The Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is a world leading, higher education institution for the visual creative disciplines. Founded in 1845 as one of the UK’s first schools of design, today the GSA is ranked amongst the top ten art and design schools globally and is a small, specialist institution with a diverse and international community of students and staff. Alongside our global standing, we continue to contribute to Glasgow’s position as a European cultural capital, with many of our graduates contributing to the cultural and creative industries that make the city thrive. We are currently finalising our new strategic plan, which will reflect our shared ambitions for the School and outline a course of action to realise these as part of a successful and sustainable future.

We are now looking to appoint a new Chair, who will play a key role in guiding the GSA through this next exciting chapter. The Chair will lead the GSA’s governing body, which is responsible for ensuring the School is run effectively in alignment with its strategic objectives and with regards to its finances, and safeguarding its reputation and values. Candidates will need to bring a strong record of successful leadership in a complex organisation, substantial experience of chairing meetings and facilitating effective decision making and governance, and a good understanding of the regulatory framework and higher education context within which the GSA operates. The ability to identify key strategic and financial issues and to evaluate the School’s performance in a constructively critical manner will also be key. Critically, the new Chair will need to be an excellent communicator who can represent the School internally and externally, promoting its interests with key stakeholders regionally, nationally and internationally, and with a strong commitment to the GSA’s mission and values.

The role entails a time commitment of at least 50 days per year. On appointment, the Chair may request the payment of such remuneration as the Board of Governors has previously agreed. The applicable rate is £20,000 per annum, calculated on the basis of an expected annual time commitment of at least fifty days. Reimbursement will be offered of previously agreed expenses incurred in connection with attending an interview or campaigning in an election for the position. The appointment will be made by the GSA Board following an election process in accordance with the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016.

We believe that diversity drives creativity; we work to provide a safe and inclusive working environment for all students and staff and are committed to seeing the diversity of GSA’s community represented at all levels. We would therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates of Black, Asian and other Minority ethnicities, and other individuals from protected characteristic groups that are currently under-represented on the Board and who would enhance its diversity.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to The Glasgow School of Art on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference CAGSB. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Wednesday 20^th April 2022.

Further information is available on the appointment microsite