Governance and Compliance Leader

Summary:

Join a school as a Governance and Compliance Leader and drive strategic leadership in governance, compliance, and executive support.

About the School:

The school is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and community engagement. It aims to provide high-quality education and support the development of young people through collaboration, innovation, and shared values.

The Opportunity:

As a Governance and Compliance Leader, you will play a key role in ensuring that the Trust Board, its committees, and Academy Education Committees (AECs) operate effectively and comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements. This role is central to strengthening accountability, transparency, and organisational effectiveness across the school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the Trust’s governance and compliance infrastructure, including frameworks, registers, filings, and reporting processes.
• Manage the Scheme of Delegation, statutory registers, risk reporting, governance cycles, and Companies House requirements.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Governance & Executive Support Officers, ensuring effective local governance and Trust-wide secretariat support.
• Oversee the full governance lifecycle, including Trustee and Member recruitment and stakeholder support.
• Coordinate with the Data Protection Officer on data protection matters, including DSARs, FOI requests, and compliance reporting.
• Provide strategic executive support to the Chief Executive Officer, preparing briefings, papers, and reports for Board meetings and external publications.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for Board Members, Trustees, and external stakeholders, ensuring proactive and discreet professional support.

Qualifications & Skills:

Required

• Proven experience in governance, company secretariat, or compliance within education or another complex organisational setting.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage complex governance cycles and competing priorities.
• Ability to provide clear guidance and training on governance, compliance, and procedural matters to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated team leadership experience with the ability to manage and develop others effectively.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, transparency, and service quality.
• Proactive, trustworthy, and approachable, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Discreet and reliable, with the ability to handle highly confidential information with integrity.
• Values-led and committed to the wellbeing of young people, with an understanding of the importance of strong governance in supporting positive outcomes.

Preferred

• Experience with Trustee and Member recruitment processes.
• Familiarity with Shared Services and service level agreements.
• Experience in managing compliance reporting and assurance frameworks.
• Knowledge of data protection regulations and procedures.
• Experience in preparing reports and briefings for senior leadership and Board meetings.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive salary and pension scheme.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and professional development opportunities.
• Additional days for term time plus inset, with flexibility to apply.