3 Senior HR business partner volunteer roles in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
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External Trustee (HR)
University of Cumbria Students’ Union
Location: Remote / Cumbria
Contract: Voluntary Trustee position
Time commitment: Approximately one day per month, particularly during the first year
Are you an experienced HR, People and Culture leader looking to use your expertise to support a student-led organisation making a real difference to students’ lives?
University of Cumbria Students’ Union (UCSU) is seeking an External Trustee with strong strategic HR, People and Culture expertise to join its Board of Trustees at an important time for the organisation.
About UCSU
University of Cumbria Students’ Union is the independent Students’ Union at the University of Cumbria, representing and supporting students across campuses in Carlisle, Ambleside, Lancaster, London and Barrow-in-Furness.
As an External Trustee, you will bring independent professional expertise to support effective governance, strategic leadership and organisational development.
This is a particularly important time to join UCSU as the organisation prepares for the departure of its current Chief Executive after 10 years. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to support the Board through this transition and help ensure strong leadership and governance for the future.
About the Role
As the HR specialist on the Board, you will provide strategic expertise, constructive challenge and support on people, culture and organisational development, while contributing to the wider responsibilities of the Trustee Board.
In this role, you will:
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Provide strategic HR and People & Culture expertise to support Board decision-making.
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Provide insight on equality, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, succession planning and organisational change.
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Support the recruitment and induction of a new Chief Executive.
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Contribute to effective governance, risk management and strategic decision-making.
About You
UCSU is looking for an experienced HR, People and Culture professional with significant senior-level experience and the ability to contribute effectively at Board level.
You will bring:
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Strong strategic HR, People and Culture or organisational development experience.
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Experience of organisational strategy, change and transformation.
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An understanding of good governance and the ability to provide constructive challenge.
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Strong communication, judgement and relationship-building skills.
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A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
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Experience of supporting and developing others, including people at different stages of their leadership journey.
Experience of the Higher Education would be valuable, but is not essential and candidates with relevant experience from other sectors are encouraged to apply.
Commitment
The Board meets approximately five times per year, usually via Microsoft Teams. Trustees are expected to prepare for meetings, review papers in advance and actively contribute to discussions and decision-making.
For this particular appointment, the anticipated commitment is approximately one day per month, particularly during the first year, reflecting the additional involvement required around the recruitment and induction of a new Chief Executive.
Most Trustee activities can take place remotely, although the successful candidate will be expected to attend in-person activities approximately three to four times per year.
How to Apply
To apply, please click Apply Now. You will need to submit an up-to-date CV and complete an application form, where you will be asked to answer three questions (maximum 300 words per question):
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Why are you interested in applying and how do you feel your personal values align with our mission?
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What are the key skills, knowledge and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the role?
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What do you believe are the most significant contributors to Board effectiveness?
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Nida at Atkinson HR Consulting via the contact information provided on the Candidate pack.
Key Dates
Closing date: 12 noon, Tuesday 29 September 2026
Interview date: Week commencing 12 October 2026 (remote)
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Business Development Lead will work closely with the CEO and Business Development Trustee to build a sustainable pipeline of corporate partners.
The role will focus on developing relationships that can generate:
- CSR and corporate sponsorship;
- multi-year funding partnerships;
- employee fundraising;
- volunteer mentors;
- skills-based volunteering;
- corporate introductions and wider strategic support.
The aim is not simply to generate one-off donations, but to build long-term corporate relationships that combine funding, employee engagement and measurable social impact.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a targeted pipeline of banks, asset managers, insurers, fintech companies and other financial-services organisations.
- Identify relevant CSR, ESG, social-impact, community-investment and employee-engagement opportunities.
- Research decision-makers and identify the strongest routes into prospective partners.
- Develop tailored corporate partnership propositions.
- Secure introductory meetings and manage follow-up.
- Work with the CEO and Trustee to prepare pitches, proposals and presentations.
- Build sponsorship propositions around:
- student mentoring;
- school cohorts;
- programme delivery;
- technology;
- employability and careers;
- and wider organisational growth.
- Develop corporate volunteer-mentor opportunities that are attractive and practical for financial-sector employees.
- Convert existing networks and introductions into structured partnership discussions.
