Corporate Governance Manager

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Corporate Governance Manager to join our Corporate Affairs team. This is an important role supporting the effective governance of the Trust, working closely with the Chair, Board of Directors, Council of Governors, senior leaders and key stakeholders. The post holder will lead and support the corporate governance and membership team, ensuring high-quality governance arrangements are in place for the Board, its committees and other key meetings. The role will include developing and improving governance processes, supporting compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, overseeing membership and governor arrangements, contributing to annual reporting and external reviews, and providing practical advice, training and support across the organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong governance knowledge, excellent organisational skills and the ability to build effective relationships at a senior level.

Main duties of the job

The Corporate Governance Manager will lead and support the delivery of effective corporate governance arrangements across the Trust, ensuring that the Board of Directors, Board Committees, Council of Governors and other key meetings are well administered and operate in line with statutory, constitutional and regulatory requirements. The post holder will manage and develop the corporate governance and membership team, oversee governance processes including forward plans, agendas, papers, minutes, action tracking, terms of reference, registers of interest and policy administration, and support preparations for external reviews, inspections and annual reporting. The role will also involve advising colleagues on governance matters, supporting governor and membership arrangements, coordinating corporate governance training, contributing to service improvement and business planning, and deputising for the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will work closely with the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance / Deputy Company Secretary and the wider Corporate Affairs function to support the Board of Directors, Board Committees, Council of Governors and other key groups. The role will help ensure that meetings are well planned, properly administered and supported by clear governance processes, accurate records and high-quality papers.

The Corporate Governance Manager will provide leadership and direction to the corporate governance and membership team, supporting the development, implementation and continuous improvement of governance frameworks, systems and processes. The role will also support compliance with the Trust’s Constitution, Standing Orders, Scheme of Delegation, regulatory requirements and relevant best practice.

This is a varied and influential role requiring strong organisational skills, attention to detail, sound judgement and the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders across the organisation. The postholder will contribute to a high-quality governance service that supports effective decision-making, accountability and assurance across the Trust.

• Lead and manage the corporate governance and membership team, supporting a collaborative, responsive and improvement-focused service.
• Oversee governance support for the Board of Directors, Board Committees, Council of Governors and other key meetings, ensuring arrangements are effective, compliant and delivered to a high standard.
• Develop, maintain and improve governance processes, procedures, templates and toolkits, including agendas, minutes, action logs, forward plans, attendance records and chair’s briefings.
• Support the Trust’s compliance with its Constitution, Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Scheme of Delegation, terms of reference and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Maintain oversight of Board and committee business cycles, forward plans and rolling agendas, working with committee chairs, senior leaders and the Company Secretary function.
• Quality assure Board and committee papers, providing advice and guidance to report authors to support clear, timely and effective reporting.
• Attend and minute specified meetings, ensuring discussions, decisions, actions and assurance points are recorded accurately and appropriately.
• Coordinate and support governance reviews, including Well-led reviews, external governance assessments, annual reporting requirements and related evidence-gathering.
• Oversee arrangements for the Annual Members’ Meeting and support legally and constitutionally compliant arrangements for Council of Governors elections.
• Support membership and governor engagement processes, including development and review of the membership strategy and related communication arrangements.
• Coordinate and maintain effective systems for registers, declarations of interest, conflicts of interest, committee effectiveness reviews and other key governance records.
• Support the review and maintenance of the Governance Handbook, Board and committee terms of reference, policies, procedures and related governance documentation.
• Provide advice, guidance and training on corporate governance matters to staff and stakeholders across the Trust.
• Contribute to corporate governance projects and service improvement initiatives, including the development of standard operating procedures and digital ways of working.
• Deputise for the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance / Deputy Company Secretary as required.