External Committee Member of The Capital Committee

**Description**:
The SFC is currently looking for **two**new external members to join its **Capital Committee.**The Capital Committee is a sub-committee of the SFC Board which provides assurance to the Board that SFC’s Council executive has undertaken the necessary scrutiny and due diligence for all of its capital programmes.

Per the committee’s established remit, the Capital Committee has oversight of SFC capital programmes, and in particular the governance arrangements for both colleges and universities. The SFC’s Capital Decision Point Process guidance (currently being replaced by a process aligned to the Scottish Capital Investment Manual) examines a project at critical stages in its procurement and delivery to provide an assurance that it is consistent with the agreed initial aims and it can progress successfully to the next stage. The decision point progress provides assurance that each project:

- Is on target to meet the pre-agreed aims and objectives.
- Can successfully progress to the next stage of development or implementation.
- Remains within the cost, quality and budget parameters set.
- Represents value for money.
- Governance and resource arrangements are effective for its delivery.

**Key Responsibilities**:
We are looking for our new Capital Committee members to bring knowledge and understanding of the development of major infrastructure projects and skill in bringing constructive challenge and insight to the Committee’s work.

As an external member of the Capital Committee you would be expected to make a full contribution to the work of the committee. This is an unremunerated role (travel and expenses incurred through the attendance of meetings will be reimbursed) and offers a unique opportunity to work with dedicated and expert colleagues supporting the vital work of our Board. The Capital Committee meets three times a year and the committee meetings are a mix of in person and virtual.

Per the Committee’s established standing orders, external members will be appointed for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of serving for a further three-year period thereafter.

Committee meetings planned for 2025 are due to take place on the following dates:
9 April 2025 (via Teams)

1 October 2025 (Apex 1, Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh).

Further information about the committee and its current members can be found on our website.

**Skills, Knowledge and Expertise**:
Applicants are required to submit their CV and provide a short personal statement (no more than 500 words) setting out an overview of the skills and knowledge that they have to offer and why they feel suitable to serve on this committee.
- Degree level qualification or professional membership in a relevant field.
- Proven knowledge, experience, and understanding of leading a range of capital projects including refurbishment and new build developments.
- Current demonstrable knowledge of the HE and FE sector with a strong personal commitment to the tertiary education sector.
- Significant experience in managing large-scale programmes and projects preferably within public/ higher/ further education sectors.
- Ability to assimilate complex information and participate fully in Committee deliberations.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively, identify key issues and reach balanced conclusions.

At least one of these:

- Demonstrable project management skills with a proven track record of managing complex projects.
- Significant experience in funding development projects.
- Strong experience of environmental sustainability.
- Proven ability to work effectively within the public sector requirements for accountability and openness and within financial constraints.

**Key Dates**:
Vacancies close Sunday 16th March 2025

Applications shortlisted Tuesday 18th March 2025

Interviews to take place Wednesday 26th March (via Teams)

Induction with SFC Officers and Capital Committee Chair to take place in the morning of Tuesday 1st April 2025

**About Scottish Funding Council**:
We are the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, more commonly known as the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

We are Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority and our purpose is to sustain a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that enables students to flourish, changes lives for the better, and supports social, economic and environmental wellbeing and prosperity.

We do this by investing around £2 billion of public money to deliver:

- Tertiary learning and teaching.
- Skills and apprenticeships.
- Student support and participation.
- Research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
- Data collection and dissemination.
- National quality assurance and enhancement processes.
- Capital and digital infrastructure for the sector.
- Strategic change, responsive provision and research priorities.

As a non-departmental public body established by the F