Head of Local Governance

The Head of Local Governance at United Learning is tasked with ensuring effective governance across its academies and independent schools. This full-time position, offering a salary of £60,000 to £65,000, involves collaborating with Trustees and school leaders to support local governing bodies. The role includes providing training and guidance on governance responsibilities, advocating for local governance, and managing associated compliance areas. Ideal candidates will possess extensive governance experience, excellent organisational skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The position allows for flexible working arrangements and includes various employee benefits. Applications close on 30th June 2025.

Salary
£60,000 – £65,000 per annum
Contractual hours
37.5
Basis
Full Time
Region
National
Job category/type
Support Staff
Date posted
24/04/2025
Job reference
REQ003186
Head of Local Governance
The Head of Local Governance is responsible for ensuring effective local governance across all of United Learning’s academy and independent schools. You will work closely with Trustees, the Executive Team, Company Secretary and Regional Directors to ensure that our local governing bodies are well-led and have the information, advice, guidance and support they need to carry out their roles effectively in support of school improvement and in a way that is aligned with group strategy. You will provide expert advice and guidance to Chairs of LGBs and to Headteachers in support of strong local governance, helping colleagues to build effective relationships and handle their responsibilities diligently.
You will ensure that LGB Chairs and members have access to appropriate training, including in relation to specific roles and responsibilities (for example: exclusions, complaints, safeguarding, health and safety and the role of governors during inspections), drawing on the expertise of others across the group where necessary. You will work with Headteachers and LGB Chairs to ensure that all LGBs have access to independent and professional clerking services.
You will act as an advocate for local governance within and beyond the group, learning from and sharing best practice as appropriate. The post holder will also support the Company Secretary to manage other areas of responsibility – supporting effective governance, compliance and information management more widely – and will have some line management responsibilities.
About You
You will be an experienced local governance professional with strong knowledge and understanding of current practice (including in relation to compliance). You will be confident in supporting schools in a wide range of contexts (ideally across both primary and secondary phases and across the independent and academy sector) and in providing expert advice and guidance to senior leaders at all levels. You will understand what it takes to provide effective local governance in a multi-academy trust and will be committed to the development of an effective volunteer workforce, including through training and building strong networks.
You will be passionate about the importance of local governance in driving school improvement and in promoting the interests of children and young people. You will be able to influence others – including in sensitive and challenging circumstances – maintaining strong relationships with colleagues at all levels. You will be highly organised and used to managing your own time and priorities, delivering a high quality service at all times. You will have a strong commitment to your own and to others’ development, to bringing out the best in your team and in your colleagues and to promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
If you are interested in joining a team that is committed to making a real difference to children and young people and meet the person specification, we would very much like to hear from you. We are particularly keen to receive applications from individuals from backgrounds currently under-represented in our senior leadership cadre.
Rewards and Benefits:
Contributory pension scheme.
26 days holiday.
Occupational sick pay, protecting you and your family.
Competitive maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits.
Group Life Insurance Scheme.
Westfield Health cash plan and Extensive range of employee benefits for eligible staff.
Continuous Professional Development options that will be tailored to your needs.
A supportive team across the country.
We are open to requests for flexible or part-time working; and we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.
Further information
This is a national role supporting all our schools. The role can be either home based, with regular travel to the London or Peterborough office, or based in the Peterborough office. The post holder will be required to travel to our schools and to undertake some out of hours working (for example, to facilitate governor training).
The closing date is Monday 30th June 2025 at midnight. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held in Peterborough on Tuesday 15th July.
For a confidential discussion about this role or the process, please contact:
If you are applying internally, please apply via your ESS account (Internal Vacancies page). You will be required to submit a personal statement with a summary of your experience that make you suitable for this role. There is a character limit of 4000-character limit (roughly one and a half to two sides of A4).