Governance Manager

Location:   Quadrant House in Sutton, with hybrid working available 

Working Pattern:   36 hours per week, term-time plus 4 weeks (4 days per week would be considered for the right candidate)

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT) is a family of specialist education providers for over 1500 pupils and students from nursery to further education across 15 academies and 8 college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. Supporting our academies and college, OHC&AT also operate learning support, such as nursing and therapy, and business support services.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs including autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health; profound and multiple disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health needs.

OHC&AT is a rewarding and inspirational place to work, where everyone works together to create the best possible outcomes for students. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit www.ohcat.org.

Working alongside the schools in the Academy Trust, we have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Governance Manager.

You will report to the Head of Corporate Governance, and be responsible for providing comprehensive governance support, including line managing the Regional Clerking Team and providing support to the Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) within the Trust.  

You will have a key role in providing effective governance across the Trust including providing a clerking service to the LGBs within the Trust including;  

• Acting as key point of contact for OHC&AT in relation to providing the LGBs with procedural advice in carrying out their statutory obligations  
• Developing, leading and co-ordinating the provision of governance support across OHC&AT to enable the LGBs to fulfil their strategic functions  
• Developing, establishing and embedding high quality working practices and service delivery standards for governance administration and support within the Trust  
• Providing expert advice directly to governors and via Clerks to LGBs on all matters relating to school governance including procedures and legislation and much more  

You will need to demonstrate the following experience and skills: 

• Experience as a Manager in compliance and Governance or similar role in a relevant governance setting 
• Effective oral and written communication skills to be able to work effectively with a range of audiences using appropriate, presentation, interpersonal and decision making skills. 
• Methodical and thorough work ethic, with the ability to meet targets and deadlines and respond positively to changing priorities and timeframes 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to all Stakeholders 
• To have confidence in own understanding of legislation 
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and the highest standards of equality practice.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

For an informal discussion about the role, candidates are invited to contact Tracey Goodsell, Head of Corporate Governance via email TGoodsell@ohcandat.org.

Closing Date:  12 noon Monday 5th September 

Interviews will take place on: Friday 9th September

Candidates are invited to apply early as if a high number of suitable applicants respond we may bring forward the closing date.  

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact jobs@orchardhill.ac.uk. 

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role. Failure to show evidence will result in your application not being shortlisted for interview.

Please note that CV applications will not be considered.

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.