Estates Committee External Member

This role provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in the governance of one of the world’s leading universities. The Estates Committee advises on the University’s physical and digital estate ensuring a world-class integrated infrastructure underpinning Edinburgh’s excellent academic, teaching, research and public engagement activities. Estate Committee meetings are held four times a year.

The vacancy is for an external member (please note that current employees and current students of the University are not eligible) and while the position is unremunerated, the University will meet all reasonable costs associated with membership of the Committee. Appointments are subject to approval by the University Court (the University’s governing body) and would be for three years in the first instance with the possibility of extension for a further three years subject to review. 

Further information on the role is below.  For informal enquires or discussion please contact Hannah King, Policy and Governance Manager, or Kym McCaul, Estates Governance and Committee Officer (estates.feedback@ed.ac.uk).

Role Description: Estates Committee Member

Role of the Estates Committee

The Estates Committee oversees the University Estates and Digital strategies, ensuring an integrated fit-for-purpose infrastructure aligned to the University’s academic ambitions. This is achieved through the governance of the large University estate of 500 buildings across five campuses and the University’s Digital Estate, consisting of over 1,200 applications and digital platforms. Together these jointly serve the needs of our University community of 17,000 staff and 50,000 students, as well as external stakeholders and the public. 

The Estates Committee has up to five external members, and this vacancy is for a member with expertise of real estate-related issues at a senior level in large and complex organisations.  In particular experience in commercial real estate and or experience of hard and soft facilities management services at the highest level would be welcome. The new member will be champion for the user and understand the need for inclusive design, decarbonisation, net zero and whole life cost and carbon impact as the University of Edinburgh invests in its estate. They will understand the connection between design, development, and user experience, and will be able to take a holistic view of how the University estate and its users interact. They will provide strategic guidance, insight and challenge on the Estates Committee as the University drives forward its new Estates Strategy, due for final approval in late 2026.

The appointee will offer their specialist expertise and have the opportunity to ask and engage with some of the biggest questions facing the University’s estate and its development. Ideal candidates will have an understanding and/or experience of non-executive roles, a user-minded approach and a deep knowledge of service delivery.

The full terms of reference for the Committee can be found on our website:

https://estates.ed.ac.uk/what-we-do/business-services/estates-committee/termsofreference 

Responsibilities of members

The role of Estates Committee members is to:

• Attend meetings regularly and participate actively in scheduled committee meetings.
• Read reports, agendas, and other relevant documents before meetings.
• Contribute to decision-making, listening to what others have to say, offering insight, opinions, and expertise to help guide the committee’s work.
• Uphold confidentiality and handle sensitive or confidential information responsibly.
• Effectively manage conflicts of interest, through transparent declarations of any financial or non-financial interests
• Fulfil any responsibilities assigned at the meeting and report back on progress at the next meeting. 

External members are asked to bring their expertise and experience to bear on the work of the Estates Committee. All members will question intelligently, debate constructively, challenge rigorously and decide dispassionately, having listened sensitively to the views of others, inside and outside meetings of the Estates Committee.

As part of their work on the Committee, Estates Committee members are expected to gain an understanding of the University (its objectives, risks, structure and culture), as well as the legal framework governing the institution.

Period of Appointment

The appointment will be made for an initial period of a maximum of 3 years and appointees will be eligible for consideration for reappointment for a further term of 3 years.  The appointment start date will be from 1st August 2026.

Remuneration

In common with most higher education institutions, there is no remuneration directly associated with external membership of Committees but the University will meet reasonable expenses incurred in connection with membership of the Estates Committee or activities on behalf of the University including meeting child and other dependent care costs.

Time commitment and assistance

The Committee meets four times a year.  All meetings are in-person.  Members may also be invited to join the Estates Committee Exception Group which considers urgent or delegated requests out-of-cycle, usually by correspondence.

Experience within or with the Higher Education Sector is not required. We actively encourage applications from other sectors where members can bring their own sectoral knowledge to help inform discussions and decisions-making at the Committee. There will be an induction process for new members, with regular opportunities to engage both with University and external members of the Committee throughout the year.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Senior management experience in a large organisation.
• Knowledge of corporate governance arrangements.
• Ability to challenge rigorously and debate constructively.
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to analyse and weigh up complex information and reach a decision.
• Significant real estate experience

Desirable:

• Real estate governance experience
• Experience of user metrics, data-driven decision making and contract management
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities around running an estate in the centre of a major capital city
• Understanding/experience of non-executive roles

Application Procedure

Individuals with relevant experience and knowledge able to make a contribution to the work of the Estates Committee are invited to express interest by contacting Hannah King, Policy and Governance Manager and Kym McCaul, Estates Governance and Committee Officer (estates.feedback@ed.ac.uk) by midday on Friday 10 April 2026 including a CV and a covering note.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from women, members of ethnic minorities and traditionally under-represented groups on our Committees.  The University Court and members of University Committees operate in line with a Code of Conduct, based on ensuring good practice on governance. If successful, new members of University Committees are asked by means of a letter sent after appointment to acknowledge that they are familiar with this Code and that they understand their obligations under it.

It is anticipated that interviews will take place on Tuesday 5 May 2026.