Trust Governance Professional and Executive Assistant in Eastbourne

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Governance Advice
• Provide independent, high-quality governance advice to the Chair, CEO and Trustees, ensuring adherence to the Academy Trust Handbook, statutory frameworks, Trust policies and best practice guidance.
• Support the Chair in creating conditions for effective board operation, constructive challenge, and balanced contribution from all trustees.
• Support the design, implementation and continuous improvement of governance systems, processes and documentation, for the Trust Board and Local Governing Bodies.
• Maintain and regularly review the Articles of Association, Scheme of Delegation, committee Terms of Reference, governance handbook ensuring full compliance and up-to-date publication.
• Ensure correct recording and publication of appointments, registers of interest, GIAS entries, policy cycles, and statutory reports (e.g., gender pay gap, modern slavery).
• Provide clerking to Trust Board meetings, including working groups.
• Plan agendas with Chairs and senior leaders to enable strategic, forward-looking discussion, and ensure papers are high-quality, succinct and circulated in good time.
• Produce accurate minutes, action logs and maintain oversight of meeting cycle planning.
• Support efficient management of panels and working groups, identifying opportunities to streamline processes.
• Coordinate the board’s self-evaluation cycle, including skills audits, succession planning and training needs analysis.
• Plan whole-board and targeted training ensuring statutory training completion.
• Ensure the recruitment of Trustees and Governors is undertaken strategically and informed by skills audits and succession planning, ensuring the Board and Local Governing Bodies benefit from a broad and relevant range of expertise.
• Maintain induction programmes for trustees and local governors, ensuring onboarding is comprehensive and timely.
• Act as a professional point of contact between the Executive Team and key stakeholders including Trustees, school leaders, governors and external partners.
• Support Local Governing Bodies and clerks with governance advice and guidance, providing training and support when required.
• Line manage DCAT Clerks.
• Work closely with the Trust’s Marketing, Communications, Events and PR Lead to ensure executive communications, announcements and strategic messaging are accurate, timely and aligned with Trust priorities.
• Support the preparation and coordination of executive communications including Board briefings, leadership updates, Trust announcements and key strategic documents.
• Ensure communications arising from governance meetings, Executive decisions and strategic initiatives are effectively shared with the Marketing, Communications, Events and PR function for wider dissemination where appropriate.
• Provide administrative and briefing support for Trust communications including newsletters, strategic updates, events and leadership messages.
• Coordinate with the Marketing, Communications, Events and PR Lead to ensure consistent messaging across governance papers, executive communications and Trust publications.
• Maintain clear communication channels between the Executive Team, governance structures and the Trust’s communications function.
• Executive Assistant Support
• Provide proactive and confidential EA support to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.
• Manage complex executive diaries, ensuring priorities are clearly structured and time is used effectively.
• Support the preparation of board reports, strategy papers and Trust wide communications.
• Act as a central coordination point for Executive Leadership Team activity.
• Support administrative coordination for Executive Leadership Team meetings, ensuring they are well organised, documented and followed up through clear action tracking.
• Anticipate executive needs and proactively manage information, deadlines and priorities.
• Support the CEO in maintaining oversight of strategic initiatives and Trust priorities.
• Support the planning of Trust-wide projects and operational initiatives.
• Engage with sector to ensure that ELT is informed of sector best practice and emerging issues.
• Work with all members of the Trust team to develop and improve systems, policies and initiatives in line with the Trust development plan.
• Liaise professionally with schools, central teams and external stakeholders.
• Support the onboarding and governance integration of new schools joining the Trust.
• Engage actively in CPD relevant to governance, administration and Trust leadership.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of education, charity and company law, safeguarding and compliance.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, organisation, resilience and relationship-building skills.
• Adhere to Trust safeguarding policies and undertake all required safeguarding training.
• Carry out duties reasonably required within the scope and level of the role.
• Promote the values and mission of the Trust and contribute positively to a culture of professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• To undertake such duties at the discretion of the Executive Team as may reasonably be required by the changing needs of the Trust.
• To maintain a positive view of change and be prepared to adapt the role as the Trust grows, matures and evolves.
• General Responsibilities
• This job description only contains the main accountabilities relating to the post and does not describe in detail all the duties required to carry them out.
• The postholder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities that are commensurate with the nature and level of the post.

Christian principles underpin the way the organisation runs and its partnership with schools and academies and the post-holder must be committed to the organisation’s vision and values.