At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead governance and compliance for a high-profile charity, ensuring legal and regulatory obligations are met.
- Company: Join a well-known charity making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to impact lives positively.
- Other info: Opportunity to lead a dynamic team and grow within a respected charity.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping governance and compliance in a mission-driven organisation.
- Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with experience in risk, compliance, and governance.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
We are working with a well-known, high-profile charity based in North West London to recruit a Head of Governance. Operating in an increasingly complex environment—characterised by heightened regulatory requirements, greater scrutiny from trustees and regulators, and growing external challenges—the charity is seeking a seasoned legal professional to lead its governance, compliance, and organisational assurance framework.
Reporting into the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will act as the principal advisor on governance, risk, and compliance to the COO, Senior Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, and relevant Board Committees. This is a pivotal leadership role combining high-level strategic direction with hands-on operational delivery. You will also lead and develop the Governance and Compliance Team, ensuring the organisation remains resilient, compliant, and well-governed as it continues to grow.
Key Responsibilities
- Governance & Compliance: Lead and develop the charity’s governance and compliance framework to meet all legal, regulatory, and charitable obligations. Draft, review, and maintain core policies and governance documentation, prepare formal papers and briefings for the Board and Audit & Risk Committee, and conduct internal governance investigations when required.
- Legal & Regulatory Matters: Act as the lead advisor on significant legal, regulatory, and governance issues affecting the charity. Personally manage complex or high-risk matters as they arise, monitor emerging regulatory developments, and coordinate relationships with external legal advisers, regulators, and auditors.
- Risk & Organisational Resilience: Own and lead the organisational risk management framework and Risk Register. Partner with departmental heads to identify, assess, and mitigate strategic and operational risks, while leading business continuity and organisational resilience planning.
- Safeguarding, Data Protection & Assurance: Serve as the organisational Designated Safeguarding Lead, managing concerns, referrals, and investigations. Oversee compliance with data protection legislation (UK GDPR) and information governance, manage formal complaints, and drive continuous improvement through internal auditing and assurance monitoring.
- Leadership & Management: Lead, mentor, and evolve the Governance and Compliance Team. Effectively allocate workloads across the team while retaining direct ownership of the most sensitive and complex matters, fostering a culture of accountability and best practice across the charity.
Candidate Profile
To be successful in this role, you will be a qualified lawyer operating at a minimum of Mid-Level Associate up to Partner level (or equivalent in-house seniority). You will bring:
- Core Legal Expertise: Demonstrable, strong technical experience across risk, compliance, regulatory law, and (ideally) data protection.
- Strategic & Operational Agility: The ability to operate at Board level, translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical advice for trustees and senior executives, while remaining willing to roll up your sleeves on operational matters.
- Crisis & Sensitivity Management: Sound judgement and composure when handling sensitive issues, internal investigations, safeguarding matters, and potential reputational risks.
- Leadership Skills: Proven experience leading, developing, and motivating a team, alongside strong stakeholder management skills.
- Sector Awareness: While prior charity law or not-for-profit experience is advantageous, we welcome applications from private practice or commercial in-house lawyers looking to bring their regulatory and governance rigour to a mission-driven organisation.
Due to an expected high volume of interest in this role, we may not be able to respond to all enquiries but will contact suitable applicants for an initial discussion.
JOB OF THE WEEK - IN-HOUSE, well-known Charity - Head of Governance (risk, compliance, regulatory) in City of London employer: Segal Placements
As a market-leading law firm in London, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their careers. With a strong focus on professional development, we offer extensive growth opportunities and the chance to work on high-profile international arbitration cases, all while collaborating with a diverse and talented team dedicated to delivering exceptional client service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land JOB OF THE WEEK - IN-HOUSE, well-known Charity - Head of Governance (risk, compliance, regulatory) in City of London
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Segal Placements.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Segal Placements.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Segal Placements.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Segal Placements. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace JOB OF THE WEEK - IN-HOUSE, well-known Charity - Head of Governance (risk, compliance, regulatory) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Segal Placements. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like JOB OF THE WEEK - IN-HOUSE, well-known Charity - Head of Governance (risk, compliance, regulatory), ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Segal Placements
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Segal Placements. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
