Kirklees college Independent Governor Vacancies
Roles: Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee and Independent Governor
Time commitment: Five meetings per year
Term: 4 years
Closing date: 02 February 2027
Location: Huddersfield and Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
ETF is delighted to be supporting Kirklees College with the recruitment of two Independent Governors.
Kirklees College has served Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and the wider region since 1825. It is one of the largest further education colleges in the country. Each year it supports more than 5,000 young people aged 16–18, over 9,000 adults and more than 1,500 apprentices, through a broad technical and professional curriculum shaped with employers. The College’s mission is Creating Opportunities, Changing Lives, and its values are Kindness, Unity and Excellence.
The College has made significant progress in recent years:
- It was rated “Good” by Ofsted in all areas in 2023.
- In 2023/24, its achievement rates went from the lowest to the highest among general FE colleges in West Yorkshire.
- Its financial health was rated “Outstanding” for 2023/24, and its income exceeded £54 million in 2024/25.
Who we're looking for
The roles
Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee
The College is looking for a qualified accountant or senior finance professional, such as a CFO or Finance Director, with experience of financial strategy, planning and reporting in a complex organisation. You will lead the Committee’s oversight of the College’s financial strategy, budgets, financial health and capital investment, including the Estates Strategy. Experience of chairing a board or committee is highly desirable. Applicants from the public, charity, regulated and private sectors are all welcome.
Independent Governor
The College welcomes candidates from a broad range of professional backgrounds who share its values and can bring strategic insight, independent judgement and constructive challenge. Experience in estates, property or capital programme delivery would be particularly welcome, but is not essential.
You do not need previous governance experience or a background in education. The College values people who can think strategically, ask thoughtful questions and work as part of a collegiate, supportive board. Kirklees College is proud of the diversity of West Yorkshire. It particularly welcomes applications from groups under-represented in governance, and values lived experience alongside professional expertise.
how to apply
To apply, please submit:
Send a CV (maximum two sides) and a cover letter (maximum two sides) to boardrecruitment@etfoundation.co.uk by Tuesday 2 February 2027. In your cover letter, say which role you are applying for and how you meet the criteria in the candidate pack. Please also complete the diversity monitoring form.
For an informal conversation about either role, contact Cezanne Ritchie-Hutchinson, Sector Governance & Workforce Lead at ETF, at cezanne.ritchie-hutchinson@etfoundation.co.uk.
Please send your application to the email below:
Further information:
For a private and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Cezanne Ritchie-Hutchinson via email at Cezanne.Ritchie-Hutchinson@etfoundation.co.uk