About the Role
This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape governance across a whole local authority system. As Governor Development and Compliance Lead, you will hold a dual role: working closely with the service manager, you will provide visible, high-quality leadership of the governance service within the wider school improvement and governance team, while also delivering county-wide strategic impact through governance improvement, compliance and development.
You will lead a skilled governance team, ensuring schools receive consistent, authoritative advice and support, and that governance arrangements across maintained schools are robust, compliant and effective. Alongside this, you will work closely with Regional Education Partners (REPs), headteachers and governing bodies to strengthen governance practice, build capacity, and respond to emerging risks and priorities.
You will act as a trusted and credible professional, building strong relationships across schools and partners, and ensuring governance is both well-assured and genuinely impactful.
About you
Leading governance that is both compliant and purposeful, you will provide strategic leadership for governance compliance and assurance across the maintained sector, ensuring there are clear, consistent frameworks and systems in place that enable governing bodies to operate effectively, transparently and within statutory requirements.
A core part of the role is to equip and support Regional Education Partners (REPs) to work confidently with schools and governing boards. You will provide high-level professional advice, guidance and escalation routes, enabling REPs to support schools through governance challenges, complexity and intervention with clarity and consistency.
This includes developing the overarching approach to governance casework - covering areas such as governance breakdown, complaints, and structural or leadership issues - and providing expert input at key points, while ensuring day‑to‑day support to schools is delivered through REPs as part of the wider school improvement system. Through this model, you will ensure governance is strategically aligned, well‑assured and coherently delivered, with REPs acting as the front‑facing system leaders, supported by your expertise and oversight.
Governance is not simply about compliance – it is about ensuring strong accountability, informed decision‑making, and better outcomes for children and young people. Therefore, alongside compliance and assurance, you will take strategic responsibility for the governor development offer across the county.
You will design, commission and quality assure a coherent, high‑quality training programme for governors and clerks, ensuring it reflects statutory expectations, emerging priorities and best practice. This will include developing targeted training in key areas such as safeguarding, finance, accountability and leadership, as well as ensuring the offer is accessible, impactful and responsive to need. Through this, you will play a central role in building strong, confident and effective governing bodies.
Rewards and Benefits
* Lead and shape a high‑impact governance service at a system level
* Combine operational leadership with strategic influence
* Work closely with senior leaders and system partners across education
* Make a tangible difference to governance quality and school outcomes
* Help embed a coherent, high‑quality model of school improvement and assurance
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi‑time, part time working, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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