Strategic Lead for Governors – Hackney Education

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Strategic Lead in Hackney Education will shape and deliver governance strategies, lead risk assessment and provide strategic advice on complex matters such as interim boards and academy changes, working with headteachers, chairs of governors and council officers.

The role focuses on diversifying governing boards, designing the annual Governors' Conference and overseeing training for chairs and board members; Enhanced DBS check is required.

Qualifications

• Expert understanding of school governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of legal compliance, including the Education Act 2002, Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Equality Duty, safeguarding and SEND.
• Knowledge of current education policy.
• Demonstrable commitment to embedding anti-racist, equitable and inclusive practice in governance.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships with chairs, headteachers, advisers and council leaders.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver support strategies so governing boards fulfil their core functions.
• Lead the development of Hackney's governance risk assessment framework.
• Monitor governance effectiveness and intervene early in schools causing concern or undergoing structural change.
• Provide strategic advice on complex governance matters, including interim executive boards, hard federations, academy conversions and MOUs/SLAs.
• Advise on complex exclusions, complaints and legally required Independent Review Panels.
• Lead programmes to diversify governing boards, including recruiting young, parent and community governors from Black and global majority communities.
• Design the annual Hackney Governors' Conference.
• Oversee training, briefings and guidance for chairs and board members.
• Lead local authority governance strategy under the Education Act 2002.
• Work with Education Improvement Advisers, headteachers, chairs of governors and council officers.

Skills

Governance frameworks

Legal & policy compliance

Education policy knowledge

Anti-racist & inclusive governance

Partnership building

Financial acumen

Job description

This Strategic Lead post sits within Hackney Education's School Performance and Improvement team and reports to the Head of School Performance and Improvement at the London Borough of Hackney. The role leads the council's governance strategy, including risk assessment, intervention in schools causing concern and statutory advice on complex matters such as interim executive boards and academy conversions. Its distinct focus is diversifying school governing boards and designing the annual Hackney Governors' Conference, and it requires an Enhanced DBS check. Applicants answer competency questions in place of a supporting statement.

What the job involves

• Design and deliver support strategies so governing boards fulfil their core functions
• Lead the development of Hackney's governance risk assessment framework
• Monitor governance effectiveness and intervene early in schools causing concern or undergoing structural change
• Provide strategic advice on complex governance matters, including interim executive boards, hard federations, academy conversions and MOUs/SLAs
• Advise on complex exclusions, complaints and legally required Independent Review Panels
• Lead programmes to diversify governing boards, including recruiting young, parent and community governors from Black and global majority communities
• Design the annual Hackney Governors' Conference
• Oversee training, briefings and guidance for chairs and board members
• Lead local authority governance strategy under the Education Act 2002
• Work with Education Improvement Advisers, headteachers, chairs of governors and council officers

Experience

• Proven leadership and management experience in policy implementation, risk management and governance assurance in education or public sector settings

Skills & knowledge

• Expert understanding of school governance frameworks
• Knowledge of legal compliance, including the Education Act 2002, Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Equality Duty, safeguarding and SEND
• Knowledge of current education policy
• Demonstrable commitment to embedding anti-racist, equitable and inclusive practice in governance
• Ability to build trusted partnerships with chairs, headteachers, advisers and council leaders
• Strong commercial and financial acumen

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check