Professional Services Executive Board
Remit and authority
Remit
Strategic Development, Planning, Performance Monitoring and Resourcing
- Strategic Planning and Delivery: To develop and agree upon integrated plans across all professional services to directly enable the delivery of the University Strategy for endorsement by UEB. This includes:
- developing and contributing to strategic projects, plans, and services to ensure that wider professional services implications are understood and addressed.
- strategic workforce planning; considering and contributing to plans for professional services organisational change and professional services pathways, to ensure cohesion, impact and that streamlined approaches can be embedded
- championing change and fostering collaboration across professional services and academic faculties, to achieve our academic mission.
- establishing and monitoring a framework of Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs) designed to measure the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of professional services in contributing to the University's goals. This includes analysing performance data, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies to enhance service delivery, streamline processes, and maximise overall efficiency.
- Resource Management and Prioritisation: To ensure the strategic prioritisation of resources (financial, human, and technological) across all professional service areas within the agreed budget and five-year forecast framework. PSEB will work collaboratively, promoting resource sharing and providing constructive challenge to ensure resourcing decisions are made in the best interests of the entire institution.
- To provide strategic advice, operational insights, and recommendations to the University’s Executive Board regarding professional services, ensuring alignment with, and support for, the University’s overall strategic priorities and objectives.
- To receive regular strategic and financial updates from UEB and other key groups as appropriate and work collectively to ensure delivery of financial and planning targets and resolve service implications for professional services.
Policy and Regulatory Matters
- To have an overview of the key risks owned by Directors of Professional Services and consider the appropriate level of mitigation and escalation.
- To consider institutional-level findings from internal audits, regulatory exercises, and major incident responses that require professional services wide oversight or input.
- To consider, advise on, endorse and approve (where appropriate) policies that have professional services wide implications or that require PSEB ownership and involvement.
- To ensure compliance with University Statutes, Ordinances, Regulations and policies to enable the PS to contribute to University-level governance and assurance.
Institutional operational matters arising
- To consider operational matters that have an institutional impact (for example, pay and reward) and agree and implement a common approach.
Authority
PSEB reports into UEB via the Chief Academic Services Officer, who is a UEB member and Chair of PSEB, and through the formal reporting mechanisms set out below.
PSEB has budgetary control and decision-making authority as set down in these terms of reference and related policy and documentation, including the Scheme of Delegated Authority (SoDA).
Reporting
Reporting to UEB
PSEB reports key points arising from its meetings to UEB as follows:
- Up to twelve times per year: through minutes of the business of PSEB on a for information basis. The Chief Academic Services Officer will also draw out key points of note through their quarterly reports.
- Ad hoc: where urgent University-wide matters pertaining to professional services require direct escalation to UEB for decision or discussion. The Chief Academic Services Officer and Chief Financial & Operating Officer are accountable for doing so, having consulted with the relevant PSEB members. On occasion, relevant PSEB members may be invited to attend UEB to discuss specific matters.
Reporting to the Committee
PSEB maintains indirect reporting and referral relationships with a range of subcommittees of UEB, Senate and Council, including the Budget Monitoring Group and Planning Committee concerning the annual budget and five-year forecasting framework and planning cycle, Integrated Infrastructure Board (IIB) in relation to capital and digital infrastructure planning, and Faculty Executive Boards (FEBs).
Frequency and quoracy
Frequency and quoracy
- Once per month, with variations as required.
- 50% of members, or 50% plus one where the number of members is not even.
- Members can nominate delegates to attend in their place.
Members
- Nigel Alcock, Chief Financial and Operating Officer (Co-chair)
- Vikki Goddard, Chief Academic Services Officer (Co-chair)
- Natalie Armstrong, Director of Faculty Operations (Sciences)
- Tom Banham, Academic Registrar & Director of Student Education and Experience
- Tyrrell Basson, Director of IT
- Joan Concannon, Chief Reputation and Stakeholder Relations Officer
- Justine Daniels, Director of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE)
- Simon Donoghue, Director of Strategic Planning and Performance
- Jamie Holliday, Director of Finance
- Rachael Millhouse, Director of HR
- Ros Roberts, Director of Faculty Operations (Arts and Humanities)
- Mark Shaw, Director of Faculty Operations (Social Sciences)
- Roger Ward, Director of Estates
- Lisa Woods, Director of Facilities Management and Campus Services
- Adam Hewitt, University Secretary
- Kirsty Lingstadt, Director of Library, Learning, Archives and Wellbeing
In attendance
- Jo Black, Senior Executive Officer (Secretary)
- Rachel Barson, Director of Communications
Meetings
Meeting dates 2024-25
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 18 September 2024 | 10am to 12pm |
| Wednesday 16 October 2024 | 10am to 12pm |
| Tuesday 19 November 2024 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 17 December 2024 | 10am to 12pm |
| Tuesday 14 January 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Wednesday 19 February 2025 | 10am to 12pm |
| Thursday 13 March 2025 | 10am to 12pm |
| Wednesday 16 April 2025 | 10am to 12pm |
| Tuesday 20 May 2025 | 2pm to 4pm |
| Tuesday 17 June 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 15 July 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
2025-26
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 19 August 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 23 September 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 14 October 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 18 November 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 16 December 2025 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 13 January 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 10 February 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 17 March 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 21 April 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 19 May 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
| Tuesday 21 July 2026 | 3pm to 5pm |
Meeting frequency
PSEB will meet once per month, with variations as required.
Meeting modes
Meetings will be held either in-person, online or via a hybrid format, subject to agreement by members.
Preparing meeting papers
PSEB requires the use of the formal University Committee template for all papers. Please see the University's guidelinesfor preparing committee papers.
Papers must be submitted to the Secretary by midday on the Wednesday before the meeting takes place.