Head of Governance and Compliance

CHARITY PEOPLE; Northampton; On-site; GBP 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity focused on motor neurone disease is looking for a Head of Governance and Compliance. This pivotal role involves providing expert advice to the board and ensuring robust governance practices, with great opportunities for professional growth and strong benefits. The successful candidate will lead governance and compliance functions, ensuring effective oversight and transparency.

Benefits

28 days annual leave increasing to 33 after 5 years

Access to UK Healthcare

Life assurance

Enhanced pension scheme

Training and personal growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of UK charity and company law, compliance, and risk.
• Experience advising Boards and senior leadership with confidence and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the governance function and develop frameworks, policies, and systems.
• Ensure governance practices, legal compliance, and risk frameworks are robust.
• Manage statutory compliance and reporting.

Skills

Judgement

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

CGI Qualified

Job description

Lead with integrity. Influence at the highest level. Make a difference that matters.

A charityfocused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for people affected by motor neurone disease. is seeking a strategic and experienced Head of Governance and Compliance to lead a function that underpins trust, transparency, and ethical leadership across the organisation.

They believe in a world free from MND and work tirelessly to improve care and support for those living with the disease.

Location: Northampton (Hybrid - 2days per week in the office)
Full-time | Permanent
Salary: £68,000 per annum + benefits

The Role:

Sitting at the heart of the charity and reporting to the CEO, you'll provide expert advice to the Chair, Board of Trustees, and Executive Leadership Team. As Company Secretary, you'll be responsible for ensuring that their governance practices, legal compliance and risk frameworks are not only robust, but forward-thinking, inclusive and empowering.

Key aspects of the role:

• Lead the governance function and develop frameworks, policies and systems that support accountability, learning and effective oversight
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with the Board, ELT, and wider teams to embed good governance at every level
• Deliver high-quality support for all Board and Committee meetings, including agenda planning, minutes, follow-up, and action tracking
• Manage statutory compliance and reporting, including submissions to Companies House and the Charity Commission
• Oversee the Association's risk management framework, working with the ELT to ensure risks are understood, monitored, and well-managed
• Take the lead on trustee recruitment, onboarding and succession planning
• Respond to serious complaints on behalf of the CEO or Chair, overseeing investigations and ensuring learning is captured
• Monitor and report on governance performance and stay alert to changes in legislation or sector standard.

We're looking for:

• A senior governance professional, ideally with charity or membership body experience
• Strong understanding of UK charity and company law, compliance and risk
• Experience advising Boards and senior leadership with confidence and diplomacy
• Excellent judgement, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• CGI qualified (or working towards) desirable, but not essential

This role includes fantastic benefits:

This includes 28 days of annual leave (increasing to 33 after 5 years), plus Bank Holidays, access to UK Healthcare covering dental, eyecare, and Health & Wellbeing services, a 24/7 phone and video GP service, life assurance, and access to confidential counselling helplines.

You'll also enjoy salary sacrifice schemes like Cycle to Work and Buy/Sell Annual Leave, a Benefit Hub for lifestyle discounts, an enhanced pension scheme, and a wealth of training and personal growth opportunities.

Ready to make a meaningful difference?

Join a team where your leadership and values will shape the future of the charity and help improve lives across the UK. If you're excited by the opportunity to drive ethical governance at the heart of a high-impact charity, we'd love to hear from you.

Send your CV to Priya at Charity People: [e-mail]

Closing date: 16th of June at 12pm
First Stage Interview: 14th of July
Second Stage Interview: 28th of July

Charity People actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experiences of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We know that greater diversity leads to even greater results for the charities we work with.