Head of Governance
12-Month Fixed-Term Contract | Up to £100,000 depending on experience
Location: Haverhill, Suffolk
Salary: Up to £100,000 depending on experience
Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract
About the Organisation
We are working with an established not-for-profit organisation based in Haverhill to appoint an experienced Head of Governance on a 12-month fixed-term contract.
The organisation plays an important role within its local community and is committed to maintaining strong standards of governance, accountability and regulatory compliance.
 
The Role
As Head of Governance, you will work closely with the Board, its Committees and the Leadership Team, providing senior-level governance expertise and ensuring the organisation operates within a robust and effective governance framework.
Reporting to the Director of Resources and Company Secretary, you will oversee the organisation's governance arrangements and annual governance cycle, ensuring compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and statutory requirements.
You will also play a key role in developing and maintaining strong relationships with Board and Committee members, while providing clear, practical advice on governance matters to senior stakeholders.
This is an opportunity for an experienced governance professional to take ownership of a broad governance remit and make a tangible contribution during an important 12-month period.
Key Responsibilities
• Oversee the operational governance framework across the organisation.
• Manage the annual cycle of governance activities, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Provide governance advice and expertise to the Board, Committees and Executive Leadership Team.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with Board and Committee members and senior stakeholders.
• Develop, implement and regularly review governance policies, procedures and supporting documentation.
• Advise the Board and Executive Team on governance matters, including compliance with the organisation's adopted governance framework, rules and policies.
• Ensure governance arrangements reflect recognised best practice and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Lead annual self-assessments against applicable regulatory standards, codes and legislation.
• Oversee the management and maintenance of governance registers, including declarations of interest, gifts and hospitality, use of the company seal and fraud-related registers.
• Support Board and Committee skills assessments, recruitment, succession planning and member development.
• Lead the annual process for assessing Board and Committee effectiveness and undertaking member appraisals.
• Ensure effective information flow between the Board, Committees and wider organisation.
• Ensure Board and Committee meetings are effectively supported and properly serviced.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation on governance and compliance matters.
• Support the development of a strong governance culture across the organisation.
• About You We are looking for an experienced governance professional who is confident operating at Board and Executive level and can provide clear, practical advice on complex governance matters.
You will ideally have experience within governance, company secretarial, legal, policy or a closely related professional environment, with the ability to interpret complex policy and legal requirements and communicate them clearly to a range of stakeholders.
You will need:

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong experience in a professional governance, legal, company secretarial or policy environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret policy, regulatory and legal language and translate it into clear and practical guidance.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, ideally including Board and/or Committee members.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence managing demanding or senior stakeholders.
• The ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• The ability to work independently, proactively and flexibly when required.
• A full UK driving licence.

Desirable
• Experience working within the housing or wider not-for-profit sector.
• Qualification as a Solicitor or Chartered Governance Professional / Company Secretary.
• Experience providing formal Board or Committee support, including minute-taking.
• Experience of Board and Committee effectiveness reviews, skills assessments and member appraisals.

What's on Offer
• Salary up to £100,000, depending on experience.
• 12-month fixed-term contract.
• Senior-level exposure to Board, Committee and Executive stakeholders.
• A broad governance remit with significant responsibility and autonomy.
• The opportunity to contribute to the governance and organisational effectiveness of an established not-for-profit organisation.
• If you are an experienced governance professional looking for a senior fixed-term opportunity where you can make an immediate contribution, we would be keen to hear from you.