Deputy Head of Governance

Cabot Learning Federation; Weston-super-Mare; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-academy trust in Weston-super-Mare is seeking a Deputy Head of Governance to enhance its governance framework. In this full-time role, you will lead on policy oversight, manage local governance groups, and coordinate the Clerk team. Ideal candidates will have extensive governance knowledge, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary with flexible working options, supporting the Trust's commitment to effective governance in education.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Health benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of governance procedures, policies, and relevant legislation.
• Strong leadership and line-management experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• A flexible and proactive approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead on policy oversight and ensure timely reviews.
• Manage local governance groups and provide necessary support.
• Oversee admissions processes for the Trust.
• Line manage the Clerks team and provide clerking support.

Skills

Knowledge of governance procedures

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Proactive approach

Job description

Job title: Deputy Head of Governance

Actual Annual Salary: £32,274 - £35,692 (Based on hours and working weeks)

Full Time Equivalent Salary: £35,852 - £39,649 (CLF Grade E). (Based on 37 hours per week, all year round)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full‑time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday / Term Time Only + 10 additional days

Additional role information: The primary base for this role is Broadoak Academy. Weekly team meetings are held at Winterstoke Hundred Academy, and the team also visits other academies as required. Outside of these commitments, there is flexibility to work from home.

Provisional Start Date: January 2025

Lead Strategic Governance Across Our Federation – Deputy Head of Governance

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised governance professional to join our small, dedicated team overseeing all aspects of governance across the Trust.

As Deputy Head of Governance, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of governance processes, with a particular focus on:

• Policy oversight – maintaining the policy schedule and ensuring timely reviews.
• Local tier governance – leading on induction, training, and support for local governance groups.
• Admissions knowledge – leading on Admissions for the Trust
• Clerk team management – line managing our team of Clerks and providing clerking cover for committees and other meetings as needed.

You will bring a keen eye for detail, strong communication skills, and a proactive approach to problem‑solving. Flexibility is essential, as the role may require covering meetings at short notice, including some outside of standard working hours.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the strategic governance of a forward‑thinking Trust, working closely with senior leaders and governance professionals.

If you are passionate about good governance and thrive in a collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

About you: You will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of governance procedures, policies, and relevant legislation.
• Strong leadership and line‑management experience, with the ability to coordinate a team and manage cyclical priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to liaise with stakeholders at all levels.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with resilience under pressure and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• A high level of integrity, impartiality, and professionalism, especially when handling sensitive information.

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

Why Work in CLF’s Central Governance Team?

In this role, you'll be a vital part of our Central Governance Team – a key function supporting strategic leadership and compliance across our Trust.

We offer:

• A chance to shape and strengthen governance across a diverse group of academies.
• Opportunities to lead on policy, training, and governance systems development.
• Flexible, hybrid working – from home, our Bristol office, and onsite at academies.
• A collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on educational outcomes through effective governance.

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part‑time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in‑role / wider‑trust development opportunities.
• Well‑being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on‑site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 09 December 2025 @11.59pm
• Shortlisting: 10 December 2025
• Interviews: Week commencing 15 December 2025

For an informal discussion about the role / to find out more, please email CLFs Recruitment Team directly (details can be found on the 'Contact Us' page on CLFs main website, or in the 'Application Instructions' section when applying).

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.

Safeguarding Statement

The Cabot Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.

All successful candidates will undergo a comprehensive pre‑employment checking process, including an enhanced DBS check (including a further check against the appropriate barred list), references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, child disqualification, prohibition from teaching / management and online checks. You must also tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.