Governance Manager
Dilkes Academy, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 5JQ14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
21 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
7 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, term time only, flexibility in working hours required for Governing Body meetings
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £29,225 - £35,032 FTE
Actual salary
- £25,110 - £30,100 actual dependent on experience
What skills and experience we're looking for
The opportunity has arisen for a Governance Manager, with relevant experience, to join our Central Team at Catalyst Academies Trust. We are looking for someone who has excellent organisational and communication skills. The role will include responsibility for governance, including policies, admissions, GDPR, supporting the complaints process, co-ordination of Governors. The postholder will be required to hold the Professional Clerks qualification or be willing to study for the Professional Clerks qualification through the NGA which is funded by the Trust.
The Governance Manager provides efficient governance service and support to the Leadership teams across the expanding Trust. The Governance Manager will work across the schools within our Trust meaning that travel between schools will be required.
What the school offers its staff
The successful candidate will benefit from our "Catalyst Employee Perks" platform and will be able to access a range of discounts from various retailers, family days out, restaurants and more.
Professional Development to undertake the Professional Clerks qualification through the NGA which is funded by the Trust. Further development is available through National College.
Employee support provided through an Employee Assistance Programme.
Further information about the job
Governance Manager Job Description
Board, Governing Body and Committee Meetings
- Organise and clerk meetings ensuring all legislation, statute, policy and deadline are adhered to
- Organise and prepare annual schedule of meetings
- Work effectively with the Chair, Headteacher, Finance & Operations Director and CEO prior to meetings to prepare a purposeful agenda which takes account of statutory responsibilities and is focussed on school improvement
- Providing advice to Chairs of LGBs, including regular communications to relay developments, news and opportunities
- Advising local Governors, Directors and Headteachers on statutory, constitutional or procedural queries relating to Governance
- Prepare and distribute briefing papers as necessary
- Take accurate minutes, ensuring actions are recorded and completed. Keep a file of signed minutes at each of the academies, and ensure that papers are available for public access if requested
- Record meeting attendance and take appropriate action regarding absences
- Maintain records of Governance and Committee structures, including addresses and categories of Governors and their term of office.
Governance Support
- Update the Directors, Governing Bodies, Chairs, Headteachers and Management Teams regarding governance legislation, procedural matters and changes to Ofsted frameworks and DfE policy changes
- Ensure that new Members, Directors and Governors are provided with welcome pack including terms of office and relevant legal, regulatory and procedural information
- Coordinating the recruitment and election process of Governor candidates
- Assist in assessing Governors knowledge, skills and competencies to fulfil their legal duties and obligations and assist in training/development organisation and administration
- Co-ordination of Governor visits and audits, including collation of paperwork
- Ensure the content of all academy websites is fully compliant with statutory governance requirements, uploading documents and updating information as required.
Statutory and Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure clarity about decision making and approval processes between Academies, Local Governing Bodies, the Central Team and the Trust Board
- Assist with the development and review of governance documents, policies and procedures in compliance with legislation, constitutional and regulatory requirements and current best practice
- Maintain necessary documents to comply with legislation and procedures
- Keep up to date with current educational developments and legislation affecting educational governance and report such changes to CEO, Directors, Governors and Headteachers
- Maintain the Policy Matrix as required to ensure consistency and best practice is maintained across all academies
- Support the Finance & Operations Director with the production of reports and data as requested demonstrating that statutory requirements are being met
- Support the Finance & Operations Director in the co-ordination of Academy conversion projects, ensuring that all required information is provided in a timely matter
- Ensure all academies comply with the requirements of the School Admissions Code, School Admission Appeals Code, The School Discipline (Pupil Exclusions and Reviews) providing advice and guidance to Headteachers, Management Teams and Governors as appropriate
- Co-ordination of Admission Appeals, working alongside the external provider, keeping accurate records accordingly
- Co-ordination, production of letters and minute taking for statutory panel hearings, for example exclusions and complaints panels
Operational
- Support the development and expansion of the Trust by assisting with drafting and amending documentation and liaising with relevant parties to allow new academies to join the Trust
- Establish strong relationships with Directors, Governors, Headteachers and Academy staff
- Build relationships with other local schools, Local Authorities, parents and the wider community
- Coordinate all Academy Trust events (e.g. professional learning day, open days, special visitors)
- Manage and co-ordinate Freedom of Information requests and Subject Access Requests
- Support academies to deal with serious complaints
- Provide administrative support to the Finance & Operations Director and CEO
- Take minutes at various meetings and document decisions accurately
- Any other duties and responsibilities deemed appropriate by the Finance & Operations Director and the CEO.
- Liaise with and support the Data Protection Officer with termly audits
- Maintain the Trust breach register
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
Please complete the online application.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Apply for this jobUpload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Dilkes Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary
- School size
- 554 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Dilkes Academy website
- Email address
- sarah.coote@catrust.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01708852128
Our pupils are aged 3 – 11, ranging from Nursery to Year 6, and mainly live in the area surrounding the school. We also have a Personalised Learning Centre that offers specialist provision for 10 pupils. This means we have over 510 pupils in total.
At Dilkes we want our children to be happy, confident and to share a passion for learning. We help them to achieve highly and make outstanding progress.
We value every child and ensure that we foster the individuality of their interests and experiences. Our bespoke curriculum is carefully planned to enable us to teach all the National Curriculum subjects in a creative and inspiring way. We engage children in a range of activities that enable them to develop their knowledge and skills, and equip them for life beyond school.
We are very proud of the achievements of our pupils, and this pride is echoed by the pupils themselves. We strive to continue to build on the outstanding provision that Dilkes Academy offers.
"We strive to ensure high achievement and a happy educational experience for every child."
Arranging a visit to Dilkes Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email sarah.coote@catrust.org.uk.
School location
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