Governance officer jobs in London, greater london

The Biochemical Society promotes the future of molecular biosciences, facilitating the sharing of expertise, supporting the advancement of biochemistry and molecular biology, and raising the awareness of their importance in addressing societal grand challenges.

We are seeking a Governance and EDI Officer, on an 12-month Fixed Term Contract, to support the Governance and EDI team.

The Governance and EDI Officer will work closely with Trustees, the Senior Leadership Team, and other key stakeholders (both internal and external) to help deliver the calendar of governance committee, board and panel meetings ensuring adherence to pre-defined service standards and ensuring that all discussions, decisions and follow-on actions are recorded, communicated and actioned as appropriate, alongside supporting team members with EDI initiatives, including the Society’s EDI Community, the 2026 online EDI Symposium, Society involvement in the 2027 Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum and organisational mentoring schemes.

The post-holder will support with administration and management for various Committees by compiling and preparing agendas and associated papers before each meeting, preparing Chair Notes and producing accurate minutes of meeting within the agreed timelines. You will also act as a liaison between the Society/PPL and Committee members on practical and logistical matters, such as supporting with expenses, as required.

The role will provide administrative support for the Nominations process and success planning, including Committee Chair, Trustee and Director inductions, along with drafting and reviewing policy documents and terms of reference. In addition, providing support on EDI initiatives with the wider team on the EDI Toolkit management.

Suitable candidates will have experience in Committee work, with excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders. The successful candidate will also be able to present information in a concise report format, with strong attention to detail, while being able to work flexibly to manage competing demands as required.

For more information about the organisation, please visit our website.

Here is some information on our Benefits package.

Closing date: 11th September 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please note that this role is home-based and as such interviews will be virtual.

“We are interested in every candidate who is eligible to work in the United Kingdom. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.”

Please send a CV and covering letter. It is important that you DO NOT include your Personal Information i.e. name and contact details in your CV or Cover Letter. This is because the Society is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies to support staff from different backgrounds.

The Society takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.

Please note that due to limited resources it is not possible for the Society to acknowledge receipt of applications. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Governance Officer

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Governance Officer

Permanent

Hybrid working with 2 days per week based at our NHQ, in St John’s Lane

Salary: Up to £29,000

Closing Date: 10/09/2026

Our offer to you 

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive: 

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme (subject to terms)
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping 

 About Us 

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,100 employees and over 20,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future. 

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, and Young Responders programmes).

Job Summary 

The Governance Officer plays an important role in supporting the Company Secretary and Chancery Team at the heart of St John’s governance arrangements. The role provides high-quality governance and secretarial support to senior executives, trustees and Board Committees, helping to ensure effective administration and coordination across key governance activities.

You will also support the project management of Trustee recruitment and work closely with the Executive Assistant Team to coordinate meetings and related activities. This is a varied role that requires strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

About You 

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive professional with experience in governance, administration, company secretarial, executive support, or a similar environment. You will be confident working with senior executives, trustees and external stakeholders, with excellent communication skills and a professional approach. The successful candidate will be able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, handle sensitive information with discretion, and maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Adaptable and resilient, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment and build strong, trusted relationships while working collaboratively across teams.

About the Role 

In this role, you will:

·Provide governance and secretarial support to the Company Secretary, Executive Leadership Team, Board Committees and trustees.

·Coordinate meetings, agendas, papers, minutes, actions and other governance documentation.

·Support the project management and administration of Trustee recruitment activities.

·Work closely with the Executive Assistant Team to coordinate meetings and ensure effective administrative support.

·Build strong working relationships with senior colleagues, trustees and external partners.

·Manage planned and ad-hoc governance activities, adapting to changing priorities and deadlines.

·Handle confidential and sensitive information with a high level of discretion and professionalism.

·Contribute to wider organisational projects and initiatives that support the objectives and priorities of St John.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply) 

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here 

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have seven networks including The Armed Forces Network, The Disability & Accessibility Network, The Family & Carers Network, The Heritage & Ethnicity Equity Network, LGBTQIA + Equity, The Multifaith Network & The Women’s Network. We do nottolerate any form ofdiscriminationandengendera sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship.We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.

St John Ambulance is proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to supporting current and former members of the Armed Forces, reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families, ensuring they are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their recruitment or employment with us.

St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role'. 

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy. 

Governance Officer Predominantly Remote | Temporary Contract to December 2026 | £15.93 - £17.58 per hour

Looking for a governance role where you can make an immediate impact while supporting senior leaders, trustees and key committees within a well-established national organisation?

We are seeking an experienced Governance Officer to join a busy and collaborative team, providing high-level governance and administrative support across executive and committee functions. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous governance, committee or board support experience who enjoys working with senior stakeholders and ensuring governance processes run smoothly.

The Role As Governance Officer, you will play a key role in supporting governance activities, coordinating meetings and ensuring effective decision-making processes across the organisation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating executive and committee meetings from planning through to follow up
• Preparing agendas, meeting packs and supporting documentation
• Producing high-quality minutes and maintaining action logs
• Supporting governance and compliance activities
• Assisting with trustee and volunteer appointment processes
• Managing governance records, correspondence and documentation
• Building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, trustees and committee members
• Monitoring progress against agreed actions and governance workstreams
• Supporting a range of governance projects and initiatives as required

About You To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Previous experience supporting board, committee or governance meetings
• Excellent minute-taking skills, with the ability to produce clear and concise records of discussions and decisions
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience preparing agendas, papers and reports
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to work independently and use your own initiative
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence working with senior leaders
• Excellent attention to detail and a professional approach to handling confidential information
• Good Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams

Experience within governance, company secretariat, charity, membership, public sector or regulated environments would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

• Predominantly remote working
• Opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and trustees
• A varied and rewarding governance role
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Immediate start available
• Full-time temporary contract until December 2026

Rate: £15.93 - £17.58 per hour
Location: London (with occasional office attendance required)
Contract: Temporary until December 2026
Hours: Full-time

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.