Chair

CHAIR - ECSSSUP and The Episcopal University

The Episcopal University (TEU) is a multi-campus private university in South Sudan in its early stages of its development. TEU is made up of existing higher education colleges across the country in Wau, Kajo Keji, Yei and Maridi, with a central campus in the capital, Juba, and a new site outside Rokon. The University was registered as a Private University of The Episcopal Church of South Sudan by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology in 2022.

ECSSSUP is the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan University Partnership. Registered as a UK charity in 2014, ECSSSUP exists solely to support the founding and development of TEU by offering advice on higher education governance and strategy, fundraising through individuals and institutional donors, and representing TEU and networking on its behalf.

The role of the Chair

The Chair of Trustees plays a pivotal leadership role in ensuring that ECSSSUP fulfils its purpose and delivers strong, ethical, and effective governance. The Chair leads the Board, enabling trustees to work collectively, supports and challenges the senior leadership of TEU, and represents ECSSSUP externally as a key ambassador.

The Chair ensures that ECSSSUP, working closely with TEU, has a clear, coherent, and sustainable strategy, and oversees the Board’s fulfilment of its governance responsibilities, including safeguarding, financial oversight, and risk management.

Board members have a collective responsibility, which means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals. 

Core Duties

Leadership & Board Management

• Provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities effectively.
• Shape and guide Board discussions to ensure high‑quality decision‑making, informed by ECSSSUP’s purpose, values, and long‑term goals.
• Plan, chair, and facilitate Board meetings, ensuring they are productive, inclusive, and focused on key issues.
• Work with trustees to ensure the Board has the right skills, diversity, and capacity; lead on trustee recruitment and induction.
• Ensure that the Board regularly reviews ECSSSUP’s strategy, financial plans, risks, and performance against agreed targets.
• Ensure ECSSSUP’s policies, procedures, and governance arrangements remain fit for purpose.
• Oversee compliance with the governing document, charity law, safeguarding requirements, and recognised standards of good governance.

Relationship with TEU

• Act as a key point of contact between ECSSSUP and TEU’s senior leadership, supporting a strong and collaborative "shoulder‑to‑shoulder" partnership.
• Provide support and constructive challenge to TEU’s leadership team, helping build capacity in governance, strategy, fundraising, and institutional planning.
• Represent ECSSSUP and TEU jointly where appropriate, strengthening shared understanding and alignment of vision.
• Attend TEU Governance Council Meetings (either in person or remotely) as a representative of ECSSSUP, a key partner of TEU

External Representation & Advocacy

• Act as an ambassador for ECSSSUP and TEU with donors, partners, church leaders, higher education bodies, and external stakeholders.
• Support fundraising efforts, including cultivating donor relationships and contributing to funding proposals or presentations.
• Promote the reputation of ECSSSUP and TEU by using the Chair’s networks, expertise, and communication skills.

Hands‑on Involvement

As ECSSSUP is a small charity with no employees, the Chair will need to engage directly in some operational or developmental tasks outside Board meetings. This may include editing papers, reviewing TEU updates, assisting with communications, supporting fundraising activities, and participating in visits to TEU in South Sudan.

What we are looking for

As Chair, you bring energy, clarity, emotional intelligence, and commitment to the role. You will share enthusiasm for TEU’s development and the transformative potential of higher education in South Sudan. You will support the Christian foundations of ECSSSUP and TEU, and champion ECSSSUP’s partnership model and collaborative, respectful ways of working. You will lead with integrity, humility, and sound judgement. You do not need to have previous experience as a Chair, but will ideally have been a trustee or worked closely with trustee boards previously.

Personal skills and qualities

ECSSSUP is looking for individuals with

• a strong commitment to the Christian ethos of the University;
• a willingness and ability to understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of a UK charity trustee and to act in the best interests of the organisation;
• an ability to think creatively and strategically, to exercise good independent judgement and to work effectively as a board member and in partnership with TEU’s leaders;
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, enabling effective Board discussions
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, combined with enthusiasm for ECSSSUP’s and TEU’s vision and mission
• Experience in overseeing or developing capacity in areas such as excellence in teaching and learning, accountability in institutional monitoring and evaluation, diligence in financial and programme oversight, and commitment to fundraising and donor engagement.

Specific skills and experience

We would particularly welcome Chairs with:

• Experience in fundraising—especially institutional donors—or the ability to cultivate major individual donors
• Knowledge of South Sudan’s history, context, and current challenges
• Experience in higher education development, ideally in low‑resource or post‑conflict contexts
• Strong programme or project management experience that can support TEU’s leadership team.

Terms of appointment

• Trustees are appointed for a three year term of office, renewal for a further two terms to a maximum of nine years;
• This is a voluntary position but reasonable expenses can be reimbursed.

Time commitment

• Board meetings are held approximately every 2 to 3 months at a time suitable to all (typically on a Monday) and are generally held remotely.
• The Chair will devote additional time to preparing and planning meetings; maintaining regular communication with TEU leadership; representing ECSSSUP externally; supporting strategic initiatives and governance improvements.

To apply

• Please send a CV or link to your LinkedIn page or online profile to hanna.john@hotmail.com (current Chair of Trustees), alongside a short (1 page or less) cover letter outlining your interest.
• We will then be in touch for an informal conversation, before an interview with other trustees.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.