The UM University Council seeks to appoint an independent Chair for a period of 2 years with the possibility of extension for 2 years. The Chair fulfils an important leadership role in the Council and is a current student or staff member at Maastricht University.

The University Council is composed of 6 academic staff members, 4 support staff members and 10 student members (20 total). Plenary meetings are held once a month. The Council has three committees: the Research and Education Committee, the Strategy Committee and the Operations Committee (chaired by an academic staff member, a student and a support staff member). These committees also meet once a month. The Presidium, consisting of the chair and vice-chair of the Council and chairs of the committees, meets every week to prepare the committee meetings and the plenary meeting. The Council also has a Confidential Committee with 2 student members and 2 staff members, which meets when necessary. With the exception of the confidential committee meetings, the chair is invited to all the meetings mentioned above, which usually take place in English. The Chair is furthermore expected to have a regular meeting with the Council or a delegation from the Council to discuss the Chair´s performance.

The University Council receives administrative support from the registry, which consists of a registrar and a secretary.

One of the Chair’s core tasks is to manage the registry of the University Council, initiating and chairing a weekly meeting to evaluate and plan the work. Another important part of the job is to coach and support current and new Council members.

Job description

The Chair of the University Council represents the Council within and outside UM. The primary responsibility of the technical Chair is to prepare and lead the plenary meetings of the University Council and the Presidium. The Chair also coordinates the work of the Council committees and, in an advisory capacity, attends the committee meetings.

The Chair consults regularly with the Executive Board and facilitates collaboration between the Executive Board and the University Council. The Chair also serves as a bridge between the Council and the Faculty Councils and service councils. The Chair can therefore be asked to initiate regular meetings with the chairs of these councils.

General requirements:

The Chair of the University Council is loyal to Maastricht University and demonstrates genuine empathy for its mission, values and working methods. You have an open mind, are able to synthesise complex information quickly, and can contribute to a wide range of strategic discussions in a collegial manner.

Specific requirements:

• You are an encouraging and inspiring chair during meetings, able to steer the discussion towards a standpoint or a final decision in an efficient manner;
• You are well informed and have an affinity with higher education developments in general and UM in particular, and you are alert to topics that call for discussion in the Council;
• You always strive for constructive and open dialogue and cooperation with the Executive Board and other relevant actors within UM;
• You are familiar with the content, legal aspects and opportunities for staff and student participation;
• You can explain and defend points of view that contributed to a specific recommendation or decision made by the Council even if they do not conform with your personal opinion;
• You are able to facilitate the expression of the full range of opinions in the Council;
• You are a team player, willing to work in close collaboration and consultation with the Presidium;
• You are approachable and behave according to democratic principles;
• Preferably, you have prior experience as a chair or member of a participatory body within a university organisation;
• You are present and available to work for the University Council at least two days per week. Definitely on Wednesdays and preferably on Mondays dependent on the availability of the presidium members that year;
• You work and think on an academic level;
• You are open minded, well balanced and genuinely interested in UM as an organisation and in the interests of staff and students;
• You have excellent listening and communication skills;
• You understand and know how to act upon the legal and ethical rules for staff and student participation/representation;
• You have an excellent command of English (C1 level) and Dutch (C1 level), both spoken and written, by the time your term as Chair starts;
• You have intercultural experience and skills and are capable of handling issues related to diversity in a professional manner;
• You have excellent time-management skills;
• You are result oriented, proactive, independent and flexible;
• You are a member of the UM academic community (staff or student) during your Chairmanship.

This is an appointment for two years for 20 hours a week, with a possibility of a two year extension (both one year for student applicants).

The successful applicant is entitled to an additional compensation while executing the mandate (10% of the maximum of salary scale 18 CAO-NU). Depending on the applicant’s background, a compensation for the department and the right to a sabbatical leave may apply as well.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.