Governance Administrator in Croydon, Surrey

The Governance Administrator provides high-quality administrative and operational support to the Governance Team, enabling effective academy-level governance across the Trust. The role focuses on meeting coordination, clerking support, record-keeping, and day-to-day governance administration, ensuring that Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) and governance professionals are well-supported and compliant with Trust policies and statutory requirements. This includes a willingness to work some evenings to support governance meetings and the ability to travel across the Trust as required. This role is essential in ensuring efficient governance operations, accurate documentation, and timely communication, contributing to the smooth functioning of governance at academy and Trust level.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

As a Governance Administrator, you will play a key role in supporting effective governance across our academies by providing high-quality administrative and operational support to the Governance Team. You will support Local Governing Bodies through meeting coordination, clerking, and accurate record-keeping, helping to ensure governance processes are compliant, well-organised, and run smoothly at both academy and Trust level. The role requires a willingness to work some evenings to support governance meetings and the ability to travel across the Trust as needed.

• Governance Administration & Coordination

• Coordinate governance meeting schedules, including AGB meetings, training sessions, and panel hearings.
• Prepare and distribute meeting agendas, documentation, and information packs according to Trust timelines.
• Support the Governance Manager in producing templates, forms, and administrative tools for use across the governance function.
• Maintain governance calendars, distribution lists, SharePoint/Teams sites, and other communication platforms.

• Maintain accurate governance records including: registers of interest, governor attendance records, training logs, membership lists, and terms of office.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes for governors, including DBS checks, induction materials, and profile updates.
• Ensure relevant governance documents, policies, and registers are updated and stored in line with Trust protocols.
• Assist with preparing documentation and evidence for governance audits and internal audit assurance checks.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to Level 3 or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to undertake governance-related training, with NGA or clerking qualifications desirable.
• Experience in administration, clerical, or coordination roles.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate minutes and documentation.
• Confident communication skills, both written and spoken.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice: The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities: The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level. You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression.
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus.
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution.
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts.
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare.
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice.
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme.
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts.
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees.
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans.

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.