Head of Governance

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; Sur place; GBP 70 000 - 100 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Professional development

Staff wellbeing

Flexible working

Generous leave

Résumé du poste

Girls' Learning Trust, a four-school trust, seeks an Executive Governance Lead to combine Company Secretary duties with strategic governance advice for the Trust Board and Local Governing Bodies. You will support Headteachers and senior leaders on governance, compliance and data protection.

The role requires senior governance experience within a complex organisation, with some evenings expected for governance committee cycles. Part-time and term-time working are considered.

Qualifications

• Experienced governance professional.
• Experience operating at senior level across a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of governance and regulation.
• Practical, solution-focused approach with professional advice and constructive challenge.

Responsabilités

• Provide strategic and professional governance advice to the Trust Board, its committees and Local Governing Bodies.
• Act as the Trust's Governance Professional and Company Secretary.
• Support the CEO, Chair, Trustees, Headteachers and senior leaders on governance, compliance and complex statutory matters.
• Lead the Trust's assurance of selective admissions, including supporting Headteachers on admissions appeals and reporting to the Admissions Committee.
• Manage the Trust's internal scrutiny programme and coordinate reporting to the Governance, Audit and Risk Committee.
• Lead the Trust's operational approach to data protection and support the CEO as Data Protection Officer.
• Develop governance systems, policies and processes to improve effectiveness, assurance and efficiency.
• Contribute as a member of the Executive Leadership Team to the Trust's strategic development.
• Cover governance development, committee support, Trustee and governor recruitment and development, complaints and formal hearings, and policy oversight.

Connaissances

Judgement

Relationship building

Governance knowledge

Solution-focused

Advisory with challenge

Description du poste

This Executive Leadership Team post leads governance at the Girls' Learning Trust as it grows to four schools. It combines Company Secretary duties with advice to the Trust Board, local governing bodies and Headteachers, plus selective admissions, internal scrutiny and data protection. Part-time and term-time working will be considered, though some evenings are expected. Visa sponsorship is not available, and the post starts in January 2027.

What the job involves

• Provide strategic and professional governance advice to the Trust Board, its committees and Local Governing Bodies
• Act as the Trust's Governance Professional and Company Secretary
• Support the CEO, Chair, Trustees, Headteachers and senior leaders on governance, compliance and complex statutory matters
• Lead the Trust's assurance of selective admissions, including supporting Headteachers on admissions appeals and reporting to the Admissions Committee
• Manage the Trust's internal scrutiny programme and coordinate reporting to the Governance, Audit and Risk Committee
• Lead the Trust's operational approach to data protection and support the CEO as Data Protection Officer
• Develop governance systems, policies and processes to improve effectiveness, assurance and efficiency
• Contribute as a member of the Executive Leadership Team to the Trust's strategic development
• Cover governance development, committee support, Trustee and governor recruitment and development, complaints and formal hearings, and policy oversight

Experience

• Experienced governance professional
• Experience operating at senior level across a complex organisation

Skills & knowledge

• Strong judgement
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Strong understanding of governance and regulation
• Practical, solution-focused approach
• Professional advice combined with constructive challenge

Checks & eligibility

• Settled status or existing right to work in the UK, as no Skilled Worker sponsorship is offered

Other

• Willingness to work some evenings across the year for the governance committee cycle

What’s offered

• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• Strong focus on staff wellbeing
• Access to employee support schemes
• Generous leave arrangements
• Flexible working where appropriate to the role
• Scope to work flexibly across the week
• Part-time and term-time working considered
• Working across four schools with a network of senior leaders, Trustees and governors