Executive Assistant (Governance & Compliance Professional)

Teaching Vacancies; Slough; On-site; GBP 97,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Eye care vouchers

Free annual flu vaccinations

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Pioneer Educational Trust seeks an Executive Assistant (Governance & Compliance Professional) to be the CEO’s trusted right hand and the governance lead across the Trust. You will manage the diary, prioritise tasks and support the executive team with high-quality reports and communications.

You will develop governance processes, support the Board and Local Committees, and ensure compliance with statutory duties, safeguarding, and data protection.

Qualifications

• Level 2 Maths and English (or equivalent) and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of providing governance support and advice to managers.
• Up-to-date knowledge of governance and compliance best practice, including data protection.
• Competent use of Microsoft packages (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint) and other IT/MIS systems.
• Ability to communicate complex information concisely, orally and in writing.
• The ability to organise work independently and in collaboration with other agencies, to meet tight deadlines.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality and inclusion, and to the Trust’s ethos.
• Integrity and credibility in everything you do.

Responsibilities

• Act as Executive Assistant to the CEO, owning their diary and information flow.
• Provide administrative support to the wider executive team.
• Produce high-quality reports, briefings, and correspondence for the CEO and trustees.
• Provide strategic support through prioritisation, deadline management and forward planning.
• Governance lead with accurate minutes and action tracking for Board and committees.
• Coordinate governance calendar and elections, inductions and training as needed.
• Maintain governance records and ensure statutory information is up to date.
• Lead the governance development cycle and ensure compliance with DfE requirements.
• Support policy framework and statutory returns to DfE and other bodies.

Skills

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Governance knowledge

Data reporting

Microsoft Office

Education

Level 2 Maths and English (or equivalent)

Governance professional qualification (or commitment to securing one)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

MIS systems

Job description

Executive Assistant (Governance & Compliance Professional)

What skills and experience we're looking for

About the Role

• Act as Executive Assistant to the CEO, owning their diary, priorities and information flow; anticipating needs, filtering and prioritising, and ensuring the CEO’s time is always directed to what matters most.
• Provide administrative support to the wider executive team where needed, and act as the trusted first point of contact for the CEO’s stakeholders, including trustees, headteachers, the DfE and partners.
• Produce high-quality reports, briefings, presentations and correspondence, and manage internal communications on behalf of the CEO and trustees, in line with the Trust’s mission, vision and values.
• Provide strategic support through rigorous prioritisation, deadline management and forward planning, tracking strategic projects across the executive team and schools, and owning the Trust’s strategic calendar.
• Act as the Trust’s governance professional in line with the Academy Trust Governance Guide, providing independent advice and effective support to the Board, including well-planned meetings, focused agendas, accurate minutes and rigorous action tracking.
• Work closely with the Chair and CEO to shape the annual governance cycle, and partner with our outsourced clerking service to ensure Local Committees are properly constituted and well supported.
• Maintain accurate and secure governance records and registers, keep GIAS and Companies House up to date, and ensure all required suitability checks for Members, trustees and governors are completed.
• Lead the governance development cycle, including parent trustee elections, induction, skills audits, training and succession planning, and coordinate the paperwork and minuting for panel hearings.
• Own the Trust’s policy framework, audit Trust and school websites to ensure statutory information is published and current, and coordinate statutory returns and censuses to the DfE and other bodies.
• Be the trusted first point of contact for leaders seeking advice on governance and compliance, bringing sound judgement and discretion to all confidential and sensitive matters.

About You

• Level 2 Maths and English (or equivalent), a relevant governance professional qualification (or a commitment to securing one) and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of providing governance support and advice to managers, and of developing good employee relations.
• Up-to-date knowledge of governance and compliance best practice, and a working knowledge of other relevant policies, codes of practice and legislation, including data protection.
• Competent use of Microsoft packages (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint) and other IT/MIS systems, including the interrogation, analysis and reporting of data.
• The ability to communicate complex information concisely, orally and in writing, to a wide range of individuals and organisations.
• The ability to organise work independently and in collaboration with other agencies, to make balanced judgements without prejudice, and to deliver effective outcomes within tight deadlines and conflicting priorities.
• The flexibility to manage a varied and agile workload and to meet the needs of Pioneer.
• A commitment to the highest standards of child protection and safeguarding, to promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and to the Trust’s ethos and aims.
• Integrity and credibility in everything you do.

