Governance and Risk Lead in Bury

It is a great privilege for me to lead The Sycamore Church of England Trust. Our aim is to be 'the trust of choice' for both faith based and community schools who share in our vision and values.

We have at the centre of our mission and purpose the belief that every child has a right to educational excellence through the provision of high-quality schooling.

Our trust maintains a clear focus on collaboration, raising standards, encouraging innovation, and strengthening our distinctive ethos to ensure that we have a positive impact on the young people and in the diverse communities that we serve.

Our trust has a strong and unique identity where the values of inclusion, compassion, aspiration, resilience and excellence lie at the heart of everything we do. These values are embraced by our team of trustees, leaders, teachers, staff, parents, and children alike.

We place great importance on what we do and how we do it. Our values underpin our interactions with each other and strengthen our sense of family.

Children are placed at the heart of everything we do.

Our central team is committed to serving schools in a manner that enables them to be great schools, doing great things that enable every child to both flourish and succeed.

If you would like any further information on our Trust, please do not hesitate to contact us

Ian Young

Governance Leadership and Professional Support

• Act as the Trust's lead professional for governance.

• Undertake Governance Professional responsibilities for the Board of Trustees, ensuring governance arrangements comply with statutory, regulatory and constitutional requirements.

• Lead the planning, coordination and administration of Trustee meetings, including agendas, reports, minutes, action tracking and governance records.

• Provide professional advice and guidance to Trustees, Local Academy Committees, Executive Leaders and school leaders on governance matters.

• Develop and maintain governance frameworks, templates, guidance and resources that promote effective decision-making, accountability and consistency across the Trust.

• Establish and oversee governance arrangements for Local Academy Committees, including meeting cycles, agenda structures, reporting templates, governance platforms, record-keeping requirements and quality standards.

• Coordinate Trustee and Governor recruitment, induction, training and ongoing development.

• Support the coordination of governance-related hearings, complaints, appeals and other statutory panel processes.

• Monitor the effectiveness of governance arrangements and lead continuous improvement across the Trust.

Compliance and Regulatory Assurance

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Trust's compliance framework.

• Ensure statutory and regulatory requirements are identified, communicated, monitored and reviewed across the Trust.

• Oversee Trust-wide policy management arrangements, ensuring policies remain compliant, up to date, accessible, maintained and reviewed within agreed timescales.

• Monitor changes in legislation, regulation and statutory guidance, advising on implications and required actions.

• Ensure systems and processes are in place to support effective governance, compliance monitoring and assurance.

• Maintain oversight of governance, compliance and statutory records, registers and documentation, ensuring information is accurate, accessible and appropriately maintained.

• Ensure published governance and statutory information, including websites, GIAS and regulatory disclosures, remains accurate and compliant.

• Coordinate compliance reviews, audits and assurance activities, ensuring actions are implemented and monitored to completion.

• Support the preparation of governance and compliance evidence required for internal and external audit, inspection and review processes.

• Provide assurance reporting to Trustees, Executive Leaders and Committees regarding governance, compliance and regulatory matters.

Risk Management

• Lead and coordinate the Trust’s risk management arrangements, ensuring there are clear processes for identifying, assessing, monitoring, reporting and escalating risk.

• Work with leaders across the Trust to embed effective risk management practices.

• Produce risk reports and assurance information for Trustees, the Executive Team and relevant Committees.

• Monitor emerging risks and support leaders to implement effective mitigating actions.

• Provide oversight of governance, compliance and operational risks, ensuring appropriate controls and assurance arrangements are in place.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, manage and develop the Trust's governance, compliance and risk function.

• Line manage Compliance Officer/s and other staff within the function as required.

• Allocate workload and resources to ensure effective delivery of governance, compliance and risk activities.

• Provide professional advice, coaching and support to team members and colleagues contributing to governance and compliance activity.

• Promote collaborative working, continuous improvement and high professional standards across the Trust.

Stakeholder Engagement and Organisational Development

• Build effective working relationships with Trustees, Governors, school leaders, colleagues and external partners.

• Act as a trusted adviser on governance, compliance and risk management matters.

• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.

• Contribute to the development of efficient systems, processes and communications that strengthen governance, compliance and organisational effectiveness across the Trust.

What you can achieve with us:

Grow with us: As our Trust expands, so do your opportunities meaning you can develop your role and progress your career as we grow together.

Make an impact: Your initiative, ideas and contribution to the team will be appreciated.

Experience variety: No two days are the same!

Prioritise your wellbeing: Benefit from an excellent pension package, confidential wellbeing services, online GP, physiotherapy, and more.

Feel supported: Full training and ongoing support will be provided to the right candidate. If you have the drive and potential, we will help you succeed.

Join a great team: Work with a collaborative, supportive team that values your contribution.

Experience of leading, managing, developing or coordinating the work of others.

Experience within an academy trust, school or similarly regulated environment.

Experience of Governance Professional, clerking or company secretarial responsibilities.

· Relevant professional qualification, degree-level learning, or equivalent knowledge and experience in governance, compliance, risk, audit, assurance, regulatory practice or a related field.

· Evidence of continued professional development and commitment to further relevant learning, including Governance Professional training where appropriate.

· Relevant experience and demonstrable strength in at least one area of governance, compliance, risk, audit, assurance or a related field.

· Experience of interpreting complex requirements and translating them into clear, practical advice, processes or actions.

· Experience of developing or improving systems, processes, reporting or assurance arrangements.

· Experience of working effectively with senior leaders, Boards, committees or other key stakeholders.

· Strong knowledge and practical capability in at least one relevant area, with the ability and commitment to develop across the wider governance, risk and compliance portfolio.

· Ability to analyse information, identify and communicate risk and provide clear, proportionate advice and appropriate professional challenge.

· Strong organisational, planning, communication and report-writing skills.

· Professional credibility, integrity and sound judgement with the ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.