Governance and Risk Lead

• Governance and Risk Lead (The Sycamore Church of England Trust Wide Services)
• Working Patterns: Full-Time;
• Application Deadline: Sunday, 26th July 2026
• Interview Date: 31st July 2026
• Expected Working Start Date: 1st September 2026, or soon thereafter
• Is a Shared Job: No

About us

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.

Thank you for taking the time to look at this role within our trust, Ian Young - Trust Leader.

Job Description

• Governance Leadershipand 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.
• 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.

A supportive and inclusive culture We believe that people do their best work when they feel supported.

We work closely across our schools and central team to share expertise, provide practical support, and reduce unnecessary workload wherever possible.

Staff wellbeing is a key priority, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues feel listened to and respected.

Wellbeing and staff support All staff have access to a comprehensive and confidential wellbeing package through Education Mutual, alongside occupational health support, and additional wellbeing resources.

We actively promote a healthy work-life balance and take a proactive approach to supporting staff through periods of change or challenge.

Professional development and career progression We are committed to developing our people.

Staff have access to high-quality CPD through The National College, offering a wide range of professional and personal development resources.

We also provide Trust wide development opportunities and encourage collaboration across schools to support career progression and leadership development.

Consistent and fair employment offer As a Trust, all staff are employed under a consistent framework, ensuring fairness and transparency.

Our policies and pay structures are aligned with recognised local authority models (including Bury Council), providing a reliable and well understood employment offer.

• Generous terms and conditions
• Access to Local Government or Teachers' Pension Schemes
• Generous annual leave for support staff
• Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies
• Clear and fair pay progression arrangements

Part of something bigger Working within a Multi Academy Trust provides opportunities to collaborate beyond a single school, share best practice, and contribute to wider improvement across multiple settings while retaining a strong sense of community within each school.

• Desired Criteria
• Experience within an academy trust or school environment.
• Experience undertaking Governance Professional, Clerk or Company Secretary responsibilities.
• Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in governance, compliance, risk, assurance or a related field.
• Evidence of relevant and recent professional development.
• Willingness to undertake or continue recognised Governance Professional training or qualification if not already held.
• Experience within governance, compliance, risk, audit or assurance functions.
• Experience supporting Boards, Trustees, Governors or senior committees.
• Experience interpreting and applying legislation, regulation or statutory guidance.
• Experience developing and improving systems, processes and reporting arrangements.
• Experience leading, managing or coordinating the work of others.
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance and risk management principles.
• Ability to interpret requirements, analyse information and provide clear, practical advice to senior stakeholders.
• Strong organisational, planning and report writing skills.
• Ability to identify and communicate risk, develop effective systems and improve ways of working.
• Professional credibility, sound judgement and the ability to build positive relationships whilst providing appropriate challenge.
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