Pension Member – Non-executive Director role

Pension Member – Non-executive Director role

Fee: Available on request. London based (with occasional travel to USS’s Liverpool office and other locations in the UK)

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for 528,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £75.5bn (at 31 March 2023).  Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (USSL) is the trustee that runs and manages USS in line with the trust deed and rules and legal duties.

USSL is led by a Board of directors comprised of 3 directors appointed by the University and College Union (UCU), 4 directors appointed by Universities UK (UUK), and 5 independent directors.  The Board has significant responsibilities for the governance and oversight of a business providing complex operational and advisory functions within a heavily regulated environment and Board members need experience, expertise and capabilities proportionate to this. Therefore, all Board members require exceptional strategic thinking, leadership, communication, influencing, teamwork and decision-making skills.

USS is an equal opportunity organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, non-executive directors and contractors and would welcome applications from a wide range of candidates.

UCU invites applications for a director to join the Board of USSL as one of the three directors appointed to the Board by UCU.

Full information on the requirements for the role are set out in the role profile, available on request. It is essential that the appointee is a USS pensioner member (i.e. currently drawing a USS pension or will be doing so by 1 August 2024) and has a good understanding of the views/perspectives of pensioner members of USS.

The requirements include experience in one or more of the areas below. The examples given are illustrative of the type of expectations for each area:

• Stakeholder engagement and experience in industrial relations, e.g. being able to successfully manage complex stakeholder relationships and build buy-in and consensus views on difficult topics; understanding of industrial relations and knowledge of collective bargaining arrangements; understanding the perspectives of members in relation to USS and the ability to present those views coherently.
• Pension industry experience, e.g. as a pension trustee, member of the management team of a DB/DC pension fund or a member of Company/University leadership/a committee responsible for pensions matters.
• Corporate Governance expertise/board management knowledge, e.g. experience as an effective board and/or committee member or individual operating at board level (preferably within a large, complex business or regulated firm); knowledge/ understanding of corporate governance best practice and the Pension Regulator’s codes of practice and guidance in relation to effective trusteeship of pension funds.

Time Commitment: At least 35 days per annum.

Duration: A term of office of 3 or 4 years with the possibility of reappointment.

For more information, and to request the role profile and an application form, please contact D Harte at trusteeappointments@ucu.org.uk. CVs will not be accepted.  Interested candidates should complete their application and send these details by email to trusteeappointments@ucu.org.uk.

The closing date for applications is 24 March 2024.