include shaping strategic direction and supporting values. Candidates with finance, audit, business development, and HR expertise are encouraged to apply. The role requires a commitment of 6-10 hours per month and involvement in key governance meetings. This unremunerated role offers reasonable expenses.

Qualifications

• Senior finance professionals for financial examination.
• Qualified professionals for risk and compliance.
• Experience in income diversification required.
• Background in IT systems and data protection is a plus.
• Experience in HR and labor relations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Help shape strategic direction and support values.
• Work with the Chair and participate in governance reviews.
• Attend five Corporation meetings per year.

Skills

Finance

Audit and compliance

Business development

Cyber security

HR and trade union relations

Job description

Governors (Corporation and Audit & Risk Committee) – East Durham College

East Durham College seeks to appoint new Governors who will bring strategic experience and curiosity to the Corporation and contribute to the Audit & Risk Committee.

• Location: County Durham, North East
• Salary: Unremunerated with reasonable expenses paid

We are a college deeply rooted within local communities, serving almost 6,000 students each year across three sites: Peterlee, Houghall and the Technical Academy. Awarded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in April 2024 and judged ‘Outstanding’ in Behaviours & Attitudes and Personal Development, we provide a broad curriculum that includes vocational provision, A Levels, apprenticeships, T Levels, higher education and adult learning.

Who we are

Our core values are student‑centred, respectful, sustainable and student‑focused. Our leadership team, led by Principal & CEO Scott Bullock, drives our mission to enrich lives through transformative education.

About the roles

As a Governor you will help shape strategic direction, set organisational culture and support our values. You will work with the Chair, James Bromiley, and participate in an external governance review that recognises our board as high‑performing.

Who we are looking for

We need Governors with expertise in:

• Finance – senior finance professionals who can examine our financial position and reporting.
• Audit, risk and compliance – qualified professionals to safeguard financial health and compliance.
• Business development – experience in income diversification and commercial strategy.
• Cyber security, data protection and IT systems.
• HR, people and trade union relations.

Applicants may come from education, public sector, corporate or local employer backgrounds.

Commitment and expectations

Governors serve a four‑year term, attend five Corporation meetings per year (October, December, February, May, July) on Thursday evenings at 5 p.m., and join the Audit & Risk Committee (three meetings annually). An additional strategy day in January is required. Governors may also be invited to the Link Governor process for deeper engagement.

Time commitment is 6–10 hours per month, with encouragement to attend events and visit the college when possible.

Support is provided through induction, training and ongoing guidance. Successful candidates will undergo DBS checks and reference verification.

Contact & application

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact our advisors at Peridot Partners (Dan Baxter) or email [e-mail]. When emailing, use the subject "Application: East Durham College — Governors (Audit and Risk)" to ensure your application is routed correctly.

Accessibility

• Step‑free access to all key meeting rooms and bathrooms.
• Accessibility dogs are welcome.
• Paper and material can be presented in alternative formats.
• Sign language interpreter available for interviews.
• Work patterns and locations can be adjusted.

Our values

• Students – the heart of decision‑making.
• Respectful – culture of respect and inclusion.
• Sustainability – building sustainable provision for future communities.

EEO statement

East Durham College is an equal opportunities employer – we value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Privacy notice

We treat all personal data confidentially, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. Information provided in applications will only be used for recruitment purposes.