Corporate Governance Team Manager

Full time / Part time Salary: £44,297- £49,813, with potential for further progression to £56,082 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid Contracted to our Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office. Through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities and there will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Why work for the ICO?

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Job summary: As Corporate Governance Team Manager, you will lead the development and continuous improvement of the ICO’s corporate governance framework, ensuring that governance arrangements remain robust, compliant and aligned with strategic priorities. Reporting to the Corporate Governance and Secretariat Group Manager, you will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing expert guidance on governance matters and supporting high-profile projects that shape how the organisation operates.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job description: You will act as a subject matter expert, providing high-level advice and guidance on governance matters, supporting governance-related projects, and contributing to the organisation’s strategic governance agenda. The role supports the integration of governance processes across the organisation and ensures compliance with internal protocols and external standards. In addition, you will provide day-to-day leadership and management to a Governance & Secretariat Support Officer, supporting their development and ensuring the effective delivery of governance and secretariat services.

This role requires strong analytical and communication skills, professional judgement, and the ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders. It contributes directly to the effectiveness and credibility of the ICO’s governance framework, while helping to develop capability and resilience within the wider Governance and Secretariat function.

Key responsibilities:

• Governance Frameworks & Processes: Lead the development and continuous improvement of corporate governance arrangements, ensuring frameworks, policies, and procedures are strategically aligned, operationally effective, and responsive to organisational and external requirements. Design and embed governance mechanisms that enable sound decision-making, clear accountability, and regulatory compliance.
• Strategic Governance Projects: Lead and contribute to governance-related projects and cross-functional initiatives, applying specialist knowledge to deliver improvements and support strategic objectives.
• Advice & Best Practice: Act as a subject matter expert, providing authoritative advice and guidance on governance matters to senior managers and operational teams. Monitor developments in governance best practice and translate them into actionable improvements.
• Reporting & Communications: Produce high-quality governance reports, briefings, and communications for internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership and oversight bodies. Lead the delivery of the Annual Report, ensuring governance disclosures are accurate, comprehensive, and aligned with statutory and best practice requirements.
• Accountability & Delegation Frameworks: Work collaboratively with colleagues in People Services and senior managers to maintain accountability frameworks, ensuring it supports clear lines of responsibility and effective governance. Lead the review and update of the Scheme of Delegations, ensuring it remains current, well-structured, and aligned with organisational decision-making and accountability arrangements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, promoting governance awareness and consistency in application.
• Leadership & Oversight: Manage the Corporate Governance Officer role, providing effective leadership and oversight. Act as deputy to the Corporate Governance & Secretariat Group Manager during periods of absence, contributing to continuity and resilience within the function.
• Decision-Making & Problem Solving: Make operational decisions within a defined governance framework, using sound judgement and analytical skills. Refer novel or complex issues to senior specialists or legal advisors as appropriate.

Person specification:

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Relevant experience in corporate governance, risk, or compliance within a public sector or regulated environment.
• Demonstrable operational knowledge of governance frameworks, processes, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading governance projects and contributing to strategic initiatives.
• Proven ability to provide expert advice and guidance on governance matters to senior stakeholders.

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Strong understanding of corporate governance principles, statutory reporting requirements, and governance best practice.
• Ability to interpret, apply and advise on governance frameworks, policies and procedures within complex organisational environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with sound judgement in managing complex or sensitive issues.
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports, briefings and recommendations for senior audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to build credibility across internal and external networks.
• Experience of influencing and providing professional advice to senior leaders to support governance-related decision-making.
• Ability to work independently, show initiative and deliver outcomes within established frameworks and timescales.
• Collaborative and adaptable approach, with a commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery.
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Demonstrable integrity, discretion and professionalism, including experience of supporting, developing or mentoring others in governance practice.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion: The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy.

If you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk.

Closing Date: Please submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59, 16 August. Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk.

In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests. All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

Clearance Required for this role: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).