Cognassist - Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director – Cognassist

Cognassist is the UK’s leading cognitive assessment and neurodiversity platform, working with over 100 of the UK’s best education providers to transform the lives on learners. 1 in 5 learners in the UK leave education with no basic qualifications. Yes, it’s a scary statistic. Whilst we’ve made significant progress to reduce barriers to education in the UK, we’re still failing 20% of our learners.

Specifically, most learning providers, whether they’re universities, colleges, adult learning or apprenticeship providers struggle with:

1. Easily identifying learners with additional needs
2. Supporting those learners to succeed across their educational journey
3. Accessing funding to provide that support

That’s why we built Cognassist. To help every learner reach their full potential and empower learning providers for the future.

We’re on a mission to make sure, no learner is left behind.

Our platform offers a scalable and accessible digital cognitive assessment, personalised learner journeys with over 500 learning strategies and state of the art neuroscience training for learning providers. This year alone we’ve assessed over 70,000 learners, grown the marketing team by 100% and picked up Global Edtech Start Up of the Year award.

The role

Cognassist seeks a Non-Executive Director with professional education expertise to join its board. The non-executive director (NED) will be a member of the company’s board of directors but not part of the executive team.

The NED will provide a creative contribution to the board by providing independent oversight and constructive challenge to the executive directors, ensuring that risks are managed effectively. Through years of experience, the Non-Executive Director will develop the business and be expected to challenge executive directors in order to do so.

NED Responsibilities

• Ensuring that the Board of Directors establishes clear objectives and delivers agreed plans. Regularly review performance against these objectives.
• Supporting and challenging where appropriate, the leadership team to ensure that the Board of Directors conforms to the highest standards of corporate governance and makes appropriate decisions.
• Encouraging the best use of financial resources.
• Bringing an independent perspective to the board of a company.
• Assisting in the setting of strategy and objectives for the organisation.
• Challenging executive directors about the decisions that they make. This includes having the strength to bring a new perspective to discussions.
• Scrutinising how the management team performs against organisational objectives.
• Determining what the appropriate remuneration is for members of the senior management team.
• Advising on risk management processes for the business. This includes making sure that processes are tested and updated accordingly.
• Advising on governance procedures for the organisation and making sure they satisfy regulatory requirements.
• Promoting appropriate processes and procedures to deliver high standards of professional, administrative and personal behaviours across the organisation.

The skill set

• 5 years plus experience as a Non-Executive Director.
• Education sector specialist
• Previous experience as an established and respected expert in the field of education and assessment, with experience with an organisation such as Ofqual, one of the United Kingdom
• Awarding Bodies or a similar role in the education sector.
• Highly developed strategic ability.
• In-depth knowledge of governance and risk management.
• Experience of boards or business committees, particularly in a sector undergoing rapid growth or change, with a venture capital or private equity interest.
• The ability to motivate members of a senior management team.
• The ability to engage in a constructive manner with senior executives and make challenges when necessary.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of reward and motivation systems and their use within a senior management environment.

Meetings are held via video conferencing facilities such as MS Teams.

The Board meets at least 12 times a year, and we anticipate that the time commitment across the year will be up to 24 days in total.

The remuneration for the role is £1,000 per day and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Diversity & Inclusion is important to us and we particularly encourage applications from candidates from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, to help us increase representation within Cognassist at this level.