Governance Development Lead

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, Sutton, SM1 1DA

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  19 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  6 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: Full-time, all year round, 36hrs per week (8.45am – 4.30pm M-Th; 8.45am – 4.15pm Fr)
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: Outer London Business Support Scale, Grade PO3\4, £47,256–£53,910, inclusive of London Weighting

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Governance Development Lead to play a key role in shaping and strengthening governance across Orchard Hill College Academy Trust. As Deputy to the Director of Governance, you will work closely with Trustees, governors, executive leaders and school leaders to develop effective governance structures, drive continuous improvement, and ensure governance remains a strategic enabler of the Trust's success. This is an exciting opportunity for a governance professional who is passionate about leadership, organisational development and building high-performing governance arrangements that positively impact outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Governance in delivering the Trust’s strategic governance agenda and deputise as required.
• Lead governance development initiatives to enhance governance effectiveness across Trustees, Committees and Local Governing Bodies.
• Oversee governor and trustee recruitment, succession planning, engagement and diversity initiatives.
• Develop and deliver governance training, induction programmes and development opportunities for governors, trustees and governance leaders.
• Provide high-quality governance advice, guidance and strategic support to senior leaders, Trustees and governing bodies.

Key Requirements

• Significant experience supporting governance within an academy trust, education, public sector or similar governance environment.
• Strong knowledge of academy trust governance, board effectiveness, accountability frameworks and governance best practice.
• Experience leading governance development, improvement, organisational change or governance effectiveness initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, advise and challenge constructively at senior level.
• Strong strategic, analytical and communication skills, with experience producing reports, briefings and recommendations for senior audiences.

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

JD & PS.pdf - 212 KB (opens in new tab)

About Orchard Hill College Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Orchard Hill College Academy Trust website
• Email address: MAlbert@ohcat.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/orchard-hill-college-academy-trust

Orchard Hill College (the College) and Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust) together form Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT), a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. As an Outstanding provider (Ofsted 2019) and Academy sponsor, Orchard Hill College has a strong track record for making a positive impact within the local communities it serves.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs including autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health; profound and multiple disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health needs.

Our ambition is to contribute further to improving the education offer for all pupils and students in our communities, including those with SEND. The College offers specialist educational programmes for students aged 16 and over in College centres and satellite provision in London and the South. The Academy Trust enables us to build on and extend scope of our work in these geographical areas, so that Academy pupils can also benefit from our expertise and access a greater range of opportunities arising from our strong community and stakeholder networks.

Supporting our College and Academies, OHC&AT also operates a range of services and support including Quality and Standards, Learning Support and Business Support.

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