Head of Governance & Business Administration
Closing date: 14 December 2025
Interview dates: Fri 09 Jan (first stage), Fri 16 Jan (second stage)
We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Governance & Business Administration to play a pivotal role in ensuring our organisation runs with integrity, transparency, and impact. This is an exciting opportunity to influence how one of the UK’s most ambitious cultural organisations operates as we grow and evolve.
Responsibilities
* Ensure robust governance frameworks and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
* Coordinate Board and Committee meetings including scheduling, agenda preparation and distribution of papers.
* Maintain statutory registers and file returns and documents with regulatory bodies.
* Proactively manage risk, maintaining the Company Risk register and providing quarterly updates to the Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees.
* Maintain consistency and compliance for all internal communication channels.
* Lead Business Plan Reporting, ensuring alignment across grant funding agreements and business plan KPIs.
* Oversee the annual cycle of statutory reporting to public sector funders and trustees, and respond to ad‑hoc reporting requests.
* Attend key external stakeholder meetings with the Executive Director relating to reporting against grant agreements.
* Collaborate with key Directors and Commercial Leads on funding bids to ensure commitments match internal Business Plan targets.
* Ensure legislative and regulatory compliance in all business administration systems and procedures.
* Act as lead organisational contact and budget holder for external legal support, ensuring value for money and consistency.
* Implement data protection processes, act as Data Protection Officer, and access external advice as appropriate.
* Support essential consents such as Planning, Licence variations, Building Control where required.
* Manage the relationship with the insurance broker, working with the Executive Director and Finance Director to ensure appropriate cover and regular policy reviews.
* Lead all Procurement activity, ensuring processes are followed and value for money is achieved.
* Oversee the register of planned Procurement and respond to unplanned procurement requirements.
* Control and oversee the organisation’s suite of policies and procedures, ensuring updates are managed by business owners on an agreed schedule.
Qualifications – Essential
* Demonstrable experience in developing and maintaining governance frameworks and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
* Proven experience coordinating organisational business planning and delivering statutory and grant‑related reporting to funders and boards.
* Ability to implement and maintain risk management processes, including accurate reporting to senior leadership and trustees.
* Strong ability to build relationships and influence senior internal stakeholders (Executive, Board) and external partners (funders, regulators).
* Experience leading cross‑organisational initiatives and managing change in complex environments.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing board papers, policies and reports.
* Commitment to championing representation and inclusion at every level of the organisation, with a proven ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
* Willing to obtain relevant statutory checks (e.g., DBS) – the organisation can support with processing and payment.
Qualifications – Desirable
* Previous experience operating as a Company Secretary.
* Previous experience acting as a Data Protection Officer and implementing GDPR compliance.
* Understanding of governance requirements within charitable or cultural organisations.
* Expertise in more than one of legal, data protection, procurement or company secretariat.
* Familiarity with governance and compliance in the cultural or creative industries.
* Experience supporting governance and compliance during periods of significant organisational growth or transformation.
* Enthusiasm for training, mentoring and support of emerging talent.
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