Governance Manager

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority; Northallerton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking an experienced Governance Manager to lead governance assurance, transparency, and risk management across the organisation. Reporting to the Head of Governance, you will provide expert advice to senior officers, elected Members and key stakeholders to ensure lawful, ethical and high‑standard decision‑making.

You will build and maintain governance frameworks and policies, develop the governance team, and champion continuous improvement in a

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading governance, assurance or compliance functions.
• Strong knowledge of local government governance, transparency and ethical frameworks.
• Experience designing and implementing governance frameworks, policies and improvement programmes.
• Experience advising senior leaders and elected Members in politically sensitive environments.
• Ability to identify governance risks and develop effective solutions.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities and experience managing teams, budgets and resources.
• Resilience to operate in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Commitment to public service, integrity, transparency and continuous improvement.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.

Responsibilities

• Lead governance assurance and transparency arrangements across the authority.
• Provide expert advice to senior officers, elected Members and stakeholders.
• Oversee governance compliance, assurance activities and risk management.
• Develop governance frameworks, policies and assurance arrangements.
• Manage and develop a governance team and relationships with partners.

Skills

Governance leadership

Governance assurance

Compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Political acumen

Strategic advisory

Team leadership

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Governance Manager to lead and continuously develop governance assurance and transparency arrangements across the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Reporting to the Head of Governance and Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring the Authority operates to the highest standards of governance, accountability and ethical conduct in support of the Mayor's priorities and the region's ambitions. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for leading the Governance Team, providing expert advice to senior officers, elected Members and key stakeholders, and ensuring that robust governance frameworks support effective and lawful decision-making. You will oversee governance compliance and assurance activities, transparency requirements and risk management within the service, ensuring effective governance arrangements support major programmes, projects and strategic decision-making. Working within a dynamic political environment, you will champion continuous improvement, influence key stakeholders and help shape governance practices that enhance public confidence and organisational effectiveness. You will lead the development and maintenance of governance frameworks, policies and assurance arrangements, manage statutory governance and transparency requirements, and build strong relationships with internal and external partners, including government departments and regional stakeholders. As an experienced leader, you will also be responsible for managing and developing a team of governance professionals, driving high standards of performance and service delivery. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant contribution to a growing organisation, ensuring strong governance underpins the successful delivery of the Mayor's priorities and the ambitions of York and North Yorkshire.
You will bring substantial experience of governance, assurance, compliance or democratic services within a complex public sector environment, together with a strong understanding of local government and combined authority governance arrangements. You will be a confident and credible adviser, capable of influencing senior leaders, elected Members and stakeholders on complex governance issues while balancing legal, political and organisational considerations. You will also bring:

• Significant experience leading governance, assurance or compliance functions.
• Strong knowledge of local government governance, transparency and ethical frameworks.
• Experience designing and implementing governance frameworks, policies and improvement programmes.
• Experience advising senior leaders and elected Members in politically sensitive environments.
• The ability to identify governance risks and develop effective solutions.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership capabilities and experience managing teams, budgets and resources.
• The resilience to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• A commitment to public service, integrity, transparency and continuous improvement.
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced governance professional to make a meaningful contribution to the future success of York and North Yorkshire, ensuring the Combined Authority continues to deliver with transparency, accountability and strong public confidence. You will be joining a new and developing organisation at an exciting time. The benefits of working for us can be found here; Careers at York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority: Work for us
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established as a new organisation in early 2024. It is a public sector employer with access to powers and funding to unlock transport and housing improvements, boost skills provision and help the economy transition to net zero for York and North Yorkshire. The Mayor also holds responsibilities in relation to Policing, Fire and Crime. Making the most of the combined strengths of the city region and rural powerhouse, the Combined Authority is a long-term commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come. By working for us you will play a part in making positive changes, unlocking investment, supporting business and communities to thrive and creating new and better opportunities for people that live and work here.