Experience of team and workload management, and of working in an educational setting, would be an advantage.

What the school offers its staff

At Pioneer Educational Trust, we believe people are our greatest asset. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and ambitious culture where colleagues feel valued, respected and empowered to make a difference.

We are pioneering, capable and courageous in our approach, committed to defying mediocrity and transforming lives through exceptional, inclusive education. We believe in social justice, collaboration and meaningful change, and we work intentionally to create the conditions for every individual to thrive.

Our culture is interconnected and people-centred: we listen, learn and co-create with our staff, pupils and communities. With deep expertise, strong relationships and flexible pathways for growth, we empower colleagues to use their voice, take intelligent risks and inspire for impact.

Joining us means becoming part of a community that challenges inequality, values everyone and shares widely what we learn. Together, we take education further—championing potential, nurturing ambition and building a future where everyone can flourish. If you want to work with purpose, passion and integrity, we would be delighted to welcome you to our Trust.

At Pioneer Educational Trust, we don’t just offer a job – we offer a community, a career and a commitment to your wellbeing. Here’s what makes us different:

Flexible Working: We have been at the forefront of pioneering flexible working in schools since 2019 focusing on the presumption that flexible working can work unless there is a genuine operational reason that it cannot. This is achieved through our unique, transparent and inclusive flexible job design process. As a Department for Education Flexible Working Ambassador MAT, we share our expertise regionally and nationally.

Professional development: We are committed to the growth of all our colleagues. With our CPDL Wednesdays, all our staff have dedicated time for professional development and collaborative working, ensuring continuous improvement and shared best practices.

Positive work environment: Enjoy a supportive and enriching working environment with free refreshments, long service recognition, free annual flu vaccinations, and an Employee Assistance Programme offering advice on wellbeing, and more.

Exceptional leadership opportunities: We provide exceptional leadership development opportunities for all our staff, enabling all colleagues to flourish and be fulfilled.

Pioneer Summit: All staff attend our collaborative annual Pioneer Summit. A fun packed day of keynote speakers, workshops and activities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues across the Trust and to recognise and celebrate our achievements.

We also offer a range of benefits including:

• Eye care Vouchers
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Reflection week every 6 weeks which is our meetings free week, enabling colleagues to get through their to do lists, take back their productivity and provide uninterrupted time to do your work
• Employee Assist Programme offering a range of support including Mindfulness, Life Coaching, Financial, Legal and General advice as well as counselling
• Low-cost private healthcare with Benenden Health
• Access to offers and cashback across more than 3,000 retailers via Reward Gateway

*ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BRING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF*

Inclusive Recruitment

When we hire, we actively seek out diverse talent. Our recruitment process is designed to be inclusive and accessible. As part of this commitment, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the role. Need reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process? Just let us know—we’re here to help.

We understand the importance of balancing work and life. That’s why we embrace flexibility. If you’d like to explore flexible working options, simply mention it in your application or at any stage of the process (and beyond). We’ll work with you to make it happen wherever possible.

Further details about the role

We are looking for a highly professional and dynamic Executive Assistant (Governance & Compliance Professional), with integrity and resilience, to join our shared services team as the CEO’s trusted right hand and as Pioneer’s governance and compliance lead.

This is far more than a traditional administrative role. We are looking for someone whose systems-led approach to organisation is matched by warm, trusted relationships at every level, from trustees to school leaders; someone who anticipates needs, manages up with confidence and keeps strategic priorities moving; and someone with the knowledge and credibility to support our Board and Local Committees and to keep the Trust fully compliant with DfE requirements.

You will play a pivotal role in how Pioneer runs, ensuring that the Trust is compliant and operates effectively and professionally, whilst helping the CEO and executive leaders focus on delivering the very best outcomes for our pupils and communities.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

£96,626 - £111,084 per annum incl of HCAS