Group Director

LSBU Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

London South Bank University Group seeks a Group Director of Governance, Compliance and Legal Services to lead governance, compliance and legal functions across LSBU Group, South Bank Colleges and Academies. Based primarily in London with hybrid working and Group-wide travel, the role focuses on simplifying complexity and strengthening organisational confidence.

The successful candidate will advise Boards and the Executive Team, lead diverse teams and drive an integrated service model for

Qualifications

• Experience advising Boards and senior executives in a complex, regulated organisation.
• Strong governance expertise and regulatory judgement.
• Experience in developing professional services teams through change.
• Education sector experience advantageous; multi-entity environments.

Responsibilities

• Be principal adviser to the Group’s Boards, Chairs, Vice-Chancellor and Executive Team, bringing independent judgement and clear, practical advice.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning governance, legal services and executive support; strengthen internal capability and use of external legal advisers.
• Translate complex regulatory and legal requirements into pragmatic solutions that enable LSBU Group to achieve its ambitions.
• Enhance governance across the Group and ensure effective decision-making across LSBU Group, South Bank Colleges and South Bank Academies.
• Contribute to shaping a modern, proactive operating model to support decisions at the highest level.

Education

Legal qualification

Job description

Group Director of Governance, Compliance and Legal Services

London South Bank University Group

Grade 13 | Full time, permanent

Predominantly based at Southwark, with hybrid working and travel across the Group

Few governance roles offer the opportunity to help shape a developing model of tertiary education.

London South Bank University Group brings together higher education, further education and schools within one integrated Group. As we deliver our ambitious Connecting strategy, we are seeking an exceptional leader to simplify complexity, strengthen organisational confidence and build an integrated governance, compliance and legal service for the future.

As Group Director of Governance, Compliance and Legal Services, you will have the mandate to shape the function, develop its people and create a modern, proactive operating model that supports effective decision-making across London South Bank University, South Bank Colleges and South Bank Academies.

You will be the principal adviser to the Group’s Boards, Chairs, Vice-Chancellor and Executive Team, bringing independent judgement, constructive challenge and clear, practical advice to significant organisational decisions. As a standing attendee at Executive Team meetings, you will operate with considerable visibility and influence across the Group.

Leading multidisciplinary teams spanning governance, legal services and executive support, you will strengthen internal capability, ensure the proportionate use of external legal advisers and improve how services operate across organisational boundaries. You will help colleagues engage with governance and legal experts, translating complex regulatory and legal requirements into pragmatic solutions that enable LSBU Group to achieve its ambitions.

We are looking for a credible, emotionally intelligent and highly organised leader with significant experience of advising Boards and senior executives in a complex, regulated organisation. You will bring strong governance expertise, sound legal and regulatory judgement, and a record of developing professional services teams through change. Experience within education would be advantageous, although we welcome candidates from other relevant regulated and multi-entity environments. A legal qualification is desirable but not essential.

This is an opportunity to make a visible and lasting contribution: strengthening LSBU Group today while helping to demonstrate how an integrated tertiary education group can be governed effectively for the future.