Leader of Governance, Compliance and Executive Support

Location:

Place Partnership, across West Hub (WF5) and South Hub (S66).

Contract:

Full Time, Full Year. Term Time applications will also be considered.

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised individual to provide strategic leadership across the Trust's governance, company secretariat, compliance and executive support functions. This pivotal role ensures that the Trust Board, its committees and all Academy Education Committees operate effectively, meet statutory and regulatory requirements and support a culture of accountability and transparency.

• Lead on all aspects of governance and compliance infrastructure, overseeing key frameworks, registers, filings and reporting processes.
• Maintain the Scheme of Delegation, statutory registers, risk reporting, governance cycles and Companies House requirements.
• Line manage the Governance & Executive Support Officers, providing clear direction to ensure effective local governance and strong Trust-wide secretariat support.
• Manage Trustee and Member recruitment and oversee the full governance lifecycle.
• Provide expert advice and assurance to the Board, Trustees and Academy Leaders to maintain effective, compliant governance arrangements.
• Oversee the central complaints function and coordinate with the Data Protection Officer on DSARs, FOI requests and other data protection matters.
• Provide independent challenge and assurance on the effectiveness of Shared Services through oversight of service level agreements, cross-functional agreements and compliance reporting.
• Prepare briefings, papers and reports for Board meetings, external publications and key stakeholder engagement.
• Act as a discreet and proactive trusted point of contact for Board Members, Trustees and external stakeholders, including first point of contact for the Trust via telephone and email on behalf of the Executive Team.

• An experienced governance, company secretariat or compliance professional with substantial experience within education or another complex organisational setting.
• Highly organised and detail-focused, with the ability to manage complex governance cycles and competing priorities with accuracy.
• A credible and confident adviser, with the ability to provide clear guidance and training on governance, compliance and procedural matters to senior leaders, Trustees and Academy colleagues.
• A capable team leader, with ability to provide clear direction, support and development to others while promoting consistency and professionalism.
• Committed to continuous improvement, with a strong understanding of the importance of accountability, transparency and service quality.
• Proactive, trustworthy and approachable, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Reliable, discreet, and able to handle highly confidential information with integrity.
• Values-led and genuinely committed to the wellbeing of young people, recognising the importance of strong governance in supporting positive outcomes.

We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits as part of our commitment to wellbeing and professional growth.

Place Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Place Partnership is committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports and retains high quality colleagues from all backgrounds and across all job roles.

Candidates will always be shortlisted based on the content of application against the job description and essential criteria without access to the personal details information.