PA to Head of Governance and Head of GGC Operations in London

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as PA to Head of Governance and Head of GGC Operations, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to support the Head of Governance and the Head of GGC Operations within the Group General Counsel (GGC) department. The GGC department comprises 3 teams Legal, Governance and GGC Operations and comprises c. 40 people split over two locations.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Group General Counsel team you will be responsible for:

• Provide proactive, high-quality PA support to the Head of Governance and the Head of GGC Operations, including diary management, meeting coordination, document management, and a wide range of administrative support.
• Provide administrative support to Governance Advisers as required, ensuring the smooth and efficient delivery of governance activities.
• Organise Governance team meetings, including preparing and collating agendas and supporting papers, issuing meeting documentation, and tracking actions arising from each meeting.
• Process team and committee director expenses promptly and accurately using USS's purchase order and invoice system, Proactis.
• Arrange travel and accommodation, preparing itineraries and ensuring all travel logistics are managed efficiently.
• Manage internal and external correspondence on behalf of senior managers, handling enquiries professionally, efficiently, and with the utmost confidentiality.

Process support

• Coordinate and administer key Governance team processes, including maintaining the team planner, scheduling director appraisals, and providing administrative support for the annual director compliance attestation process.
• Support the management of the legal panel, including coordinating relationship management meetings, scheduling training requests, sharing materials and maintaining associated tracker.
• Provide administrative support to the Governance team in the production and distribution of Board and Committee papers, including requesting and collating meeting documentation, managing papers through electronic board portal systems (BoardEffect/Diligent), and supporting the Company Secretary during meetings as required.
• Coordinate the logistical arrangements for Board and Committee meetings, including meeting room bookings, catering, and other administrative requirements to ensure meetings run smoothly.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Non-Executive Directors and Committee members, coordinating diaries and arranging introductory meetings and other governance-related engagements.
• Maintain Governance team trackers and records, ensuring information is accurate, up to date, and readily accessible.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams
• Ability to communicate accurately, effectively and professionally with people at all levels across the organisation, including senior stakeholders, both orally and in writing
• Proactive mindset
• Excellent organisation skills to balance the needs of those within scope of the role
• Adaptability to meet the needs of stakeholders
• Positive attitude and willingness to grow in role
• Ability to work collaboratively in a supportive and friendly environment
• Attention to detail

Desirable

• Experience working in a professional services environment
• Experience using Sharepoint and Power BI
• Experience using Board Effects / Diligent

Why join us?

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025).

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know.