Trust Governance Officer (South Cumbria)

The Co Operative Academies Trust, Manchester, M60 0AG

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  23 October 2026 at 12am (midnight)

• Date listed

  30 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: NJC SCP23 - 27(£35,570 - £39,481) Actual salary based on 0.8 FTE £28,456 -£31,584 (Pay award pending)

Trust Governance Officer (South Cumbria) job summary

About the Role

Are you an experienced administrator or governance professional looking for a rewarding role where you can directly support education and community leadership?

As a Governance Officer, you will play a vital role in supporting effective governance as new academies join our growing Trust in South Cumbria. Working closely with the Head of Governance, Headteachers, and local governance chairs, you will deliver high-quality governance support across the region, lead local onboarding, and support the wider Trust governance team.

This is a flexible hybrid position combining home working, hands-on time visiting local schools in South Cumbria, and collaborative team days once per half-term in Manchester.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Governance & Onboarding

Academy Community Councils (ACCs): Oversee the smooth running of the local governance tier across identified South Cumbria schools.

Recruitment & Onboarding: Recruit, induct, and train new ACC members, ensuring local boards reflect their school communities and possess the required skills.

Meeting Management: Plan agendas, prepare high-quality papers, attend termly ACC meetings, and record accurate notes and actions.

School Visits & Governance Support: Coordinate termly member visits, learning walks, and stakeholder voice initiatives (parents, staff, and students).

Compliance & Records: Maintain accurate statutory governance records, GovernorHub profiles, school websites, and 'Get Information About Schools' data.

Panel Support & Trust Responsibilities

Complaints & Panel Hearings: Advise Headteachers and investigating officers on complaint handling, and convene/minute formal panels for complaints, exclusions, and HR hearings across the region and wider Trust.

Inspection & Transition Support: Assist schools during Ofsted inspections and lead transitional governance arrangements for new schools joining the Trust.

Primary School Admin Support: Provide ad-hoc administrative support for small primary schools in the region (approx. 1 day per fortnight).

What We Are Looking For

Essential

Qualifications: A-Level standard education (or equivalent) with GCSE Maths and English (Grade C/4 or above).

Experience & Skills: Strong administrative background, experience organising high-level meetings, setting agendas, and taking accurate formal minutes.

Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build confidence and influence stakeholders.

IT & Planning: High proficiency in standard IT tools and online governance management tools.

Mobility: Willingness and ability to travel regularly to schools across South Cumbria/Barrow, with occasional travel to central team meetings in Manchester.

Desirable

A Level 3 Governance qualification (or willingness to obtain one within 12 months).

Previous governance or clerk experience within an educational or multi-academy trust setting.

What We Offer

Competitive Salary: £28,456 -£31,584 pro-rata 0.8 FTE/4 days per week, permanent, all-year-round. 

Flexible Working: Hybrid model offering home working alongside scheduled in-school presence, regional and wider Trust collaboration.

Professional Development: Dedicated support and funding towards governance qualifications and continuous CPD.

Values-Led Culture: A collaborative, supportive environment shaped by co-operative principles and values.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your completed application form highlighting your relevant administrative and governance experience in your personal statement. Interviews will take place in Cumbria early to mid November. 

Safeguarding & Equal Opportunities

Co-op Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and encourage applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership status.

Notice to Recruitment Agencies: We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not send unsolicited CVs or speculative applications, as we prioritise direct recruitment for our roles. Any unsolicited profiles submitted will be treated as direct applications to Co-op Academies Trust, and agency terms or fees will not apply. We appreciate your cooperation.

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

Co-op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. We value variety and individual differences, and aim to create a culture, environment and practices at all levels which encompass acceptance, respect and inclusion. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co-operative values and principles.

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 The Co Operative Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-co-operative-academies-trust

Why us?
Co-op Academies Trust is a place where you are part of something bigger, through a leading education and opportunities to serve our community, we are working together to make a better world.

From ages 3-19 Co-op Academies Trust supports students in Primary, Secondary and Special schools across the North of England, giving children the skills and experiences they need to succeed, no matter where they come from.

What makes our Trust unique is that we are sponsored by the Co-op Group. That close relationship means that we benefit from all the business expertise that has seen the Co-op grow to one of the most respected, successful businesses in the country.

Everyone in the Trust honours our fundamental commitment to the Ways of Being Co-op. They are our DNA; they represent our culture and reflect the rationale behind our decision-making. No matter what we do, they are how we do it.

Our ways of being are:

Be Yourself, Always
Show You Care
Do What Matters Most
Succeed Together
In 2025, we have 38 academies as part of the Co-op family, across 4 regions.

Our Values
Being part of the Co-operative Group, we are both guided and driven by the Co-op values which are embedded in everything that we do within our Academy - We strive to demonstrate the following ethical values in everything we do - they are our ‘Ways of Being’:

Succeed together

Do what matters most

Be yourself, always

Show you care

So, if you believe in our values, we would love to hear from you!

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards to recognise the part you play in our success:
Benefits include:

You’ll get being a Co-op member, you’ll get a Co-op colleague discount card. This gives you a 10% discount in our Co-op Food stores.
Co-operative flexible benefits (discounted line rental and broadband package, family care advice and cycle to work scheme)
Discounted gym membership and leisure activities which includes discounts on Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life, Legoland etc), Virgin Experience Days, SuperBreak and many more
Co-operative Credit Union: save directly from your salary and receive a competitive dividend. Borrowers can benefit from very competitive interest rates & terms (in comparison with other high street lenders)
Co-op Funeralcare benefit
Season ticket and rental deposit loans
And More!

For more information about the Co-op Academies Trust, please visit: www.coopacademies.co.uk

The Trust is also committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships.

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