Head of Governance | The Dean Trust in Wigan

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This is a rare opportunity to lead governance across a growing and high-performing trust of schools serving communities across Greater Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley and Wigan.

• Location: Based across our schools in Trafford, Knowsley and Wigan
• Salary: NJC Pay Band 12 Scale Points 45 - 48, £57,455 – £60,964 per annum (FTE)

The Dean Trust is seeking an experienced governance professional to become its next Head of Governance. Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a rare opportunity to lead governance across a growing and high-performing trust of schools serving communities across Greater Manchester, Trafford, Knowsley and Wigan.

We are looking for a strategic leader who can drive governance excellence, support the Trust Board and Local Governing Committees, strengthen governance systems and play a central role in ensuring governance evolves alongside the Trust’s continued growth and ambition.

This role would suit an established Head of Governance or a senior governance professional ready to take on a trust-wide leadership position.

Who we are

At The Dean Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. Established in 2012, we have grown into a family of eleven schools serving diverse communities across the North West, including some of the most socio-economically challenged areas in the country. Our vision is simple yet powerful: for every pupil to Believe, Achieve and Succeed in their journey through life.

Everything we do is underpinned by our commitment to putting pupils first, investing in talented people and creating inclusive environments where all children can thrive.

Working collaboratively across our schools and through our central services teams, we strive to provide exceptional educational opportunities and strong organisational foundations that enable every school to flourish.

About the role

This is a strategically important role operating at the heart of Trust leadership. As Head of Governance, you will work closely with the CEO, Trust Board, Local Governing Committees and senior leaders to ensure governance remains a genuine strength of the organisation and continues to support the Trust’s long-term ambitions.

You will lead governance strategy across the Trust, ensuring consistency, compliance and effectiveness whilst supporting governance development and continuous improvement.

Your key areas of responsibility will include:

• Leading governance strategy and governance improvement across the Trust.
• Supporting Board and committee effectiveness, evaluation and development.
• Developing governance structures, policies and frameworks to support future growth.
• Providing expert advice on governance, compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Leading governance reviews and assurance processes.
• Managing and developing the Trust’s governance professionals.
• Supporting succession planning, trustee recruitment and governor development.
• Working closely with the Chair, CEO and senior leaders to ensure governance remains aligned with strategic priorities.

This is a role with significant influence and visibility, providing the opportunity to shape the governance culture and effectiveness of a large, complex and ambitious multi-academy trust.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an experienced governance professional who combines technical expertise with strategic thinking, excellent judgement and the ability to build strong relationships across a complex organisation.

You will already have experience operating within a governance environment and understand the vital role effective governance plays in organisational success. Whether your background has been gained within education, the public sector, regulation, higher education, charities or another complex environment, you will bring the confidence and credibility to advise senior leaders, support trustees and challenge constructively where required.

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of governance principles, regulatory frameworks and board effectiveness, alongside experience of developing systems, processes and structures that support strong decision-making and accountability.

You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, moving seamlessly between high-level governance planning and detailed compliance matters. We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate experience of supporting boards, advising senior executives, leading governance improvement and developing governance frameworks.

Experience within a multi-academy trust environment would be advantageous, as would experience supporting organisational growth, change or governance reviews.

Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our belief in the importance of strong governance as a driver of educational excellence. You will be collaborative, organised and solutions-focused, with the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders whilst maintaining the highest professional standards.

Committment

• 36.25 hours per week (for full time)
• Based across Trust locations with flexibility depending on the successful candidate.
• Regular travel between Trust schools and governance meetings across the Trust footprint will form part of the role.

We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.

Our vision is clear: for all our pupils to believe in themselves, achieve their potential and succeed in their journey through life. Our mission is to put pupils first, providing them with experiences that build powerful knowledge, transferable skills, and social and cultural capital. We will invest in the most talented, dedicated workforce, and we will work collaboratively with our partners to nurture global citizens.

This is supported by shared values where we demonstrate that we are:

• Ambitious and Aspirational
• Resilient and Determined
• Inquisitive and Dedicated to Learning
• Socially and Globally Responsible

Across all our work, we remain committed to our core purpose: providing children and young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed. We value stability, community and care, but we are also willing to evolve, challenge ourselves and pursue improvement with determination.

For those joining our governance or leadership, The Dean Trust offers the opportunity to contribute to a thoughtful, values‑driven organisation focused on making a meaningful difference to young lives.

We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.

We offer the following amenities:

• Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms and an accessible workstation
• Accessibility dogs are welcome
• Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
• Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
• A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
• Working patterns and locations can be adjusted

Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 27th November 2026
Interviews: Thursday 3rd December 2026

Peridot Partners and The Dean Trust are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.

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