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This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
- 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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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
- Proven leadership experience of a governance function within a complex, regulated or public sector organisation.
- Demonstrable expertise in governance frameworks and compliance, with the ability to ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Significant experience advising senior executives and Boards, including acting as a trusted and proactive strategic advisor.
- Strong track record of improving governance practices, including streamlining processes and driving consistency across committees or decision making bodies.
- In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, including the National Lottery Act and Public Sector Equality Duty (or equivalent regulatory frameworks).
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, with a focus on coaching, mentoring, and building capability.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders, including government departments.
- 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.)
Non Charity Employer
501 - 1000
It starts with community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Head of Governance, Compliance, and Risk
Permanent, Full Time, Hybrid working (2 days per week in the office)
Location: The role can be based in our Cardiff, London, or Warrington office
Salary: £76,432 per annum for Cardiff, and Warrington. £81,314 per annum for London (including London allowance)
About us
Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.
We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues.
About the role
Reporting in to the Director of Finance and Corporate Governance, the Head of Governance, Compliance, and Risk will ensure robust governance, compliance, and risk management across Christian Aid and its subsidiaries which enables effective decision making.
The post-holder will be the the trusted advisor and subject matter expert in corporate governance on behalf of the Board, overseeing legal and regulatory compliance, develops and implementing a comprehensive risk management framework, and leading an internal audit programme that fosters organisational learning. The role will enhance and protect Christian Aid’s reputation and financial integrity while embedding best practices in governance and compliance.
Some of the main areas of responsibility for the Head of Governance, Compliance, and Risk include:
- Support effective trustee succession planning, effective Board meetings, and support for the Governance and Nominations Committee to ensure effective Board Governance.
- Provide expert advice on legal structures for subsidiaries, including Christian Aid Ireland.
- Provide high quality briefings with suggested solutions having sought professional advice where more specialist knowledge is required
- Establish and implement a comprehensive risk management framework including registers and appetite statements to guide directorate-level risk management.
- Develop a compliance culture covering data protection, money laundering, counter-terrorism, sanctions management, fraud prevention, and misuse of funds.
- Complete all regulatory filings (Charity Commission, OSCR, Companies House, ICO) within deadlines to avoid penalties.
- Implement an agreed internal audit plan reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee to ensure assurance over key controls.
- Evaluate key contracts to ensure compliance and provide legal advice using external panels when necessary.
- Lead a team empowering others to drive progress and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
- Define team's responsibilities and drive the team to promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge to maximise impact and achieve outstanding results.
About you
Who we are looking for:
Essential:
- Professional qualification in law, accountancy, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or corporate governance (ICSA).
- Extensive experience (5+ years) in UK Charity and corporate governance, compliance, and risk management within complex organisations.
- Demonstrable expertise in managing legislative changes and interpreting regulations.
- Advanced understanding of legal frameworks (e.g. data protection laws), regulatory requirements, risk management principles, and internal audit processes.
- Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting legislation; ability to communicate technical information effectively to non-specialist audiences; negotiation skills for resolving disputes.
Desirable:
- Experience acting as legal counsel
- Informed on legal, regulatory and sector developments
- Experience of working in global contexts
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Experience of working within changing political regimes and understanding the implications for sanctions and other compliance elements
- Data protection experience
Further information
At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.
We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams.
We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity.
All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.