Bristol SU Co-opted (external) Trustee (non-student)

Whats the role

Role: Bristol SU Co-opted (external) Trustee (non-student)

Hours: Meetings are during working hours. The role requires a level of flexibility (hours commitment and expectations section on the role description)

Voluntary: Reasonable expenses reimbursedwhen carrying out trustee duties

Location: Bristol and Online

Requirements:Trustee meetings and subcommittees occur in person (some opportunity for online as well) but the events (training and awayday) are in person in Bristol

Duration: 3 years (with potential for another 2 terms of 3 years)

Closing date: Friday 27 February 2026 5pm

Help shape our future and improve the lives of over 30000 students.

This is an exciting time to join Bristol Students Union. We are starting the second year of a strategy that will see us become a Union for all Bristol Students; we have a new Co-opted Trustee Co-Chair; recently undertook a Board Effectiveness Review and will be reviewing and amending our Articles next year

Were more digitally connected and embracing the opportunities and challenges that our new Temple Quarter campus and Mumbai Enterprise Campus brings us in September 2026. As a Trustee youll be crucial in helping shape this journey as well as addressing pressing issues such as:

• Access to education
• Mental Health
• Accommodation
• Race inequality
• Poverty
• Inclusivity
• Internationalisation

Ultimately youll be involved in providing strategic financial and governance oversight to help achieve our vision of a Union for all students

What will you bring

Experience as a trustee a member of a commercial board or in a senior management role with leadership or governance responsibilities is essential. This is due to the nature of our board: as a membership organisation we have a strong representation of student voice through officers and student trustees. They are almost always first-time trustees and will benefit from co-opted trustees with strong insight and experience in leadership governance and strategic decision making.

We value and are looking for committed and engaged trustees. However whilst were relatively open in terms of skillsets ideally youll have expertise in one or more of these areas:

• Legal especially charity or company law
• Equality Diversity and Inclusivity
• Charity governance

Most importantly youll be committed to making a difference to the lives of our 32000 members and around 400 clubs and societies.

Please note this role is not open to current University of Bristol students or anyone who has been one within the last two years. Student trustee opportunities and other student leadership roles will be available in the March 2026 election.

Who are we

Part business part charity part membership body. Bristol SU is an enjoyable and rewarding organisation to be part of. Our professional staff do something extraordinary every day: they support student leaders to give students a voice in their education and help shape their academic experience help students get the most out of their student experience and help them make the change they want in the world. We have over 30000 members 400 clubs and societies a diverse range of professional services and an innovative strategy that will help to create an inclusive and supportive University community.

Were a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We have a turnover circa 7 million and have a diverse team of 94 salaried staff also with a team of student staff working alongside our student leaders to make change happen.

87% of our staff recommend us as a great place to work. We are accredited as a Disability Confident Employer we have opened a new base in Senate House launched new services and spaces and diversified empowered our staff team our elections turn out has been among the best in the sector and we have high satisfaction rates and high levels of participation and engagement from our members.

Bristol SU strives to have an inclusive culture and an environment for all underpinned by respect and compassion. We want to be a place where everyone feels welcomed included supported valued and safe. We recognise that people from some backgrounds/ identities may face additional barriers. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team by offering two guaranteed interview schemes a guaranteed interview scheme for people of colour and a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled people.

The Bristol SU Board

You can see our current board here. It consists of:

• 4 elected students
• 7 elected full-time officers
• 4 co-opted trustees
• 1 nominated trustee (through university).
  

Key dates and how to apply

• Closing Date: Fri 27 February 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 2 March 2026
• Interviews: w/c 16 March 2026

Please visit our website to download our Applicant pack for more information before submitting your application.

For general enquiries or to arrange an informal chat with one of our Co-Chairs please email Suzanne Doyle Governance and Learning & Development Manager and clerk to the Board of Trustees - emailprotected