Governance Support Officer

University of Kent; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

43 days leave per year

Excellent pension

Healthcare plan

Job summary

University of Kent is seeking a Governance Support Officer in Canterbury for a 6-month fixed-term maternity cover. The role provides secretariat and project support to the Board of Governors and Academic Board, ensuring governance processes are compliant and well communicated.

You’ll work with senior colleagues, chairs, and stakeholders to plan committee business, draft governing documents, and keep Directorate communications clear and up to date.

Qualifications

• Experience providing committee, governance and senior administrative support.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear documents and communicate with stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and know when to seek advice or elevate issues.

Responsibilities

• Providing secretariat support to University committees, including planning annual schedules and preparing agenda planners.
• Supporting committee member recruitment, election, induction and ongoing engagement.
• Assisting with the review and drafting of governing documents, policies and reports, and providing administrative support for Directorate projects.
• Supporting Directorate communications and acting as the first point of contact, responding to or directing queries.

Skills

Secretariat support

Governance

Stakeholder comms

Document drafting

Project support

Committee scheduling

Job description

Governance Support Officer

Section: Governance

Location; Canterbury

Salary: £27,865 to £30,986 per annum pro rata

Post Type: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed Term - 6 Months

Interview Date: Thursday 03 December 2026

Reference: GALS-010-26-R

Are you organised, thoughtful and confident working with people across the University?

Would you enjoy helping committees run smoothly and supporting good governance?

This is a 6 month fixed term (maternity cover) role in which you’ll provide secretariat and project support for the University’s Board of Governors, Academic Board and their committees, helping ensure governance processes are effective, compliant and well communicated.

Working with senior colleagues, committee chairs and stakeholders across the University, you’ll plan committee business, support members, contribute to governing documents and projects, and keep Directorate communications clear and up to date. You’ll also manage competing deadlines, use your judgement to resolve day-to-day issues and know when to seek advice on more complex matters.

As Governance Support Officer, you can expect to be involved in:

• Providing secretariat support to University committees, including planning annual schedules and preparing agenda planners.
• Supporting committee member recruitment, election, induction and ongoing engagement.
• Assisting with the review and drafting of governing documents, policies and reports, and providing administrative support for Directorate projects.
• Supporting Directorate communications and acting as the first point of contact, responding to or directing queries.

What will you bring to the role?

• Experience providing committee, governance and senior administrative support, with an understanding of formal governance processes and good practice.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft clear documents and communicate positively with a range of stakeholders.
• The ability to manage competing deadlines, use sound judgement and know when to seek advice or elevate an issue.

What we can offer in return:

• As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:
• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Additional Information

We know applicants may use AI tools to help prepare job applications. For guidance on how to use AI responsibly and effectively, see: Using AI in your job application

The University of Kent values diversity and equality at all levels.

Closing Date: Sunday 22 November 2026