Strategic Governance Lead & Assistant Secretary

Smithmtn; Bartley Green; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days leave

Pension scheme

Chaplaincy services

Library services

Free parking

Discounted travel

Cycle to work

Employee assistance

Job summary

Birmingham Newman University is seeking an experienced Governance Manager and Assistant Secretary to Council to strengthen governance effectiveness. You will advise senior stakeholders, support the Council, and oversee committee services, minutes, and statutory reporting.

The role requires expertise in governance best practices, regulatory frameworks, and strong written and interpersonal skills. Overnight or evening governance events may be necessary on occasion.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting corporate governance boards and committees within a complex organisation, ideally within Higher Education.
• Strong understanding of governance best practices, regulatory compliance, and the environment affecting universities.
• Proven ability to manage governance processes including committee servicing, agenda planning, minute-taking, action tracking and reporting.
• Excellent written communication, with experience drafting reports, briefings, papers, policies, and high-level correspondence.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to build relationships with Council members, executives, staff, students, and external bodies.
• Experience providing governance advice and politically sensitive support to senior leaders.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills; manage priorities and horizon scan.
• Advanced digital skills, including Microsoft 365, Teams and SharePoint.
• Collaborative, proactive, resilient, detail-oriented, with commitment to continuous improvement.
• Flexibility to support evening meetings and governance events outside normal hours.
• Graduate-level qualification or equivalent professional experience; evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Governance, company secretarial, or legal qualifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support governance boards and committees with governance processes.
• Provide governance and regulatory advice to senior leaders.
• Plan agendas, service committees, take minutes, track actions, and prepare statutory reports.
• Draft reports, briefings, policies, and high-level correspondence.
• Build relationships with Council members, executives, staff, students, and external bodies.
• Coordinate governance projects and horizon scan for long-term governance cycles.
• Lead and support governance events, including occasional evening sessions.

Skills

Governance

Stakeholder management

Policy advice

Minute taking

Agenda planning

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Project coordination

Regulatory understanding

Strategic thinking

Education

Graduate-level qualification

Governance / company secretarial / legal qualifications

Tools

Microsoft 365

Teams

SharePoint

Job description

Birmingham Newman University is seeking an experienced Governance Manager and Assistant Secretary to Council to strengthen governance effectiveness. You will advise senior stakeholders, support the Council, and oversee committee services, minutes, and statutory reporting.

The role requires expertise in governance best practices, regulatory frameworks, and strong written and interpersonal skills. Overnight or evening governance events may be necessary on occasion.