Education Committee Chair (Part-time)

British Acupuncture Council

Salary
£2,999 - £3,000 per year

About the Organisation

BAcC is the leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. We are a member-led organisation with traditional acupuncturist members, governed by a Governing Board. The specialist staff team delivers membership services and supports members to maintain professional standards. We provide our members with a wide range of services to facilitate their practice, and we also act for the traditional acupuncture profession as a whole. The BAcC was one of the first organisations to become a Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited Register. The Accredited Register scheme is designed to recognise that an accredited organisation maintains high standards of training, safe practice, and professional conduct where the operational sector is not covered by statutory regulation. BAcC members are at the forefront of providing traditional acupuncture as an accepted and leading healthcare choice.

About the role

The Chair of the Education Committee provides strategic leadership to the Committee, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities in overseeing standards, quality assurance, and the strategic direction of acupuncture education. The Chair plays a central role in maintaining public confidence in healthcare education and ensuring the organisation’s statutory duties are carried out effectively, transparently, and in the public interest. The Chair has a key responsibility to provide oversight of the education function and. as delegated by the Governing Board, supports the Education Committee and its sub-committee to make decisions on behalf of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) relating specifically to the accreditation of acupuncture courses.

Responsibilities

Oversight and Delegated Decision-Making:

• Provide oversight of the education function and exercise delegated decision-making powers on behalf of the BAcC relating specifically to the accreditation of acupuncture courses, within the parameters set by the Governing Board.
• Ensure that decisions are robust, transparent, and aligned with the organisation’s remit and strategic objectives.

Committee Leadership and Governance:

• Lead and chair Education Committee meetings effectively, balancing strong voices and diverse perspectives.
• Ensure the Committee delivers its duties in line with its Terms of Reference, providing robust oversight of education and training matters.
• Support the development of the educational strategy and decision-making to ensure the
• Committee’s work is both forward-looking and fit-for-purpose.
• Work in partnership with the Education Manager to deliver the broad educational goals of the professional body.
• Work collaboratively with the Chair of the Accreditation Committee to ensure alignment across accreditation processes and activities.
• Navigate the balance between the Committee’s autonomy and the organisation’s wider vision, working closely with the Governing Board, CEO, and Education Manager to align priorities.

Assurance and Oversight:

• Consider and advise the Governing Board on all educational matters affecting acupuncture education, including policies, issues, and emerging developments including by contributing to the Governing Board as a non-voting member on matters of education, offering insight and an external perspective.
• Ensure risks relating to education and training are appropriately identified, monitored, and mitigated.
• Bring an external perspective to shape the Committee’s work, policies, and outputs so they are credible, impactful, and positively perceived by external audiences (public, students, other professions).
• Support the Committee to:
  • Promote excellence in UK acupuncture education and support the profession’s educational standards internationally.
  • Monitor and review the organisation’s education strategy, policies, and procedures, including student experience, programme accreditation, and compliance with relevant educational standards.
  • Take into account of recommendations from the Accreditation Committee to approve or review accreditation processes for courses and institutions.
  • Maintain awareness of developments in higher education and healthcare professional education to inform the Committee’s work and recommendations.

Values and Conduct:

• Be values-led, working in accordance with the organisation’s Governance Handbook, Code of Conduct, and expectations for all Committee members.
• Uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles), building collaboration and trust across Committee members, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Champion diversity, equality, and inclusion in healthcare education and in the Committee’s decision-making.

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Professional Requirements:

• Substantial senior leadership experience within healthcare education, including operating at a national, sector-wide, or institutional level.
• Comprehensive understanding of education quality assurance, validation, or accreditation processes within the higher education healthcare sector, with a proven track record of contributing to or guiding these processes to maintain high standards.
• Knowledge of governance processes and experience of contributing to decision-making within complex regulatory, professional, and multistakeholder environments.
• Demonstrable track record of shaping and influencing education at a national or institutional level. Experience contributing to or advising on educational strategy, policy, or standards within a professional or healthcare education context.
• Ability to bring an external perspective that enhances the credibility and impact of committee work.
• Familiarity with acupuncture and its professional standards.

Previous Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in shaping and influencing educational policy and strategy, including affecting curriculum design, academic standards, and professional education frameworks.
• Proven experience in leading committees or boards, with responsibility for oversight of academic standards and quality assurance.
• Experience of working collaboratively with senior leaders and with other committee chairs to deliver strategic organisational objectives.
• Familiarity with curriculum approval, validation panels, and accreditation processes
• Understanding of working directly with government departments, regulators, and professional education providers within a healthcare context.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to provide an independent, external perspective on the profession’s education and standards, ensuring robust quality assurance and impartial oversight.
• Strong chairing and facilitation skills, with the ability to lead inclusive and effective meetings, whether in person or in a virtual environment.
• Ability to work in partnership with senior staff and other committee chairs, balancing committee autonomy with organisational alignment.
• Ability to contribute effectively to a Governing Board as a non-voting member, providing insight and guidance on educational matters, bringing an independent perspective to inform strategic decision-making, and supporting the alignment of the Education Committee’s work with organisational objectives.
• Capacity to exercise delegated decision-making powers with fairness, independence, and transparency.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to scrutinise evidence and make balanced judgments on accreditation and education matters.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with confidence in engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in education and governance.

Values:

• Ability to act with integrity, independence, and sound judgment.
• Ability to work in a values-led way, operating in line with governance frameworks, Codes of Conduct, and the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and build trust across committees, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to lead with compassion, fairness, and sound judgment when handling complex or sensitive issues.

Other:

• Willingness and ability to attend at least one in-person meeting per year, alongside virtual meetings.
• Availability and commitment of sufficient time to review papers and support committee work.
• Access to and competence with digital communication tools to participate in virtual meetings and document review.
• Eligibility to serve as Chair under the organisation’s governance rules, with the ability to provide independent oversight of education and accreditation processes.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• 3 meetings per year plus 4 Governing Board meetings
• Regular touchpoints with the Chair of the Governing Board, the Chair of the Accreditation Committee, the CEO, and the Education Manager.
• Undertake preparatory work in advance of meetings.

How to apply

• Please submit your CV and a supporting statement no later than 12 pm on Monday, 20th October (max 2 pages) to [email protected].
• For a discussion about the role of the BAcC’s current educational priorities, please contact Nina Paterson - BAAB’s Lead Accreditation Officer, [email protected], and Felicity Moir - BAcC Chair of Governing Board, [email protected]

Interviews

• Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 29th October via MS Teams.

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