Overview
EAUC Trustee
- Renumeration: Voluntary with reasonable expenses paid
- Positions available: Two
- Closing date: 18th May 2026
Opportunity
This is a unique opportunity to join the EAUC Board, bringing your sustainability leadership to a
purpose-driven charity at the intersection of sustainability and education.
We seek people who are committed to our mission, purpose and values and social justice
principles and who bring one or more of the following:
- insight into the further education or skills sectors.
- cross sector organisational leadership insight.
- sustainability academic and/or research experience.
We especially encourage applications from people who are currently under-represented on our
board with regards to age, ethnicity and disability.
About us
The EAUC is the leading body for sustainability in the post-16 education sector in the UK and
Republic of Ireland. Primarily a membership body, we serve 300 organisations whilst also
working to change systems that enable sustainability action. We’re both a charity and a
company limited by guarantee and are always not-for-profit.
Our vision
A post-16 education system that creates a world with sustainability at its heart.
Our purpose
We exist to lead and empower the post-16 education sector to embed sustainability in
everything it does. We promote holistic whole organisation approaches where leadership and
governance, estates and operations, teaching and learning and collaborations are all actively
driving sustainability so that we’re equipping learners for their lives, being responsible
organisations and shaping society for the better.
We do this by:
- Supporting our members to create meaningful sustainability change.
- Convening our network to generate solutions to shared challenges.
- Creating systems change to establish a more enabling environment for sustainability action.
Our goals for 2030
We know our organisation is built on solid foundations, but we need to increase the scale and
pace at which we work. We want to be more ambitious and more impactful, unleashing our
potential as a catalyst of transformational change across our sector. By 2030:
- Our members will be achieving their ambitious sustainability goals
- All publicly funded post-16 education organisations in the UK and the ROI will be engaged
through our work. - We will provide unparalleled expertise on sustainability in post-16 education
- The systems and frameworks which shape post-16 education will promote and embed
sustainability action.
Our values
We are first and foremost values led. Our values set out what you can expect from us, and what
we expect from those we work with.
Our team
EAUC is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive organisation – including employees,
trustees, fellows, members and partners. You can view our team here.
Shared attributes across our board include:
Essentials
- Commitment to the EAUC and its mission, vision and values
- Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Willingness to put time and effort into the trustee role
- An understanding of, and commitment to, Nolan’s seven principles of public life:
- selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
Personal qualities
- Sound independent judgement.
- Impartiality, fairness and confidentiality.
- Willingness to speak one’s mind.
- Tact and diplomacy.
- Respect for others.
- Desire to learn new skills.
Specific abilities
- Strategic vision.
- Creative thinking.
- Effective team member.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Experience.
- Interest in sustainability issues such as climate change, education for sustainability or
social responsibility.
The statutory duties of our trustees are to:
- ensure that the EAUC complies with its governing document (our articles of association),
charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. - ensure that the EAUC pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document and
through its strategic plan. - ensure the EAUC uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives: the charity
must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no
matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are. - contribute actively to give firm strategic direction to the EAUC, setting overall policy,
defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against them. - safeguard the good name and values of the EAUC.
- ensure the effective and efficient administration of the EAUC.
- ensure the financial stability of the EAUC.
- protect and manage the assets of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the
charity’s funds. - appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor their performance
- ensure a mechanism is in place to review and assess the effectiveness of the EAUC’s
governance.
In addition to these, each trustee uses their own specific skills, knowledge or experience to help
the board reach sound decisions. This may involve:
- Scrutinising board papers.
- Leading discussions.
- Focusing on key issues.
- Providing guidance on new initiatives.
- Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
- Act as an ambassador.
- Represent EAUC.
The application and appointment process
Ultimately it is the EAUC’s membership which votes on proposed trustees rather than them
being appointed through an application and interview process. This process is outlined in our
Articles of Association.
EAUC – The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges is a charity (no: 1106172)
and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (no: 05183502).
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
