Governance Manager & Executive Assistant in Oxford

We are seeking a Governance Manager & Executive Assistant to play a pivotal dual role at the heart of our organisation. You will ensure excellent governance across the Board and Committees, while also providing exceptional executive support to our CEO and Senior Management Team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, responsibility, and meaningful impact. You will be calm under pressure, excellent at building relationships, and meticulous in your approach. You will balance strategic awareness with strong attention to detail, handle sensitive information with absolute discretion, and bring proactive energy to supporting leaders at every level.

In this role, you will be the person who makes sure we run effectively, transparently, and confidently. You will keep our governance on track, support strategic decision‑making, and ensure our CEO and Senior Management Team have the structure, information, and support they need to deliver our mission. Overall, we love hearing from those who combine precision with people skills and who are looking for a position where organisational capabilities, governance expertise, and ability to make things happen are truly valued.

The Governance Manager & Executive Assistant plays a pivotal role in ensuring our organisation operates smoothly, transparently, and in line with best practice. You will lead the coordination of Board and Committee governance, managing agendas, papers, minutes, regulatory compliance, and the maintenance of key governance records. You will also support Board recruitment, induction, and development, and help manage core processes such as the governance audit, risk register, and policy oversight.

Alongside this, you will provide high‑level executive support to the CEO and Senior Management Team—managing diaries, coordinating meetings, ensuring effective information flow, and handling confidential matters with professionalism. This role suits someone who is highly organised, proactive, and comfortable managing both detailed governance tasks and fast‑paced executive support, enabling senior leaders to focus on delivering our mission.

Main Areas Of Responsibilities:

• Governance & Compliance Management

• Support the Board and SMT with a complete governance audit and coordinate actions from the resulting governance action plan.
• Support the CEO and SMT with the day‑to‑day management of Board and Committee business.
• Prepare and manage agendas, papers, and minutes, ensuring all documentation is accurate and circulated within required timeframes.
• Oversee governance compliance, regulatory adherence, and alignment with SCT best practice.
• Maintain up‑to‑date governance records, statutory filings, and related documentation.
• Support the CEO and SMT with reviewing and maintaining the organisational risk register and coordinating actions charging related.
• Maintain a repository of historic policy versions to support auditing and traceability.
• Support Board recruitment, induction, training, and evaluation processes.
• Facilitate effective communication between the Board, its committees, and SMT.

• Provide comprehensive administrative and executive support to the CEO and SMT, including diary management, correspondence handling, travel planning, and meeting organisation.
• Coordinate schedules and support the wider SMT team with document preparation and logistics.
• Manage the flow of information to and from senior leaders, ensuring timely action on priorities.
• Handle confidential matters with discretion and professionalism at all times.
• Comply with Homeless Oxfordshire’s policies and procedures.
• Contribute to a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are valued and staff are enabled to do their best.
• Contribute to the work of the broader team.

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high‑quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and the benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply on our website. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.