External Trustee 

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Durham Students’ Union 

Location: Durham 

Commitment: Voluntary 

Term: Four years (renewable) 

Closing date: Midday on Friday 29th May 2026 

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Atkinson HR  and Marble Mayne are pleased to be supporting Durham SU in their search for two External Trustees to join their Board. 

Durham students created Durham SU in 1899 as the Student Representative Council, the first and only thing owned by every single student at our university, no matter what their course or College.  

Over one hundred years later, student life is very different, but much of what we think is important and the way we work would be recognisable to our founders. We’re still unique at Durham, because we belong to every single student, and we’re where every single student belongs. 

Durham is a leading students’ union, working with a world-class university, in an exceptional city, and our foundations are strong. We’re proud and privileged to be able to use this heritage to be ambitious about our future.  

Our Board of Trustees is now looking for two new members of, and we’re so pleased you may be interested in helping us to bring students together to make Durham University fairer and better. 

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About the Role 

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of students in Durham. As an External Trustee, you will play a key role in setting and monitoring Durham SU’s strategy, providing financial oversight, managing risk, and ensuring the organisation remains fit for purpose.

The Board meets five times per year, with trustees also invited to engage in other opportunities such as sitting on an appointments panel, meeting with auditors or attending a student awards ceremony

Durham SU is keen to hear from individuals who are curious, genuine and enthusiastic about Durham SU doing well. They are particularly interested in candidates who bring knowledge of the Higher Education sector or Students' Unions, and experience in political, corporate or financial settings.

Durham SU will also welcome applications from first-time trustees and aim to have an inclusive Board with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.  

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How to Apply 

To apply, please submit your CV initially.

You will then be asked to complete the application form, where you will be asked to answer three questions: 

• Tell us why you’d like to join Durham SU as a Trustee and how do your personal values align with the SU’s? 

• What knowledge, abilities, and experience can you contribute to our Board’s collective skills? 

• How would you add value to the Board and our work to support students? 

Each answer should be a maximum of 400 words. 

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For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Matilda at Atkinson HR or Jamie at Marble Mayne.

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Key Dates 

Closing Date: Midday on Friday 29th May 2026

Interviews: Monday 8th June 2026

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