Governance Operations Officer in Haywards Heath

Location: UK remote - with occasional travel to Haywards Heath, when required

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week – part time/flexible working will be considered

About the role

The Governance Operations Officer will assist the Controller of Governance and Assurance in the operation of governance, assurance and compliance systems, processes and frameworks.

Responsibilities

As the Governance Operations Officer you will support Sightsavers governing boards, as well as working with UK Board and its sub committees, ensuring that they are provided with a comprehensive and efficient support service, enabling them to discharge their roles.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Board Administration – manage and facilitate the smooth running of all meetings:

• Preparation of agendas, papers, minutes and their circulation for meetings.
• Booking teleconferences and venues, notifying participants of date and time and providing them meeting details.
• Liaising with partner organisations on coordinating bookings, accommodation and logistics for physical and hybrid meetings.
• Attending meetings, taking accurate minutes and circulating these in a timely manner as required.

• Scheduling the meetings and ensuring that the specific constitutional conditions of the relevant boards are met.
• Provide administrative support to the Safeguarding team on record keeping and meetings.

• Coordinate and assist with the renewal and procurement of Sightsavers Group insurance policies, including life, medical, travel, liability and premises insurance.
• Manage the record keeping associated with Sightsavers’ insurance policies and any associated claims.

• Manage activities related to matters of organisational governance, including the outputs from internal and external governance reviews, changes in legislation, best practice and strategic direction.
• Advise and support on matters of best practice in the area of Charity Governance.
• Support the Information Security, Compliance and Legal teams on projects relating to data protection, information security and organisational compliance.
• Support the Human Resources, Safeguarding and Governance teams to strengthen Sightsavers safe recruitment practice.

• Assist the Internal Audit Manager and the General Counsel with the organisation and process of internal audits.
• Support on the collection and presentation of key documentation and information required for internal audits.

This is a highly varied and involved role, and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills.

Skills and Experience

As the successful candidate you will have an active interest in governance, compliance, and organisational effectiveness, with a willingness to learn and take on new responsibilities, with a flexible and proactive approach. You will possess excellent organisational and communication skills.

Further requirements include:

• Experience in managing, arranging and facilitating meetings
• Event management experience (booking venues, accommodation and logistics for physical and hybrid meetings)
• Minute taking experience and skills
• Some prior exposure to governance, compliance, or administration (e.g., through volunteering, internships, or academic work).
• Interest in international development and/or disability rights.
• Experience working in a not-for-profit or similar environment.

Candidates are welcome to demonstrate their ability to match the person specification by expanding on how their experience, training and/or qualifications might have provided them with the knowledge or skills required for the role. Successful candidates will be appointed on merit.

Next Steps

Sightsavers offers some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London.

Next steps

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please submit your CV via our recruitment portal and answer the application questions. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

Please note that there will be an expectation that you can occasionally visit our modern and collaborative offices in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (RH16 3BW).

We anticipate that 1st stage in-person interviews will take place during the week commencing 16 February, and the evaluation process will include a task and 2 stage interviews, to be completed by shortlisted candidates.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Sightsavers is an employer that does not tolerate any form of harassment and has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls.