Governance and Risk Manager in Rochester

James Stevens Associates are delighted to be working with a highly vibrant and commercial Housing Association in Kent that are now on the hunt for their new Governance and Risk Manager. This is a brand new role, designed to support the Directorate and help shape the next phase of governance maturity across the organisation. The new Governance and Risk Manager will be someone that enjoys operating both strategically and hands-on, a role where you can genuinely influence governance, compliance and risk across a socially driven organisation while still being close enough to the detail to make a real impact. An organisation that truly lives and breathes their values.

Why This Role Stands Out:

• This isn’t a “sit back and advise from afar” governance position, the organisation are looking for someone who thrives on:
• Building strong relationships
• Working closely with Boards and senior leadership
• Improving governance frameworks
• Supporting strategic risk discussions
• Leading a small team
• Rolling sleeves up operationally when needed
• Having a broad, visible and genuinely impactful role within an organisation that has a strong social purpose and a refreshingly supportive culture.

About The Housing Association:

The Housing Association operates through a unique and sophisticated governance structure, combining both charitable and regulated housing operations. You’ll be joining at an exciting time, where:

• A relatively new CEO is driving positive cultural change
• Governance capability is being strengthened further
• The organisation is open to new ideas, improvements and modern approaches

The boards are described internally as collaborative, supportive and engaged people who value expertise rather than challenge for the sake of it.

The Opportunity

Working closely with the Executive Director of Governance & Risk, you’ll take ownership across:

• Governance frameworks
• Board and committee support
• Policy management
• Strategic risk coordination
• Regulatory compliance
• Governance reporting
• Leadership and development of the Governance team

You’ll support both Group and Subsidiary Boards and help ensure governance arrangements remain effective, proportionate and future-focused. The role also includes responsibility for maintaining the organisation’s risk register and supporting the development of risk appetite discussions with senior stakeholders. Importantly, this role balances strategic exposure with operational delivery.

What They're Looking For

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strong governance and compliance experience
• Confidence working with Boards and Executive teams
• Experience within housing or another regulated environment
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery

Housing experience would be highly beneficial, but the organisation are also open to candidates from other regulated sectors including charities, local authority or wider regulated environments.

The Team & Culture

You’ll manage a small Governance team of 4 and will work closely alongside an experienced Data Protection Officer. The organisation believes strongly in collaborative working and therefore requires a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.

Benefits

• Performance-based bonus
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell additional annual leave
• Pension contributions matched up to 6%
• Access to two holiday homes in Norfolk and Dorset at affordable rates
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Regular salary benchmarking
• Flexible benefits package
• Free on-site parking
• Free life assurance
• Employee savings club access
• Milestone awards and retirement gifts
• Discounts across social, leisure and entertainment provider