Executive Director of Governance & Compliance

Moat is a housing association in the South East, with over 21,000 homes across Kent, Essex, Sussex and London, and a development pipeline of 1,600 new affordable homes. Moat are passionate about providing great homes and services that transform the lives of families and individuals. Moat know that not all customers have the same needs – the organisation ensures that the way they deliver services feels as individual as their customers. They are driven by their values, which define how they work:

• Be the Change – Embrace flexibility, adaptability, and forward-thinking solutions.
• Better Together – Collaborate and continuously improve through knowledge sharing and teamwork.
• Own It – Take responsibility, be empowered, and ensure follow-through.
• Lead by Example – Work hard, be supportive, and advocate for meaningful change.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Moat as Executive Director of Governance and Compliance. As a key member of the Executive Management Team, you will hold strategic responsibility for company secretariat, governance, risk, assurance, internal audit, performance, and compliance. You will ensure that Moat’s governance structure is both effective and efficient in supporting the business. Your leadership will bring these functions together to operate cohesively in support of Moat’s objectives, while maintaining full compliance with relevant regulatory requirements. This role is critical in ensuring Moat not only meets its statutory obligations, but also delivers operational excellence, manages risk effectively, and drives performance in line with the organisation’s strategic goals.

Some responsibilities include:

• Lead the development and oversight of governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and Moat’s strategic objectives.
• Working closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team, you will ensure that Moat’s governance and risk frameworks are effectively implemented and aligned with regulatory standards.
• Act as Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer, embedding robust practices across all operations.
• Provide strategic leadership of risk management, assurance, and internal audit, ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance.
• Oversee policy, performance, and data governance, ensuring accurate reporting, secure data management, and regulatory alignment.
• Lead compliance with health, safety, and facilities management regulations.
• Champion good governance across the Board, providing expert advice and ensuring Board members have the tools and insight to discharge their duties.
• Collaborate with the Executive Team and external stakeholders to ensure that governance underpins Moat’s purpose and long-term success.
• Drive a culture of transparency, accountability, and operational excellence, encouraging a high-performing, inclusive team.

Moat is looking to appoint an executive leader who has the following attributes:

• Extensive leadership experience in senior governance, risk management, and compliance roles, ideally within the social housing sector.
• Proven experience in managing teams across governance, risk, performance, data governance, and health and safety functions.
• A track record of working with Boards and senior leadership teams to ensure Governance Frameworks are robust, legally compliant, and aligned with the values of a housing association.
• Solid understanding of the regulatory framework for social housing in the UK.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to navigate regulatory complexity and ensure compliance while advancing the organisation’s strategy and vision.
• High-level leadership capabilities, with the ability to inspire and influence teams, drive operational excellence, and ensure alignment with organisational values.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging with senior leaders, the Board, external stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.

If you are interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please get in touch with one of our consultants at Neemar Search.