Secretariat administrator jobs

Secretariat – Reading Students’ Union

Location: University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, Berkshire

Salary: £30,981.64 per annum 

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours a week)

'Governance that matters - because students matter'

About Reading Students’ Union

We are a dynamic, student-focused organisation dedicated to empowering students and enhancing their university experience. Our vision is to be a place for everyone, we inspire and empower students to change the world. 

The Role: Secretariat

As our Secretariat Officer, you’ll be the heartbeat of our governance and democratic life. You’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, transparently, and in line with our charitable purpose. From supporting our CEO and Board of Trustees to guiding student leaders, you’ll be our trusted expert.

What You’ll Do

• Act as the go-to expert for governance and democracy queries, providing timely, accurate advice an training  to trustees, student leaders, and staff. You’ll keep us compliant with charity law and sector best practice, and lead governance reviews to drive continuous improvement
• Own the annual cycle of Board and committee business—schedule meetings, prepare agendas, write clear and accurate minutes, and track actions. You’ll also coordinate trustee inductions and training, building strong relationships that enable effective decision-making
• Facilitate democratic processes, from elections to policy development. You’ll guide student candidates and elected officers, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to lead confidently. You’ll design and deliver induction programmes for our elected sabbatical officers, setting them up for success
• Provide high-quality support to the CEO and Senior Management Team—managing diaries, inboxes, and meetings, and ensuring smooth communication across the organisation
• Maintain governance records, policy schedules, manage statutory filings, and oversee the student complaints process
• Identify opportunities to streamline governance systems and introduce digital tools that make processes more accessible and efficient
• Analyse governance and democratic participation data to produce reports that inform strategy and improve engagement. You’ll turn numbers into actionable insights that enhance student representation

About You

You’re passionate about governance and thrive in roles where precision, integrity, and impact matter. You’ll bring a mix of expertise, confidence, and curiosity to help us deliver exceptional governance and democratic processes for our students.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in governance, democratic processes, or charity administration
• Knowledge of charity law and governance best  practice
• A track record of supporting senior leaders or Boards—minute-taking, meeting coordination, and managing confidential information
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to juggle calendars, inboxes, and complex projects in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including clear, accurate minute writing
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Experience designing and delivering training in all things governance

Desirable:

• Experience managing complaints
• Charity experience in an education or student-focused environment
• Knowledge of Student Unions, university structures and student representation systems

Why Join Us?

• Inclusive and supportive team culture
• Flexible working options
• 35 days annual leave including Christmas and Easter closure days
• Professional development opportunities
• Unique working environment in the heart of a vibrant Student’s Union, set on a stunning, green campus

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today and help us bring our ambitious new strategy to life with sector-leading governance!

Committed to equality, celebrating diversity, and embedding sustainability — building an inclusive workplace and a brighter future for all.

We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Governance & Business Administration to play a pivotal role in ensuring our organisation runs with integrity, transparency, and impact. This is an exciting opportunity to influence how one of the UK’s most ambitious cultural organisations operates as we grow and evolve.

In this role, you’ll lead on governance, risk management, and compliance, acting as Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer. You’ll oversee business planning and reporting, legal and insurance matters, procurement, and organisational policies – ensuring everything we do meets the highest standards.

You’ll work closely with our Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team, building strong relationships and driving change that supports our vision for equality, inclusion, and sustainability.

JOB SUMMARY

To ensure that efficient governance, operational systems and controls are in place to manage Factory International’s Governance and Business Administration function.

This includes governance and acting as Company secretariat, data protection and acting as Data Protection Officer, accountable for Business Plan Reporting, internal communication, oversight of Legal & Compliance, Risk Management, Insurance, Policies & Procedures and Procurement

The key responsibilities for the Head of Governance & Business Administration include;

Governance & Risk

• Ensure robust governance frameworks and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and distribution of papers
• Maintain statutory registers and ensure timely filing of returns and documents with regulatory bodies
• Support FI Executive and Board in proactively managing risk, and accurately reflecting via the Company Risk register, working closely with Directors to ensure quarterly updates are shared with the Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees (including relevant sub-committees)
• Maintain consistency and compliance for all internal communication channels

Business Planning & Reporting

• Act as the organisational lead for Business Plan Reporting, ensuring alignment across all key grant funding agreements and business plan KPIs
• Oversee the annual cycle of statutory reporting to both public sector funders and trustees including all ad-hoc reporting requests across the business
• Attend key external stakeholder meetings with the Executive Director (e.g. MCC, ACE, GMCA) relating to reporting against grant agreements etc
• Work closely with key Directors, Commercial Leads (including the Trusts & Foundations Manager) on funding bids ensuring that commitments are consistent with our agreed internal Business Plan targets and objectives

