Head of governance jobs

The Role

The Law Society is seeking an experienced Head of Governance to lead our governance and executive office functions into a modern, smart and efficient future.

This newly created and pivotal leadership role is responsible for strengthening our governance capability, embedding best practice across the organisation, and ensuring the highest standards of oversight, transparency and strategic alignment.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Head of Governance will combine advanced leadership capability with excellent communication, technological and risk-management skills. You will shape how our Board, Council and committees engage with the organisation, ensuring they are supported to deliver robust oversight and drive our strategic priorities.

This is an exciting, career-defining opportunity to make a significant impact by building a governance function that adds real value to decision-making and champions continuous improvement across the organisation.

Please refer to the job description for further information.

What we're looking for

We're seeking someone with proven leadership and line-management experience, with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.

You will have extensive experience leading governance functions in complex organisations, alongside thorough knowledge of formal governance rules, frameworks and best practice.

You will also have significant experience working with senior leaders, Office Holders, Board Chairs or equivalent, and managing Boards and committees. You will be adept at balancing competing priorities and experienced in leading organisational change.

As a key stakeholder for the Governance team, you will bring a strong strategic mindset and play a central role in strengthening relationships between the Governance team and the wider organisation.

What's in it for you

This is an excellent opportunity to join an organisation that has recently achieved Gold accreditation from Investors in People, recognising our commitment to being an employer of choice for people who want to make a meaningful difference.

You will join an organisation with a strong reputation for excellence, a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and a culture built on clarity, trust and respect.

We offer hybrid working (two days per week in our London office), a generous flexible benefits package, a positive working environment and opportunities for career development within a professional and supportive organisation.

The Law Society has partnered exclusively with Mackie Myers to recruit this role.

To apply, please visit:

Job Title: Head of People & Governance

Responsible To:  Chief Executive

Location:Remote, but with flexibility to travel for in person meetings

Salary: £38,336 - £44,427 pro rata, per annum (dependent on experience) plus 8% pension contribution

Duration: Permanent established role

Hours: 0.8 FTE (29 hours 36 minutes per week), flexible

Job Purpose: 

The Head of People & Governance will provide leadership to the CEO Office team and serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This role will be responsible for the three specialist areas which form the CEO Office: People Services, Governance and Executive Support. 

This role is responsible for delivering the People Services function for the organisation, including the development and implementation of People Services strategies, plans, policies and processes. You will lead the People Services team in delivering high quality support and advisory services.

This post requires the individual to understand, anticipate and react to the organisation’s changing needs, to think critically, make decisions, and offer solutions to problems with expert professionalism, sensitivity, and confidentiality. To implement Butterfly Conservation’s (BC) objectives through leadership of the CEO Office team, setting and managing budgets, targets and workplans while inspiring and enabling staff to achieve their best.

Specific Tasks:

1. Delivering the People Services function      
2. Responsible for delivering a high-performing People Services function ensuring all interactions adhere to BC’s inclusion and organisational values. To lead, manage and be accountable for the function, including:

• Aligning workload with BC’s Strategy and annual business plans.
• Advising, coaching, and enabling the People Services team to deliver effectively and create an engaging, supportive, and empowering environment. 
• Ensure monthly workforce reporting systems are in place and actions followed up where required.  
• Lead on Employee Health and Wellbeing initiatives, promoting a culture of engagement and self-responsibility.
• Implement, monitor and evaluate performance management systems and processes. 
• In conjunction with the CEO and SLT, procuring external specialist support and/or legal advice as needed to minimise risk to the organisation.
• Act as the escalation point for complex employee casework, including dispute resolutions, disciplinaries, grievances, absence, retirement and redundancy, ensuring that the SLT members’ roles remain objective and that safe formal processes can occur if required. 
• Account management for providers of BC’s People Services Workforce Systems, ensuring Service Level Agreements are met and partnership opportunities are maximised including Occupational Health, EAP services, Hireful and BreatheHR.
• Oversee and manage ‘Charity Learn’ BC’s online learning management system, to include setting up annual statutory training for all staff and creating bookable in-house training sessions as required.
• In conjunction with the CEO and SLT, develop and implement a People Strategy to include areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, and staff engagement. 

1. Governance, Risk and Management Information & Reporting

      Accountable for the smooth running of BC’s core governance activities and trustee meetings, including:

• Overseeing the risk and audit process for the CEO Office, bridging as needed between the Finance Directorate and the CEO Office Directorate.
• Ensuring all core legal requirements are met and that the trustees comply with their duties in accordance with the Articles of Association.
• Ensuring relevant statutory returns are submitted to Charity Commission and Companies House.

1. Executive Support

      Ensure the support function to the CEO and SLT is delivered efficiently and effectively, including direct line management of the Executive Assistant to the CEO and SLT PA’s.

1. Management and Development of Team members

      Responsible for managing a team of five direct reports and undertaking all People Manager duties, including:

• Setting objectives, workload planning, holding 121 meetings and regular reviews.
• Conducting Performance Development Reviews and giving timely direction and feedback.
• Building engagement within the team and creating an environment of trust and wellbeing.
• Coaching and developing team members to ensure professional and personal growth and career development and supporting any training needs. 
• Role modelling people management in line with BC’s values and competency framework, setting a good example from the CEO Office. 

1. Strategy, Planning and Budgeting

      Working with the CEO and SLT on the annual and long-term business cycles, including:

• Supporting with the creation of BC’s Strategy as required.
• Creating annual Directorate work plans to deliver actions and outcomes in line with BC’s strategic priorities ensuring  teams within your responsibility have clarity and direction.
• Working with Finance to ensure that the function has adequate budget to match the work plans and supporting with budget refresh and reforecasting.
• Supporting the Directorate with workforce planning and resource management as required.
• Responsible for the CEO Office budget.

1. Relationship building, partnering and culture development,

     Operating as a strong ambassador for BC and the CEO by:

• Cultivating and nurturing excellent working relationships both internally with all colleagues and trustees, and externally with branches, volunteers, partners, suppliers, funders, and sector networks.

General:

• Promoting and exemplifying BC’s values (Excellence, Passionate, Inspiring, Collaborative) ensuring they are adopted in all aspects of the role.
• Aligning with the mission and strategic goals of BC; commitment to species conservation, the environment and nature recovery.
• Undertaking any other reasonable duties as required and commensurate with the grade of post.
• Undertaking all duties and responsibilities in compliance with BC policies, processes and code of conduct, role modelling inclusive behaviour to enable a diverse workforce.
• Be cost conscious and respectful of funders’ money. Make good financial decisions to minimise cost and maximise impact by the charity.
• Actively participating in on-going professional development activities, committing to personal and professional growth and development.

Candidates must have the right to work and be resident in the UK.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early before the advertised closing date and time.

Closing date:Sunday, 15 February 2026 at 23:59. 

REF-226 149