Governance Coordinator

Zoological Society of London (ZSL); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 12% contributory pension

Flexible working options

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Life assurance from day one

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff Equality Networks

Complimentary zoo tickets and retail/“

Cycle2Work scheme and season ticket LO

Job summary

ZSL, the Zoological Society of London, is seeking a Governance Coordinator to support the Head of Legal, Governance and Risk Management and oversee Council and committee governance.

You will coordinate meeting packs, minutes, trustee appointments, Charity Commission filings, and governance processes, ensuring timely information flow. This hybrid role offers two to three days at Regent’s Park and some days remote, with a two-stage interview process.

Qualifications

• Experience in an administrative, governance, legal, company secretarial or similar support role.
• Experience organising meetings and committees, including coordinating papers, agendas and follow-up actions.
• Experience taking accurate minutes and maintaining clear and well-organised records.
• Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Board & Committee Support: Prepare meeting packs, attend meetings and take minutes.
• Governance Administration: Provide day-to-day administrative support for trustee appointments, Charity Commission filings and wider governance activities.
• Governance Support: Review and improve ZSL’s governance standards and processes, benchmarking against the Charity Governance Code.

Skills

Administrative support

Governance experience

Legal knowledge

Company secretarial

Stakeholder management

Job description

As Governance Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in supporting the Head of Legal, Governance and Risk Management to ensure the smooth and effective operation of ZSL’s Council (Board of Trustees), committees, including the Executive Committee, and wider governance processes.

This is a varied and central role, coordinating governance activity and helping to ensure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time. You’ll support the preparation and flow of high-quality information, maintain accurate records, coordinate actions and follow-ups, and help ensure governance processes run efficiently and effectively.

This role offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement, with two to three days a week based at our Regent’s Park offices and the remaining days available to work from home or onsite, depending on your preference. Your office days may be subject to change if your attendance is required on-site for key meetings.

Please note: Depending on the number of applicants, the selection process may involve two stages. The first stage will be an online interview via Microsoft Teams, followed by a second-stage interview held in person at our Regent’s Park site.

Key responsibilities:

• Board & Committee Support: Support the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee by preparing meeting packs, attending meetings and taking minutes.
• Governance Administration: Provide day-to-day administrative support for trustee appointments, Charity Commission filings and wider governance activities.
• Governance Support: Support the review and improvement of ZSL’s governance standards and processes, including benchmarking against the Charity Governance Code.

About You

• Experience in an administrative, governance, legal, company secretarial or similar support role.
• Experience organising meetings and committees, including coordinating papers, agendas and follow-up actions.
• Experience taking accurate minutes and maintaining clear and well‑organised records.
• Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines.

This role is subject to standard pre‑employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

What We Offer?

Alongside the opportunity to do purpose‑driven work that helps create a world where wildlife thrives, you'll enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working options
• 25 days' annual leave plus UK bank holidays, increasing with service
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies
• Life assurance from day one (for eligible employees)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Access to our staff Equality Networks
• Complimentary London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo tickets, plus retail discounts
• Cycle2Work scheme and interest‑free season ticket loans (for eligible London‑based employees)

You can find the full details of our benefits in the attached Benefits Guide.

We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive.

We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.