Governance Professional

Wootton Academy Trust; Wootton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Wootton Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Governance Professional to support our Board of Trustees, Governing Bodies and Executive Leadership Team. This freelance role focuses on providing expert governance advice, ensuring compliance and maintaining accurate records.

You will work closely with the Chair of Trustees to prepare agendas, minutes and papers for Board meetings, coordinate governance schedules and support recruitment and training of trustees and governors.

Qualifications

• Experience in governance, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to prepare agendas, papers and minutes.
• Experience in recruitment, induction and training for trustees/governors.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert governance advice and procedural guidance to trustees and governors.
• Prepare agendas, coordinate meeting papers and attend Board, Committee and Local Governing Body meetings.
• Produce high-quality minutes and maintain accurate governance records.
• Support trustee and governor recruitment, induction and training.
• Maintain governance compliance, registers and statutory documentation.
• Monitor policy review schedules and support Trust-wide compliance arrangements.
• Clerk statutory panels including complaints, exclusions and appeals as required.
• Support governance readiness for external reviews and inspections.

Skills

Governance knowledge

Compliance experience

Company secretarial

Education sector experience

Stakeholder management

Job description

Wootton Academy Trust is seeking an experienced Governance Professional to support our Board of Trustees, Governing Bodies and Executive Leadership Team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an organised and highly professional individual with governance, compliance, education, legal, company secretarial or senior administrative experience to play a key role in ensuring the Trust operates effectively and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with the Chair of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team, you will:

• Provide expert governance advice and procedural guidance to trustees and governors.
• Prepare agendas, coordinate meeting papers and attend Board, Committee and Local Governing Body meetings.
• Produce high-quality minutes and maintain accurate governance records.
• Support trustee and governor recruitment, induction and training.
• Maintain governance compliance, registers and statutory documentation.
• Monitor policy review schedules and support Trust‑wide compliance arrangements.
• Clerk statutory panels including complaints, exclusions and appeals as required.
• Support governance readiness for external reviews and inspections.

The role would be a freelance opportunity and involves attendance at approximately 21 planned meetings (in person) per academic year, together with exclusion panels as required.

Closing Date: Sunday 28 June 2026.

Wootton Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Wootton Academy Trust is committed to diversity in our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community. The role is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role. All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.

Wootton Academy Trust supports Equal Opportunities Employment.