Join us and help shape the future of Governance at Orpheus
At the Orpheus Centre, we believe in the power of the arts to transform lives. We support young disabled adults to develop confidence, independence and skills through creative and performing arts programmes. Our values of being joyful, bold, inclusive, resilient and determined are at the heart of everything we do.
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Governance Manager to lead and develop our governance function. This is an exciting opportunity for a governance professional who enjoys improving systems, supporting senior leaders and trustees, and ensuring governance arrangements are effective, efficient and compliant.
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Hours: 35 hours per week, full-time (52 weeks per year)
Location: Godstone, Surrey
Reporting to: Director of People & Governance
Important information regarding visa sponsorship
Please note that the Orpheus Centre is not a licensed sponsor organisation and therefore is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of their employment.
About the Role
As Governance Manager, you will work closely with the Director of People & Governance, Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees to ensure robust governance arrangements across the organisation. You will be responsible for coordinating and servicing Board and committee meetings, maintaining governance frameworks and registers, supporting trustee development, monitoring compliance requirements and driving continuous improvement in governance practices.
We are looking for someone who can identify opportunities for improvement, provide constructive challenge and help strengthen governance arrangements across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the administration and coordination of the Board of Trustees and committee governance programme.
- Prepare, coordinate and quality assure Board and committee papers.
- Attend Board and committee meetings and produce accurate, high-quality minutes.
- Maintain governance frameworks, policies, registers, action logs and delegated authority arrangements.
- Coordinate trustee recruitment, induction, training and development.
- Support risk management, assurance reporting and regulatory compliance activities.
- Manage governance improvement projects and implement best practice governance processes.
- Monitor governance developments and regulatory changes relevant to the charity and education sectors.
- Line manage and support the Executive Administrator.
About You
You will be an organised and highly professional governance specialist with experience supporting Boards, committees or senior decision-making bodies.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in governance, company secretarial, board secretariat or committee management roles.
- Experience servicing Board and committee meetings and producing high-quality minutes.
- Experience coordinating agendas, papers, forward plans and action tracking.
- Experience reviewing and improving governance systems, frameworks or processes.
- Experience working with senior leaders, trustees or non-executive stakeholders.
- Experience handling highly confidential information.
- Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Essential Skills
- Excellent written communication and minute-taking skills.
- Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
- Ability to interpret complex governance information and communicate it clearly.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Confidence building relationships and influencing at a senior level.
- Advanced Microsoft 365 skills, including SharePoint, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work independently and use sound judgement.
Desirable
- Experience working within a charity, education, social care or regulated environment.
- Knowledge of charity governance and Charity Commission requirements.
- Relevant governance qualification or membership of the Chartered Governance Institute (or working towards this).
Why Join Orpheus?
Working for the Orpheus Centre means becoming part of a passionate organisation dedicated to enabling young disabled adults to thrive. Alongside a rewarding role, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change, work with committed colleagues and trustees, and help shape the future governance of a unique and inspiring charity
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 2026, 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.
For a full job description and person specification, click below:
Governance Manager Final 10.2026.pdf
Disability Confident Leader
The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, as set out in the person specification. This does not mean that all disabled applicants will automatically be invited to interview, but it does ensure that disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential requirements are given the opportunity to show their skills, experience and abilities at interview.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we are:
- 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
No agencies please.
Governance Manager in Godstone employer: The Orpheus Centre
At the Orpheus Centre, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to empowering young adults with disabilities through the arts. Our warm and friendly work environment fosters collaboration and professional growth, offering ongoing training and development opportunities that allow you to make a meaningful impact every day. Located in Godstone, Surrey, you'll be part of an ambitious organisation committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of young disabled people while enjoying a supportive culture that values inclusivity and personal development.