Legal, Insurance, Data Protection & Compliance

• Ensure legislative and regulatory compliance in all systems and procedures around business administration
• Acting as lead organisational contact and budget holder for external legal support ensuring consistent processes are followed and value for money is achieved to meet the strategic needs of the business
• Ensure adequate data protection in place, devise and implement any additional process and/or training, and act as DPO, accessing external advice as appropriate
• Where required, support the achievement of essential consents such as Planning, Licence variations, Building Control, etc
• Manage the relationship with FI’s insurance broker, working with the Executive Director and Finance Director to ensure appropriate cover and regularly review policies. Overseeing the appropriate claiming of all losses

Procurement

• Acting as lead organisational contact for all Procurement Activity – working closely with the Executive Director to ensure consistent processes are followed and value for money is achieved to meet the strategic needs of the business
• Maintain oversight of the register of planned Procurement as well as responding to un-planned procurement requirements – working closely with relevant Directors and Executives

Policies & Procedures

• Overall responsibility for control and oversight of the organisation’s suite of policies and procedures, including requests for new procedures
• Ensure that key policies are updated by business owners and renewed as per the agreed schedule – ensuring a consistency of tone, content and that relevant checks/approvals have been managed at the appropriate level (Exec, Trustees etc)

We are The Trust Partnership; a fast growing and innovative social enterprise helping charitable foundations and almshouses to be better managed and to use their resources more effectively for the benefit of the wider public.  In short, we are having a big impact in philanthropy sector. 

We are excited that we’ve not only been able to build a thriving business, but to do so on strong ethical foundations. The way we look after our staff, our clients and other stakeholders is important to us. We believe it’s possible to be a good business and a profitable one at the same time.

We are looking for someone special to join our growing business. You will be responsible for a portfolio of trusts who require clerking and supported by specialists in grantmaking and administration.  Experience of working with boards of Trustees is essential.

You need to be able to access London easily, sometimes at short notice.Occasional visits to our office in Gloucestershire will also be necessary. You will also be required to undertake a DBS check.

We are looking for a motivated individual with an exemplary work ethic and a professional attitude.  Accuracy is essential and an eye for detail that is balanced with an ability to see the bigger picture. Respect, integrity and emotional awareness are central to the role.

Working with us you will receive the following benefits

·Career progression opportunities 

·Flexible working environment 

·Professional development

·Membership of an employee benefits platform

·Charitable Giving matching up to £200 per annum

·25 days’ holiday per annum plus Bank holidays (FTE)

·Christmas shutdown (included in above)

·Additional day’s contractual leave entitlement after each fifth year of service (up to a total of six days)

·Eyecare voucher scheme.

Canterbury Cathedral is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

We are looking to recruit a dynamic and visionary individual to join Canterbury Cathedral as a Governance Officer. Providing strategic leadership of governance across the organisation, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, promoting best practice, and supporting the effective operation of the Board (Chapter) and it's committees.

As a Governance Officer, you will ensure that the organisation operates within the legal, regulatory, and best practice frameworks applicable to the charitable, religious organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative guidance and advice to Chapter, Committees, SLT and staff members on governance best practice and interpretation of governing documents.
• Act as Clerk to Chapter and our Senior Leadership Team, ensuring agendas are focused, meetings are compliant, and decision-making supports strategic objectives, taking responsibility for communicating these throughout the organisation.
• Lead the development and delivery of the organisations governance strategy, ensuring structures, policies and processes are effective, proportionate, and aligned to the strategic plan and community values.
• Review, develop and maintain governance policies and procedures (e.g. conflict of interest, whistleblowing, risk, delegation of authority), ensuring they are up to date and prepared for audits as required.
• Produce the Cathedrals Annual Governance Statement for approval by Chapter.
• Support recruitment, induction, and training of Chapter and Committee members, fostering an informed and engaged governance community. Oversee systems for board and committee effectiveness reviews including commissioning of external reviews where required.
• Maintain statutory and regulatory compliance: ensure filings with the Charity Commission, Companies House (if relevant), and other regulatory bodies are completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor developments in charity law, regulation, and governance best practices; ensure the organisations governance practices are aligned.
• Check reports for completeness and quality assurance in terms of content and format, and dispatch agenda in accordance with agreed deadlines.

What We're Looking For

• Good understanding of charity governance, legal and regulatory requirements (e.g. Charity Commission, Companies House, relevant legislation).
• Experience in policy drafting and implementation.
• Knowledge of risk management practices.
• Some legal or compliance training or professional qualification.
• Understanding of the requirements of the Charity Commission.
• Ability to collate accurate and relevant performance data.
• Articulate with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Resilient and flexible.
• Ability to influence others to achieve required outcomes.

Please see the full job description and person specification for further details.

Interviews will be taking place on the 16th December 2025 in person at Canterbury Cathedral.

For your application to be considered, you will need to complete the attached application form.