Job Description

Job title:Head of Governance

Time requirement:Full time

Pay band:11

Responsible to:Director of Resources, Finance & Transformation

Responsible for: Management responsibility for Governance team (currently 16 members of staff).

Purpose of the job:

The role is focussed on the leadership of the Office for Students (OfS) Governance team, ensuring that the organisation adheres to the high standards of corporate governance expected in the public sector.

In summary the main purposes of the job are to:

  • provide leadership and management to the Governance team
  • act as a trusted adviser to the OfS Board, Chair, Chief Executive and Directors’ group
  • ensure that the OfS Board and committees are supported and managed effectively, in line with professional corporate governance standards.
  • promote robust corporate governance throughout the OfS
  • ensure that OfS business is conducted in compliance with all relevant legislation and regulationin an efficient and effective way
  • ensure that all appropriate knowledge and information policies, procedures and assurances are in place that balance legislative requirements and organisational needs
  • promote a privacy culture and understanding of data protection compliance throughout the organisation
  • engage with the OfS sponsor government department on governance matters

Key responsibilities as follows:

Team management

  • Lead and manage the Governance team, focussing on improving service and performance through business support and partnering. Ensure effective management and development of staff.
  • Ensure Governance staff have the necessary skills to deliver agreed objectives and implement plans, including maintaining and gaining certifications/professional qualifications in relevant key areas, coaching, development and performance management.
  • Manage the operating plan and budget for the Governance team, including sponsoring and steering internal projects as appropriate.

Corporate Governance

  • Develop, implement and manage the framework, systems and processes for sound corporate governance across OfS, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and supporting documents.
  • Develop, implement and maintain the overall governance structure for decision making and reporting within OfS, ensuring it is in line with best practice and is well understood throughout the organisation.
  • Oversee the organisation’s approach to the management of risk, including regular reporting to the Risk & Audit committee
  • Oversee complaints about the OfS itself in accordance with the Complaints Policy.

OfS Board & Committees

  • Lead on the timely delivery of all Board and committee appointments, induction, appraisal and succession planning, working closely with the OfS’s sponsor department (Department for Education).
  • Oversee the Board secretariat function, managing the smooth and effective running of the full range of secretariat and member services to the Board and its committees.
  • Advise on the effective conduct of meetings, and ensure that all Board and Committee business is conducted in an appropriate manner with the necessary level of independence.
  • Support the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board and Committees annually and ensure action plans are in place and delivered to address any review findings.
  • Develop Board engagement to achieve trust, understanding and shared ownership of the OfS’s vision.

Knowledge & Information Governance

  • Further develop the OfS’s security and information assurance framework and ensure all relevant legislative requirements are in place through effective risk management and audit arrangements.
  • Oversee the development of knowledge management and the underpinning structures throughout the OfSin line with the requirements of all relevant information-related legislation, including the Public Records Act.
  • Ensure the timely response to information access and subject rights requests underFreedom of Information, data protection and re-use of public sector information legislation. This will include responding to requests for internal reviews and complaints raised with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
  • Foster a privacy culture and data protection legislation compliance across the OfS and manage internal data protection activities.
  • Ensure that OfS is compliant with data protection legislation, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Stakeholder management

  • Engage appropriately with Directors, senior managers, budget holders and other colleagues across the OfS on governance issues.
  • Develop a positive and constructive relationship with appropriate senior colleagues at the Department for Education, managing the day-to-day working relationship with colleagues in their Sponsorship teams.
  • To lead on the relationship with internal audit

General

  • A good understanding of the OfS strategy, business plan and associated initiatives
  • Be a role model for staff within the Resources, Finance and Transformation Directorate, and support the whole directorate in achieving its objectives
  • Commitment to learning and continuing professional development.
  • Contribute to broader cross-organisational projects where a governance input would be beneficial
  • Continuously remain up to speed with relevant legislation and best practice in governance.

Person specification
All criteria essential unless in italics which indicates they are desirable
Qualifications
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent.
  • Qualified company secretary (ICSA) or equivalent qualification.
  • Qualified or Certified in data protection

Knowledge, skills and experience
  • Evidence of excellent leaderships skills demonstrated with both internal and external stakeholders

  • Proven breadth and depth of experience of working at a senior level advising senior managers and Board members on matters of governance, compliance and best practice in a public sector environment
  • Experience of handling highly sensitive matters, exercising absolute discretion, diplomacy and integrity.
  • Experience of successfully driving process improvement and delivering change.
  • Successful track record of delivering exceptionally challenging results and projects, within complex environments, to tight deadlines and appropriate quality standards, including at a senior level in a higher education context

  • Evidence of strategic thinking skills. Demonstrates a broad-based view of issues, events and activities and a perception of their longer term impact or wider implications

  • Able to see the big picture and work with detail.
  • A good understanding of relevant intellectual property, records management, information rights, access and data protection legislation.
  • Knowledge of operating as a regulator

  • Experience of dealing with central government and their governance requirements

Planning
  • Ability to balance competing and tight timescales, remaining calm under pressure whilst maintaining attention to detail.
  • A proactive working style, thinking strategically to anticipate and manage issues effectively.
  • Foresight in identifying competing priorities from potential future demands

  • Organises activities and resources effectively, monitoring timescales and plans

  • Demonstrates a readiness to make decisions, take the initiative and originate action

  • Evidence of developing new approaches to tackling issues that demonstrates an innovative approach to problem solving

  • Successfully adapts to changing demands and conditions

Communications
  • A highly effective communicator, with the ability to present complex issues clearly both verbally and in writing.
  • Speaks clearly, fluently and in a highly compelling manner to both individuals and groups, in both formal and informal settings. Uses appropriate style and language, which is tailored to the audience

  • Able to achieve consensus through negotiation with a range of internal and external stakeholders

  • Listens well and takes account of the perspective of others.

  • Writes in a clear and concise manner. Communications are accurate, persuasive and tailored to the audience

Relationships
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with a track record of developing strong working relationships at all levels, including the ability to quickly gain credibility and trust.
  • Experience of displaying sound political judgement, a flexible and agile thinker able to gain the confidence of internal and external stakeholders
  • Experience of successfully leading, directing and motivating a team of specialists.
  • Influences, convinces or impresses others in a way that results in acceptance, agreement or behaviour change
  • Able to build constructive, sustainable working relationships with a variety of stakeholders

  • Motivates and empowers others to meet organisational commitments, delegating appropriately

  • Excellent team working skills. Interacts with others in a sensitive and effective way. Respects and works well with others to deliver results

  • Maintains effective work behaviour in the face of setbacks or pressure.

Other factors
  • Strong personal drive and high levels of commitment

  • A willingness to work flexibly

Location and travel

This role is located in Bristol. Some travel and overnight stays may be required.