- Maintain a clear partnership pipeline showing:
- prospects;
- contacts;
- stage;
- potential value;
- next action;
- and probability.
- Support stewardship and renewal of existing corporate partners.
- Explore employee fundraising, matched giving and corporate campaigns.
- Identify opportunities for corporate employees to contribute as mentors, speakers, career volunteers or ambassadors.
- Help create a repeatable corporate-partnership process that can grow with the charity.
Key priorities in the first 6 months
- Map priority banking and financial-services organisations.
- Build a qualified corporate prospect list.
- Develop a clear One Degree corporate partnership proposition.
- Progress renewal and extension opportunities with existing corporate supporters.
- Secure new meetings with senior CSR, ESG, HR, volunteering, community-investment and foundation leads.
- Develop a stronger pipeline of prospective corporate sponsors.
- Increase the number of suitable corporate volunteer mentors.
- Establish a structured approach to partnership reporting and stewardship.
- Leading to: Secured sponsorship of 50 x One Degree students every 6 months
Person specification
We are looking for someone who ideally has:
- experience in business development, partnerships, fundraising, CSR or corporate engagement;
- strong knowledge of banking, financial services or professional services;
- existing corporate networks or confidence building relationships with senior decision-makers;
- experience developing and progressing a sales or fundraising pipeline;
- excellent written and verbal communication;
- strong presentation and relationship-management skills;
- confidence making direct approaches and asking for meetings, introductions and support;
- ability to work independently with limited monthly time;
- a commercial mindset combined with an understanding of charitable impact.
Experience working directly within banking or financial services would be particularly valuable.
Success measures
Success would be assessed through:
- quality and value of the corporate pipeline;
- number of qualified corporate meetings;
- new corporate sponsorship secured;
- existing partnerships renewed or expanded;
- number of volunteer mentors sourced through corporate partners;
- development of multi-year rather than purely one-off relationships;
- quality of corporate stewardship;
- and creation of a repeatable partnership-development process.
Bring your voice and experience to a Board where it can shape real change. Join a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, challenge our thinking, influence our future and help us make stronger decisions for the children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do.
Compass exists for children, young people and families who need someone in their corner. For 40 years, we have delivered health and wellbeing services that give people access to the right support, at the right time and in ways that reflect their needs and communities.
We are looking for a voluntary Non Executive Director and Trustee to join our Board and help shape what comes next. This is an opportunity to use your knowledge, experience and perspective somewhere they can influence real decisions and help Compass remain ambitious, accountable and focused on the people our services exist for.
As a member of the Board, you will provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and fresh thinking. You will work alongside fellow Trustees and our senior leaders to help shape strategy, review organisational performance and ensure decisions are thoughtful, evidence informed and consistent with our charitable purpose and values.
Your role will reach across the organisation. You will contribute to discussions about service quality, safeguarding, workforce, finance, risk, performance and long term sustainability. You will ask the questions that help us think differently, test assumptions and understand the likely impact of our decisions. You will also share responsibility for ensuring Compass is well governed, uses its resources responsibly and meets its legal and regulatory duties as a charity.
This role is about more than attending Board meetings. You will have opportunities to deepen your understanding of Compass, connect with the people who deliver our services and see how Board decisions translate into practice. You will act as an ambassador for our work and help us build trust with the communities, partners and organisations around us. You will also contribute to at least one Board advisory group, bringing closer attention to an area where your knowledge, experience or curiosity can add value.
We want our Board to benefit from a range of voices and experiences. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life, including those underrepresented at Board level. This is not about asking anyone to speak for an entire community. It is about building a stronger, more representative Board that makes better decisions, challenges established thinking and understands the people it serves.
Previous experience as a Trustee or Non Executive Director would be valuable, but it is not essential. We are interested in what you can bring, whether that comes from your professional career, your community, your lived experience or a combination of these. You will need the confidence to contribute your views, the openness to listen to others and the integrity to put the interests of Compass and the people we support first.
You will be joining a Board where your contribution will be heard and valued. If you are curious about how your experience could help shape a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, we would encourage you to take a closer look.
This is a voluntary appointment. Expenses directly connected with carrying out the role, such as travel, will be reimbursed.
A charity providing health and wellbeing services, helping people unleash their unique potential and live healthier, safer and more fulfilling lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.