Independent Chair

AIQQA; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

AI Quality Qualifications Academy Ltd (AIQQA) is seeking an experienced Independent Chair to lead AIQQA's Governing Body during its development and Ofqual recognition journey. This role requires establishing governance culture, board effectiveness, and independent oversight while maintaining a clear distinction between governance and executive management.

Working closely with Board members and the executive team, the Chair will provide leadership, ensure accountability, oversee regulatory

Qualifications

• Significant Board-level leadership and governance experience.
• Ability to distinguish governance from executive management.
• Experience in regulated or highly accountable environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent leadership to the Governing Body.
• Establish accountability, challenge, integrity and sound decision-making.
• Oversee regulatory readiness and governance risk oversight.
• Scrutinise strategy, performance, risk and assurance.
• Define and maintain governance structures, committees and reporting.

Skills

Board leadership

Governance experience

Regulated environment

Independent chairing

Stakeholder relations

Job description

Organisation: AI Quality Qualifications Academy Ltd (AIQQA)

Location: UK / Hybrid, with periodic meetings in London

Time commitment: Approximately 1 to 2 days per month initially, with additional involvement during key development, recognition and governance stages

Board fee: Competitive and commensurate with experience and commitment

Governance: Appointment to AIQQA's Governing Body / Board of Directors, subject to formal appointment and appropriate due diligence

AIQQA

AI Quality Qualifications Academy Ltd (AIQQA) is a new AI-focused awarding organisation being developed towards Ofqual recognition.

Our ambition is to establish high-quality qualifications and assessment standards for AI and related emerging technology disciplines, supporting learners, employers and education providers as demand for credible AI skills continues to grow.

We are now building the senior leadership and independent governance structure that will take AIQQA through its development and recognition phase and into operation.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and highly credible Independent Chair to lead AIQQA's Governing Body.

This will be a key appointment at an important stage in the organisation's development.

The successful candidate will help establish the governance culture, Board effectiveness and independent oversight required as AIQQA develops towards Ofqual recognition and future operation.

Working closely with fellow Board members and the executive leadership team, the Chair will provide leadership to the Governing Body while maintaining a clear distinction between governance and executive management.

This is an opportunity to help shape the governance of a new organisation from the beginning rather than inherit an established Board structure.

What You Will Do

As Independent Chair, you will:

• Provide effective and independent leadership to the Governing Body.
• Establish a strong culture of accountability, constructive challenge, integrity and effective decision-making.
• Ensure the Governing Body maintains appropriate oversight of AIQQA's regulatory responsibilities.
• Lead the Board in scrutinising organisational strategy, performance, risk and regulatory readiness.
• Ensure that appropriate governance arrangements, committees, delegations and reporting structures are established and maintained.
• Support clarity between the responsibilities of the Governing Body, Executive Director, Responsible Officer and wider executive team.
• Ensure that the Responsible Officer has appropriate access to the Governing Body and can escalation significant regulatory matters where necessary.
• Provide independent challenge to executive management while maintaining a constructive working relationship.
• Ensure conflicts of interest are identified, declared and managed effectively.
• Oversee the effectiveness, composition and collective capability of the Governing Body.
• Support Board succession, induction, development and effectiveness reviews.
• Ensure that significant regulatory, financial, quality and organisational risks receive appropriate Board scrutiny.
• Support the Board in considering the long-term sustainability and resilience of the organisation.
• Ensure that decision-making appropriately protects qualification standards, learners and public confidence.
• Chair Governing Body meetings effectively and ensure that actions and decisions are properly followed through.
• Act as an independent sounding board to the Executive Director and senior leadership team.
• Support the organisation through its development and Ofqual recognition journey from a governance perspective.

What You Will Bring

We are looking for an established senior leader with substantial governance experience and the credibility to chair a new organisation through an important stage of development.

Your background may be in higher education, further education, awarding organisations, regulation, professional bodies or another regulated environment.

You will bring:

• Significant Board-level leadership and governance experience.
• A strong understanding of the distinction between governance and executive management.
• Experience of operating within a regulated or highly accountable environment.
• The ability to provide independent, constructive and proportionate challenge.
• Strong judgement and the confidence to address difficult or sensitive issues when required.
• Experience of working with senior executives, Boards, regulators or other significant stakeholders.
• An understanding of organisational risk, financial sustainability and effective assurance.
• The ability to bring together different areas of expertise and ensure effective collective decision-making.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• A commitment to high standards of governance, integrity and public confidence.

Experience within education, awarding organisations, qualifications, regulation or organisational development would be particularly valuable.

Previous experience as a Chair, senior Non-Executive Director or senior executive working closely with governing bodies would also be highly advantageous.

What Success Will Look Like

During AIQQA's development and recognition phase, the successful candidate will help ensure that:

• the Governing Body has the right composition, skills and independence;
• Board responsibilities and executive accountabilities are clearly defined;
• governance arrangements are proportionate and effective;
• regulatory and organisational risks receive appropriate challenge and oversight;
• conflicts of interest are managed transparently;
• the Responsible Officer has appropriate access and authority;
• the Board receives reliable and relevant information;
• decisions are properly documented and followed through; and
• AIQQA develops a strong governance culture capable of supporting the organisation through recognition and into operation.

Why Join AIQQA?

This is an opportunity to shape the governance of a new awarding organisation at a formative stage.

The Independent Chair will have the ability to influence how AIQQA's Board operates, how accountability is established and how governance supports regulatory compliance, quality and organisational development.

For an experienced leader who wants to help build a credible and well-governed organisation from the beginning, this represents an opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution.