Are you an experienced governance leader ready to shape the governance culture of one of the UK's most respected universities?
Join The Open University as Head of Governance and play a pivotal role in supporting senior decision‑making, strengthening governance frameworks, and ensuring regulatory compliance across a unique and complex institution.
About the Role
The Head of Governance is a key role within Governance, Compliance and Legal Services (GCLS), responsible for delivering effective and efficient governance across the Open University. Your influencing and collaboration skills are key as you are providing direct support to the University's most senior governing bodies (e.g. Council, Senate) while overseeing standards in governance bodies whose management is delegated to other areas. The Governance Team also supports institutional compliance through reporting on regulatory requirements and managing the business continuity framework.
As a member of the GCLS senior leadership team, you will work closely with the University Secretary, and report to the Director of GCLS.
Key Responsibilities
Provide professional leadership for the University's governance arrangements, including strategic support and insight to the University Secretary and Director of GCLS.
Manage the effective performance and experience of the University's governance culture, systems, structures and processes, including leading on committee planning and governance effectiveness reviews.
Manage committee membership, including elections, appointments, inductions and development, ensuring appropriate and sufficient representation of constituent bodies.
Oversee the annual cycle of business, managing the induction and development of committee members and enhancing governance across the University.
Ensure that all committees operate effectively, facilitating internal and external effectiveness reviews and audits as appropriate and ensuring the implementation of recommendations.
Be responsible for the standards for committee servicing across the committee secretary network ensuring they are maintained to the highest level through the provision of information, advice, training, reporting and proactive auditing of practice.
Ensure institutional compliance with external regulatory requirements and best practice as they relate to governance.
Support institutional compliance with external regulatory and legislative requirements, including through oversight of Prevent reporting and oversight of internal reporting on OfS compliance.
Working with the University Secretary, oversee the University's approach to business continuity, providing assurance and oversight of institution-wide and local plans.
Provide leadership and people management of a professional services team creating a culture of growth, inclusive working practices, high engagement and motivation.
Work with the GCLS senior leadership team on joint delivery of the Unit Business Plan, People Plan, objectives and KPIs.
About You
Comprehensive understanding of higher education governance within the UK and demonstrable experience of servicing formal committees.
Understanding of the higher education regulatory and legislative context in the UK, including the OfS's regulatory requirements.
Experience of managing an operational service delivery team and a commitment to excellent customer service.
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail with the ability to work to tight and/or changing deadlines and achieve required outcomes.
A proven ability to build successful relationships and networks within a large, complex organisation.
Proven ability for strategic thinking, problem solving, innovating and embedding new ways of working within a team.
High capability for working on own initiative, exercising judgement across a broad area of responsibility with effective communication skills adaptable to a range of internal and external audiences.
Personal integrity with the capacity for a high level of discretion, diplomacy, tact and resilience.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on or email quoting the advert reference number.
Why Join The Open University?
At The Open University, we champion accessible education, innovation and inclusive working. Joining us means contributing to an organisation with a powerful social mission and helping to strengthen the governance that supports it.
Our benefits include:
33 days annual leave, on top of bank holidays and a three-day Christmas closure period.
Access to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions.
Staff Fee Waivers for OU study, meaning you could earn a degree for free.
Hybrid working, with limited requirement to attend the office in-person, with agile working and family friendly policies.
Discounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunities.
Ready to make a meaningful impact?
Apply now and help shape the future of governance at one of the UK's most innovative and mission‑driven universities.