Head of Volunteer Operations – Community Organisation

The Work Avenue Foundation; East Ham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Work Avenue's client, a community organisation, seeks a Head of Governance to lead governance, compliance and organisational assurance, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance as the organisation grows. You will chair the Governance and Compliance Team, oversee risk management, safeguarding, data protection, policy management and regulatory affairs, advising the COO, senior leaders, and trustees.

Strong track record in charity governance, DSAR handling, and working with regulators is essential;

Qualifications

• Significant experience in governance, compliance, legal, risk, assurance or related disciplines.
• Experience advising senior leaders, trustees, boards or governance committees.
• Experience developing and managing governance, risk or compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading teams and managing organisational change and improvement.
• Experience completing DSAR responses.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies (e.g. Charity Commission or ICO).
• Strong understanding of legal, regulatory and governance requirements in charity/public or regulated sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop governance and compliance framework.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, charitable and organisational requirements.
• Draft, review and maintain governance documentation.
• Prepare reports for senior leadership, trustees and board committees.
• Provide governance advice and assurance to senior leaders and trustees.
• Support Audit and Risk Committee and other governance forums.
• Carry out internal investigations on governance and compliance matters.

Skills

Governance

Compliance

Risk management

Regulatory knowledge

Policy drafting

Stakeholder management

DSAR responses

Education

Professional qualification in law/governance

Job description

Head of Governance – Community Organisation

• Permanent
• Full time
• NW London/Manchester
• Operations
• Competitive salary (available on enquiry)
• 30th November 2026
• J-7058

This organisation operates in an increasingly complex governance environment, characterised by heightened regulatory requirements, increased scrutiny from trustees and regulators, expanding compliance obligations and a growing risk of reputational challenge from external actors. The Head of Governance will lead and develop the governance, compliance and organisational assurance framework, ensuring that the charity operates in accordance with legal, regulatory and best practice requirements.

The role provides both strategic leadership and operational delivery across organisational governance, risk management, safeguarding, data protection, complaints, health and safety, policy management, business continuity and regulatory compliance. They will act as the organisation's principal advisor on governance and compliance matters, supporting the COO, Senior Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and relevant Board Committees. This role will lead the Governance and Compliance Team, developing its structure, capability and priorities to ensure the organisation remains resilient, compliant and well governed as the organisation continues to grow.

Your key responsibilities for this role are as follows:

Governance and Compliance

• Lead and develop the governance and compliance framework.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, charitable and organisational requirements.
• Draft, review and maintain organisational policies, procedures and governance documentation.
• Prepare reports, briefings and papers for senior leadership, trustees and board committees.
• Provide governance advice and assurance to senior leaders and trustees.
• Support the Audit and Risk Committee, Operations Committee and other governance forums.
• Carry out internal investigations on matters of governance and compliance, as and when required.

Your key responsibilities for this role are as follows:

Risk and Organisational Resilience

• Lead the organisational risk management framework and Risk Register.
• Personally coordinate risk reviews and maintain oversight of organisational risks and mitigations.
• Work with departmental heads to identify, assess and manage strategic and operational risks.
• Lead business continuity and organisational resilience planning.
• Provide risk reporting and assurance to trustees and senior leadership.

Safeguarding, Data Protection and Assurance

• Act as organisational Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Manage safeguarding concerns, reports, investigations and referrals.
• Oversee compliance with data protection legislation and information governance requirements.
• Ensure effective management of complaints, investigations and formal responses where required.
• Oversee organisational assurance, auditing and compliance monitoring activities.
• Review assurance findings and drive improvements across the organisation.

Legal and Regulatory Matters

• Lead on legal, regulatory and governance matters affecting the organisation.
• Personally manage significant legal, regulatory and compliance issues as they arise.
• Coordinate relationships with external legal advisers, regulators and auditors.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments and advise on organisational implications.

Leadership and Management

• Lead and develop the Governance and Compliance Team.
• Review and evolve team responsibilities and priorities.
• Allocate work across the team whilst retaining ownership of the most complex, sensitive or high-risk matters.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and good governance across the organisation.
• Build governance, compliance and risk management capability throughout the organisation.

You must be a team player, and have:

• Significant experience in governance, compliance, legal, risk, assurance or related professional disciplines.
• Experience advising senior leaders, trustees, boards or governance committees.
• Experience developing and managing governance, risk or compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading teams and managing organisational change and improvement.
• Experience completing DSAR responses.
• Experience in direct communications with regulatory bodies (such as the Charity Commission or the ICO, for example).
• Strong understanding of legal, regulatory and governance requirements, ideally within the charity, public or regulated sectors.
• Excellent analytical, report writing and policy drafting skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Sound judgement and discretion when managing sensitive and complex matters.
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels.
• Professional qualification or significant experience in law, governance, risk, compliance, audit or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of Charity Commission expectations and governance best practice (desirable).
• Experience in safeguarding, data protection, health and safety or organisational assurance (desirable).
• Knowledge of the Jewish community (desirable).