Governance Professional

SO1 - SCP 23-25

30 hours per week which are worked flexibly; evening attendance at board and sub-committee meetings is essential.

Main responsibilities:

The post holder will be an enthusiastic, organised, and self-motivated person who will lead on Governance across the Multi-Academy.  The post holder will support the Board of Directors, Executive Team and Local Governors and act as the Governance professional for the Multi-Academy.  The post holder will attend all Full Board and sub-committee meetings of the Board of Directors and undertake all clerking duties.

The post holder will be the main point of contact for the co-ordination and organisation of meetings, training and events as well as ensuring effective induction for new Governors. The post holder will play a crucial part in the Multi-Academy’s communication strategy by building strong working relationships with key stakeholders and sharing information in a timely manner.

The post holder will support the Local Governing Bodies of schools, those already in and those joining the Multi-Academy, by liaising with the Clerks and Chairs regarding Multi-Academy policies, the Scheme of Delegation, Articles of Association, the Terms of Reference and other documentation and procedures as required.

Key areas of Responsibilities:

General Governance/Company Secretary Responsibilities

•           Hold a minimum of a Level 3 Governance qualification or be willing to undertake training.

•           Work with the Chair of Directors and Executive Team to ensure the Multi-Academy’s governance framework is coherent and compliant with its regulatory and statutory obligations.

•           Maintain an accurate record of all Local Governing Body Members and Board of Directors and notify the Executive Team of any vacancies.

•           Provide support in the recruitment of members to the Board of Directors and Local Governing Bodies.

•           Provide support in designing a professional governance induction and training programme for layers of Governance.

•           Maintain current knowledge and awareness of statutory policy and regulatory requirements, providing advice where required.

•           Advise the board on its core functions and Department for Education (DfE) governance advice, including the Governance Handbook and Competency Framework for Governance 

•           Maintain the Multi Academy policy schedule considering statutory and other policies required by the Multi-Academy and other relevant bodies e.g., OFSTED, DfE.

•           Ensure that the Multi-Academy is always compliant with its policy schedule and that policies are published according to the Multi-Academy policy management procedure.

•           Prepare policies for review by the Board of Directors in a timely manner.

•           Maintain company information on Get Information about Schools and Companies House.

•           Owning and developing Multi-Academy governance structures and associated processes.

•           Ensuring governance and management processes across the organisation are co-ordinated, developing the annual schedule of meetings and liaising with the Chair of the Board of Directors and sub-committee Chairs.

•           Undertaking administrative aspects of Board and sub-committee meetings, preparing agendas, compiling documentation, taking and preparing minutes.

•           Maintaining required information on the membership of the Directors, members and Governors in accordance with legal requirements.

•           Provide support and guidance to the Local Governing Body clerks on pupil admission arrangements and the appropriate consultation periods.

•           Providing support to clerks of the Local Governing Bodies.

•           Provide guidance on governance matters across the Multi-Academy.

•           Develop a way to quality assure the recording of good governance.

•           Provide guidance and support to the Board of Directors on its core functions, procedural matters, statutory guidance, and best practice.

•           Liaise with the Multi-Academy legal providers as required.

•           Lead on subject access request (SARs) and freedom for information (FOI) requests.

•           Know where to access appropriate legal advice and support and where necessary, seek advice and guidance from third parties on behalf of the Board.

•           Ensure that the Board and each Sub-Committee is properly constituted with appropriate terms of reference.

•           Ensure that Multi-Academy websites are updated with policy and statutory information is in place.

•           To support schools with Governance during an Ofsted inspection.

Communication

•           Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the Multi-Academy, including Senior Leaders, Directors and Chairs of Local Governing Bodies.

•           Communicate regularly and effectively using several communication tools to ensure key messages are clear.

•           Represent the Multi-Academy to key external partners i.e., Diocese.

•           Attend Multi-Academy events as required by the Chair of Directors to represent the Multi-Academy.

•           Support the Multi-Academy Communications Officer in developing and maintaining the Multi-Academy brand.

•           Ensure that the Multi-Academy reflects a vibrant and inclusive ethos which actively promotes diversity, unity, and community cohesion.

Other

•           Keep abreast of current developments through networking with colleagues and professional associations.

•           Improve own practice through training, observation, evaluation and discussion with colleagues. Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.

•           To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the post, participating in appropriate training activities.

•           To always support the Catholic ethos of the Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi Academy by promoting the agreed vision and aims and setting an example of personal integrity and professionalism.

•           To adhere to the Multi Academy policies

•           Other duties may be determined from time to time within the general scope of the post. Duties and responsibilities outside of the post will only be required with the agreement of the post holder.

The Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi Academy reserves the right to require you to work at such other place or places as it may require from time to time subject to the provision of reasonable notice.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, this job description is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations in relation to the post-holder’s professional responsibilities and duties, all individual tasks undertaken may not be identified.

This job description is current at the date shown, but, in consultation with you, may be changed by the Line Manager to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate within the grade and job title.

Tel:  01527 528261,  Email:  hr@magnificat.org.uk

Closing date:  31 January 2022, 9.00 am.

If you are successful at interview you will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.