Executive Assistant (Governance) in Godstone

The Orpheus Centre is a specialist college and charity empowering young adults with disabilities to lead independent and fulfilling lives through creativity, learning and the arts. Founded by Sir Richard Stilgoe, Orpheus places joy, inclusion and ambition at the centre of everything it does. Our values – joyful, bold, inclusive, resilient and determined – shape our culture and guide our work with students, staff and trustees alike.

Salary: £32,754 per annum

Location: Godstone, Surrey

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week, 9am–5pm) – part time/job share considered

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Director of People & Governance

The Role: We are seeking an organised, confident and proactive Executive Assistant (Governance) to provide high‑quality governance administration and executive support across the Senior Management Team (SMT), Trust Board and its committees. This is a pivotal role within Central Services, ensuring that our governance structures are effective, compliant and well coordinated, enabling excellent decision‑making and strong organisational assurance. You will own the annual governance cycle, support Board and committee meetings, maintain statutory and governance records, and act as a trusted point of contact for trustees and senior leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Governance & Compliance: Plan, organise and support Board, committee and SMT meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes and action tracking. Maintain governance frameworks including Terms of Reference, Scheme of Delegation and statutory registers. Coordinate trustee induction, declarations, training records and governance compliance calendars. Support regulatory readiness and audits, working closely with senior colleagues. Coordinate the organisational risk register and tracking of management actions.
• Executive & SMT Support: Provide executive-level administrative support to SMT and, as required, the CEO. Draft and edit reports, correspondence and presentations. Support SMT projects through research, document management and progress tracking. Arrange meetings, travel and accommodation for trustees and senior leaders.
• Policy, Records & Administration: Manage the central policy library, review schedules and approvals process. Support compliant records management, archiving and confidential disposal. Produce governance and compliance reports for SMT and Board.
• Hospitality & Office Support: Coordinate hospitality and logistics for meetings and events. Work flexibly, including occasional out‑of‑hours attendance for key governance meetings.

About You: You will be an experienced Executive Assistant or governance professional who thrives in a fast‑paced, values‑driven environment. You will be confident working with senior stakeholders, discreet with sensitive information, and highly organised with excellent attention to detail.

• Proven Executive Assistant experience (minimum three years or equivalent)
• Strong understanding of governance administration and compliance
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including high‑quality minute taking
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, work independently and use sound judgement
• Experience in charity, education or not‑for‑profit sectors
• Familiarity with Charity Commission and Companies House requirements
• Experience supporting Boards or committees
• Experience working within inclusive or specialist education settings

Safeguarding & Inclusion: The Orpheus Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable young adults. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references. This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches may be undertaken as part of due diligence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We value difference and are committed to creating an inclusive, respectful and supportive workplace. In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK. The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.

Disability Confident Employer: We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no‑one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be considered for interview.

Challenging attitudes towards disability: Increasing understanding of disability, removing barriers to disabled people and those with long‑term health conditions, ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration.