Head of governance jobs

• Job Title: Head of Governance and Risk
• Location: Thame (Oxfordshire) 
• Working arrangements: Hybrid, 2 days per week on-site
• Salary: £65,000 per annum
• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Affinity Trust is a national charity dedicated to supporting people with learning disabilities to live fulfilling lives. We are looking for an exceptional governance professional to join our senior leadership team as our new Head of Governance and Risk.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, this is a high‑impact role at the heart of our organisation. You will lead governance and assurance, act as Company Secretary, oversee corporate risk and business continuity, and advise the Board and Executive Team.

As a trusted strategic partner, you will help ensure we meet our statutory and regulatory obligations, strengthen decision-making, and uphold our values.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading governance, assurance and Board/Committee support
• Acting as Company Secretary and ensuring statutory compliance
• Managing risk, internal control and organisational resilience
• Overseeing the performance of external legal advisors
• Providing governance oversight of data protection and information compliance

This standalone role requires significant expertise, confidence and integrity. You will bring strong knowledge of charity and company law, excellent Board-level communication skills, and the ability to balance strategic insight with hands‑on delivery.

If you are a values-driven professional who wants to make a real difference, we would love to hear from you.

Key Priorities for the First 12 Months

• Strengthen the organisation’s governance framework and Board reporting cycle.
• Lead a structured review of the corporate risk register and associated assurance processes.
• Embed a refreshed business continuity framework, including scenario testing.

• Support a Board effectiveness evaluation and implementation of any recommendations.
• Review the performance and value-for-money of external legal advisors.
• Enhance processes for data protection and ICO compliance oversight in partnership with the SIRO.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a highly capable governance professional who brings:

• Strong technical expertise in charity governance, risk, and regulatory compliance.
• Confidence advising senior leaders and Trustees.
• Excellent communication, diplomacy, and influencing skills.
• A proactive, values-led approach with the ability to work autonomously.
• The ability to juggle strategic insight with hands-on delivery.

You don’t need to have worked in a large team — this role is well-suited to someone who thrives in a standalone, high-responsibility position.

Please note, all roles are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, at the relevant level for the position. This check will be paid for by us.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of one of the largest Church of England dioceses, working closely with an experienced and committed Diocesan Secretary as a trusted advisor to a small senior team.   This is a varied, high‑impact role with significant scope for professional growth.

 The role blends strategy, operations and governance and is ideal for someone who thrives on complexity and likes getting things done. You will be a trusted adviser and sounding board, offering challenge, perspective, and solutions. You will be expert at developing and maintaining excellent relationships with a wide range of people including trustees, staff and senior clergy.

 The Diocese of Southwark is committed to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation and to increasing our diversity at all levels. We especially welcome applications from those with Global Majority Heritage,  those with disabilities and other protected characteristics. 

Job Purpose

To ensure the smooth functioning of the central diocesan office in particular by leading on governance in the Diocesan Board of Finance, co-ordinating activities and managing the day-to-day responsibilities of the Diocesan Secretary’s role as Company Secretary. 

 This will involve a range of responsibilities including:

•  Leading on all elements of governance and charity law compliance 
•  Leading the Health and Safety and facilities management in the Diocesan Offices, including the line management of staff.
•  Co-ordinating, preparing planning and follow up for a range of meetings associated with the governance of the diocese. This includes drafting agendas, preparing papers, taking minutes of meetings and following up the actions
•  Supporting the Diocesan Secretary in   all other aspects of  synodical and committee management, including overseeing elections and the electoral process for Diocesan Synod and Deanery Synods
• Acting as a point of contact and expertise for Parishes, Deanery Secretaries and  Deanery Lay Chairs including:

The Person

You should have significant experience in a governance or secretariat role, preferably in a charity and ideally in the Church of England.  Proven ability to work closely with senior leaders, ideally at CEO or Board level is essential, as is the experience of leading a small team to deliver well under pressure.  You should have a strong understanding of the charity sector and ideally of Church of England governance

As a key contact for people in the Diocese, you should have outstanding communication skills: written, verbal, and interpersonal, combined with strong organisational and project management skills.  You will need to be comfortable switching between high level strategy and hands on delivery, with the ability to influence without authority and navigate sensitive issues with discretion. The role is challenging and involves some evening and weekend working for which time off in lieu is given.

We are seeking a Head of Governance reporting into our Chief of staff and leading a team of four, comprising two Senior Governance Officers and two Governance Officers.

This is an exciting opportunity to join The National Lottery Community Fund in a pivotal leadership role, where you will be given the opportunity to shape and strengthen governance function and frameworks while providing expert support to executives, non-executives, and the Board.

As a trusted advisor to the Chair, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring robust governance, compliance, and assurance in line with our regulatory requirements. You will lead a skilled team delivering strategic governance oversight in a modern, agile way that supports the whole organisation.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to shape governance at a senior level within a purpose-driven organisation. You will work alongside senior leaders and stakeholders, influence strategic direction, and lead meaningful improvements that make a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop all areas of governance across the Fund, ensuring efficient, effective, and compliant practices.
• Provide strategic governance oversight, driving consistency and harmonisation across committees and decision-making forums.
• Act as a proactive and trusted advisor to the Chair of the Board.
• Oversee governance support for UK-wide and England-based decision-making bodies, simplifying and improving ways of working.
• Manage a complex cycle of governance meetings, ensuring excellence in delivery and decision-making support.
• Lead the appointment, induction, and development of non-executive members.
• Build and lead a high-performing governance team, fostering development, coaching, and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the sponsor government department and lead governance improvement initiatives aligned to our One Fund ambition.
• Contribute strategically as part of the Directorate leadership team, supporting corporate planning and taking collective responsibility for staff.

About You

You are an experienced and influential governance leader with a track record of delivering strategic oversight and driving organisational improvement. You bring:

• Significant experience leading a governance function within a complex or public sector organisation.
• Proven ability to streamline processes and strengthen governance assurance.
• Experience providing strategic, proactive support to senior executives and Boards.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks (including the National Lottery Act and Public Sector Equality Duty).
• Expertise in delivering governance improvements through harmonisation and matrix working.
• A strong people leadership background, with experience coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Interview details:

• Date: Week Commencing 6 July 2026
• Format: Online
• Location: UK Wide

The role can be based at any of our UK offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Newtown.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the recruitment team

For any questions about the recruitment process, please email the recruitment team.

How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential Criteria

1. Proven leadership experience of a governance function within a complex, regulated or public sector organisation.
2. Demonstrable expertise in governance frameworks and compliance, with the ability to ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements.
3. Significant experience advising senior executives and Boards, including acting as a trusted and proactive strategic advisor.
4. Strong track record of improving governance practices, including streamlining processes and driving consistency across committees or decision making bodies.
5. In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, including the National Lottery Act and Public Sector Equality Duty (or equivalent regulatory frameworks).
6. Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, with a focus on coaching, mentoring, and building capability.
7. Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders, including government departments.
8. Excellent organisational and operational skills, including managing complex governance cycles, delivering high quality outputs, and ensuring attention to detail and assurance.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ​

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)