Director of Governance

Stanmore College

Director of Governance

(Permanent part-time, 0.6 contract, term time only, 40 weeks)

Are you driven by a passion for governance and a desire to share your expertise in ensuring effective leadership and compliance? If so, we have an incredible opportunity just for you!

About Us:
At Stanmore College, our mission is to transform futures through exceptional education and support. We are committed to helping every student reach their full potential, and we re looking for a dedicated Director of Governance to join our team and be a part of this vital mission.

Our vision:

The college will be an educational hub providing a unique educational destination for local people to acquire the relevant skills, training and education to support them to access and build their career ambitions.

The learning campus will be a flexible and accessible place where staff, students, employers and stakeholders can gather, interrogate, learn, gain skills and progress as well as become a lifetime member of an inclusive learning community.

Our values:

Inclusive: we value all people
Aspirational: We want to do our best to achieve a high level of success
Supportive: We encourage and support each other
Respectful: We show consideration for others
Open and honest: We tell the truth and do not try to deceive people
Innovation: We step outside our comfort zone trying things in new ways
Safeguarding: We believe in protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights
Ambitions: We encourage students to exceed their expectations.
Student focus: We actively involve students
Collaborative: We adopt multiple educational approaches

The Role:

The Director of Governance role will play a crucial part in providing strategic direction and leadership in the development and implementation of governance policies and procedures, and safeguarding the interests of the college. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the college's governance structures and policies are transparent, accountable and align with the college's mission, values and strategic objectives. Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will ensure governance practices support the achievement of educational excellence.

Why this role matters:

The Director of Governance will be essential in ensuring the college maintains robust and effective governance. You will have the unique opportunity to:

1. Lead governance strategy: Oversee the development and implementation of governance policies that support the college’s mission and strategic goals.
2. Provide strategic advice: Work closely with the board and senior leadership to provide guidance on governance issues, helping to improve decision-making and accountability.
3. Build strong relationships: Facilitate communication between the board, senior leaders, and external stakeholders to ensure smooth governance operations.

Why Join Stanmore College?

Be part of a college that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration.
Work in a supportive and inclusive environment with ample opportunities for professional development.
Play a key role in helping students achieve their goals and open doors to future opportunities.

How to Apply:
If you are ready to inspire and support students on their journey to success, we want to hear from you! Please submit your application and a cover letter detailing your experience and passion by logging on to Stanmore College website.

Salary Scale: Circa £60,000 per annum pro rata

Closing Date: Friday, 10th January 2025

Shortlisting Date: Tuesday, 14th January 2025

Interview Date: Tuesday, 21st January 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive sufficient applications or source a suitable candidate. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Note: Successful candidates will be contacted for interviews. Stanmore College reserves the right not to make an appointment if a suitable candidate is not identified.

Join Stanmore College and help us transform futures one student at a time.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Director of Governance

(Permanent part-time, 0.6 contract, term time only, 40 weeks)

Job location: Stanmore College, Stanmore Campus Faculty: Cross College

Reporting to: Principal and Chair of Governors

Purpose of the role:

1. Director of Governance is responsible for keeping the conscience of the college by providing independent, high-quality advice and guidance on statutory, constitutional, operational, procedural and ethical issues as they affect the corporation, its committees and its subsidiaries.
2. The Director of Governance is accountable to the corporation, through the Chair, on all matters relating to their duties as an officer of the corporation.
3. The governance professional is a strategic leadership position responsible for ensuring high standards of governance and, as such, has the right to attend executive and senior team meetings as appropriate.
4. To provide leadership, advice and support in all governance activities, statutory and regulatory compliance and external governance relations.
5. Individually and collectively provide regular advice and support to all governors in the successful performance of their role.
6. To lead and execute a Programme of continuous governance improvement.
7. To support the corporation and its members in evaluating their effectiveness and give advice to the corporation on developments within the sector.
8. To be proactive in keeping abreast of current and emerging guidance and legislation and advising governors accordingly.
9. To take appropriate action if and when the corporation, its Chair or one of its committees, appears to be at risk of acting (or to have acted) outside their powers or to be proposing (or have taken) actions that may be unlawful.

Duties

1. To promote sound standards of governance and act as a guardian of integrity.
2. To review legislative and regulatory developments and advise the corporation and committees accordingly.
3. Independently brief the Chair and governors on current issues and support liaison between the Chair, the Principal and governors.
4. To develop and implement an effective and successful group-wide annual governance plan, including a framework for assurance and levels of delegated authority.
5. To ensure that the corporation has an effective approach to risk identification and management to support the strategic leadership team to effectively deliver strategy.
6. To provide advice and support to the Chair, Vice Chair, committee Chairs and senior leadership team in their respective roles.
7. To draft all statutory documentation on behalf of the board.
8. To liaise competently and collaboratively with external counterparts, stakeholders and relevant statutory bodies.
9. To anticipate and respond effectively to stakeholder requirements.
10. Membership of project groups or sub-committees on stakeholder and scrutiny committees, property development, risk tolerance and stakeholder engagement.

General Duties:

1. To participate in any college staff review/performance management processes involving the identifying and meeting of training needs for self and others.
2. To take appropriate responsibility to ensure the health and safety of self and others.
3. To pursue the achievement and integration of equal opportunities throughout all college activities.
4. To undertake any other tasks and responsibilities appropriate to the level of this post.
5. The college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education including Prevent

1. The college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, which includes the Prevent duty and the promotion of values to help prepare students for life and work in modern British society.
2. In addition to candidates ability to perform the duties of the post, selection events will also explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children including: motivation to work with children and young people; ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people; emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours; and attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline.

The postholder can be required to carry out any other duties consistent with the grade of the post, at any site on which the College may operate.

This job description is current at the date shown below. In consultation with the postholder, it is liable to variation by management within a reasonable timescale to reflect or anticipate changes in or to the job.