Governance and Compliance Specialist

Chiltern Way Academy Trust, Aylesbury, HP22 6NL

5 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  14 November 2025 at 10:59pm

• Date listed

  3 November 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £40,835.00 - £45,072.00 Annually (FTE) Pro rata 41 weeks (pro rata salary £36,201.80 - £39,958.06)

Governance and Compliance Specialist job summary

Chiltern Way Academy Trust is a specialist Multi-Academy Trust providing outstanding education for children and young people aged 4 to 19 with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Currently 8 school sites.

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for integrity, accountability and educational excellence? Do you thrive in a role where your expertise in governance, compliance and data protection can make a real difference to children’s lives?

Chiltern Way Academy Trust (CWAT) is seeking a Governance and Compliance Specialist to lead and coordinate governance across our expanding Trust. This is a pivotal role, offering the opportunity to shape and embed a proactive governance framework that ensures we remain inspection-ready and fully compliant with all statutory and regulatory expectations.

Join Our Mission to Recruit the Best in Education!

Governance and Compliance Specialist, Chiltern Way Academy Trust

📍 Location: Wendover, Buckinghamshire

💼 Contract: Full-time hours, Term Time plus 2 weeks, Permanent

💰 Salary: £40,835 - £45,072 FTE (pro rata salary £36,201.80 - £39,958.06) depending on experience

What You'll Be Doing:

Leading governance across our Trust Board, Members and Local Advisory Boards

Acting as our independent Data Protection Officer (DPO), ensuring GDPR compliance and ethical data practices

Overseeing board operations, statutory registers and policy governance

Driving compliance across safeguarding, FOI, equality, health & safety and more

Supporting governor recruitment, training and development

Maintaining our Trust-wide risk register and supporting audit processes

Championing transparency, strategic assurance and continuous improvement

What We’re Looking For:

A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in governance, legal, compliance or public administration

Proven leadership experience in a Multi-Academy Trust or regulated organisation

Expert knowledge of the Academy Trust Handbook, GDPR, and education law

Exceptional communication, analytical and organisational skills

A calm, impartial and credible professional who thrives on challenge and collaboration

Desirable Extras:

Professional governance or data protection qualifications (e.g. ICSA, NGA Level 4, GDPR Practitioner)

Experience in SEND settings or Trusts undergoing rapid growth

Confidence in leading audits, inspections and governor training

Why Join CWAT?

We are a forward-thinking Trust committed to improving outcomes for children with SEND and vulnerable learners. You’ll be part of a values-driven team where your work directly contributes to our mission and where governance is seen not just as oversight — but as a driver of improvement.

📅 Apply by: 14th November 2025 - Interviews 19th and 20th November 2025.

📨 For more information or to apply, contact: Amy Switzer at aswitzer@chilternway.org

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Chiltern Way Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/chiltern-way-academy-trust

Head office location

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