36.5 hours per week term time only, hybrid: home/in person working , hours may vary depending on meetings; some evening work will be required

Key Responsibilities:

Support the efficient operation of the trust board, committees, and local governing boards, including clerking meetings for all. Ensuring governance at all levels is functioning appropriately:

· Lead governance framework development and continuous improvement

· Managing and coordinating the delivery and ongoing improvement of governance support across the trust

· Collaborate with leadership to ensure compliance and alignment with strategic priorities

· Acting as the lead adviser on issues relating to the governance of schools and the trust

· Developing and implementing the MAT’s strategy for effective governance support services

· Assessing capacity and developing the structure in line with organisational growth

· Maintain effective communication with governing bodies and external stakeholders

· Manage statutory filings, liaise with Companies House, and maintain GIAS records

· Ensuring Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks are completed for all members, trustees and Governors

· Clerking for any other meetings e.g. disciplinary and grievance if required

2. Provide Advice and Guidance

Provide expert governance advice, ensure compliance with legal frameworks, support risk-informed decision-making, and oversee policy development and strategic implementation:

· Provide expert advice on governance structures, procedures, and legal frameworks

· Ensure risk-informed decision-making and governance interventions

· Promote best practices in school governance

· Fulfil company secretary responsibilities

· Ensuring that all relevant procedures/policies are signed off by all Committees in time for implementation

· Advising on policy development and strategic oversight of the Trust Policy Framework

· Guiding trustees on compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook, Articles of Association, and Governance Handbook

3. Developing Governance

Clerk meetings of the trust board, its committees, and local governing boards ensuring these enable the successful delivery of strategic objectives by:

· Keeping the board focused on its core strategic priorities, their strategic leadership responsibilities, and their duty to maintain the highest professional standards of conduct and ethics

· Plan and manage trust board and committee meetings and prepare focused agendas

· Satisfying all aspects of meeting compliance as stipulated in the trust’s articles of association, scheme of delegation, and the Academy Trust Handbook, and in accordance with arrangements agreed by the board

· Developing governing structures, particularly in relation to committee structures and the scheme of delegation, and routines across schools and monitoring effectiveness

· Ensuring governing structures are developed in parallel with organisational growth strategies

· Developing, reviewing, and maintaining governance documents, such as articles of association, schemes of delegation, terms of reference, role descriptions, and code of conduct

· Maintaining registers of trustees, members, board interests, and committee membership

· Developing record management and communication methods that are fit for purpose and maintain confidentiality

· Oversee board self-evaluation and external reviews

· Lead governance induction and CPD programs

· Developing and overseeing systems for board self-evaluation and review, including commissioning of external reviews

4. Leading on Compliance

Manage information and documentation that clearly details the trust’s governance arrangements and satisfies other statutory requirements, including (but not limited to):

· Maintain trust governance records and oversee policy compliance

advising on policy review and approval cycle

· Ensuring copies of statutory policies and other statutory documents such as the scheme of delegation and register of interests are published as agreed (on the trust and/or school website) and in line with statutory requirements

· Ensure compliance with the Academy Trust Handbook e.g. Articles of Association, and the Academy trust Governance guide

· Ensure governance risks are captured in the trust risk register

· Supporting production of the annual report and governance statement published with the trust’s annual accounts

· Managing the flow of information between the trust board, academy committees, members, and local governing boards

· Developing trust-specific documents such as a governance code of conduct and skills matrix

· Maintaining the trust’s online governance portal or equivalent

· Ensuring the application of policies, procedures, and relevant legislation/guidance across the trust

· Administer Freedom of Information (FOI), Subject Access Requests (SARs) and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA’s) in collaboration with our Data Protection Officer

· Oversee the Trust Policy Framework, ensuring alignment with legal requirements

· Managing the trust websites uploads and information, audit and compliance

5. Leadership Management

If applicable effectively recruit, train, and oversee governance support staff whilst managing budgets, resources, and succession planning to ensure strong organisational leadership:

· Recruit, train, and manage governance support staff

· Provide performance management and succession planning

· Manage governance-related budgets and resources

· Provide administrative support to the trust leadership team and chair of trustees

6. Developing and Maintaining Productive Working Relationships

Develop and maintain productive working relationships whilst maintaining independence by:

· Working collaboratively and holistically with stakeholders in and outside of the organisation so that governance supports and enables the operational delivery of strategic objectives

· Ensuring relevant authorities are notified of changes to membership and governance structures as appropriate

· Being a role model for effective and ethical governance

· Providing coordinated support

· Acting as a central point of contact

· Providing advisory support to boards

· Being an expert resource for the wider organisation

· Quality assuring advice – acting as a high-level resource

· Responding to issues including concerns and complaints related to governance

· Facilitating networks and communication between governing boards

· Feeding into annual appraisal

7. Delivering Wider and Targeted Support

Lead governance recruitment, training, and self-evaluation initiatives while ensuring compliance with legal and statutory obligations through effective systems and controls:

· Oversee recruitment and induction for governance tiers

· Lead CPD and governance training initiatives

· Organise governance self-evaluations and targeted interventions

· Monitor compliance with schemes of delegation and statutory obligations

· Ensuring systems and controls are in place to comply with obligations under education legislation, funding agreements, charity legislation, company law, data protection legislation, safeguarding guidelines, and health and safety legislation

8. Professional Development

Continuing professional development in the role should include:

· Liaising with relevant professional organisations and networks

· Carrying out the duties of a company secretary

· Advising the board of trustees on their role, constitutional and procedural matters

· Stay updated on governance policy developments

· Engage in professional training and performance management

· Maintain statutory governance records and ensure compliance with Companies House and GIAS requirements

· Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as required

9. Person specification

Knowledge

• extensive knowledge of the trust system
• extensive knowledge of governance law, structures, policy and practice in all types of schools
• awareness of current issues relating to the governance of schools and academy trust

Skills

• high level communication and IT
• highly organised and able to manage workload effectively to meet organisational priorities and deadlines
• high level strategic planning
• decision-making based on intelligent assessment of risk and benefits
• interpersonal/relationship building/stakeholder engagement skills
• leadership and line management: planning and coordinating the work of others
• relevant School and Academy Governance qualification or equivalent
• school and Academy Governance training

Attributes

• personal integrity and commitment to the principles of public life
• respecting confidentiality
• confidence and influence as a senior leader
• can manage and make decisions independently
• ability to lead by example, coach, motivate and inspire others
• agile thinker
• calm and resilient under pressure
• flexible approach to work
• commitment to CPD and modelling this to others