The Association Secretary helps people with sight loss to live the life they choose by ensuring that the charity remains compliant with company, charity and regulatory requirements, so that it can continue to provide services to the sight loss community. The association
secretary ensures that Trustees are adequately advised in order to lead, govern and manage the organisation.
We're committed to enabling our staff to work where best suits the needs of the individual, their team, and the organisation. We want our staff to flourish and work in environments which maximises their potential and best serves our stakeholders.
This role requires regular participation in Trustee and Board meetings. Trustee meetings are primarily held in London, with occasional sessions at other organisational locations. Board meetings take place approximately 50% of the time in our London office, with the remaining meetings hosted at various other sites. Some meetings may require overnight stays.
In total, there are 23 scheduled meetings annually. In addition to attending these, the successful candidate will be expected to work from our Hillfields location 1–2 days per month
We offer a generous pension scheme, annual leave, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.
Diversity
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.
We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
Candidate requirements
To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;
• Fully qualified CGI practitioner, or qualified legal or financial practitioner with relevant extensive Company Secretarial experience.
• The jobholder will be expected to maintain membership of the relevant professional bodies and to demonstrate commitment and active participation in continuing professional development (CPD)
• The technical content of the role is high, requiring substantial experience of working as a company secretary at a senior level. Sound knowledge and experience of effective corporate governance and best practice, legal and regulatory requirements including data protection.
• Proven track record of challenging and advising at Chair/Board/CEO level.
• Sound knowledge and practical application of Company Secretarial governance and compliance function.
• Experience of the application of Data Protection law into business processes
• Ability to influence and advise Trustees and senior managers, balancing legal and governance requirements against the practical application and implementation of strategic decisions, without compromising or undermining Guide Dog's strategy.
• An ability to use personal judgement and influencing skills to highlight and challenge issues.
• Ability to work unsupervised, retaining high self-motivation, initiative, and drive, as well as working effectively in teams across all levels.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information in an easy and accessible manner both verbal and written to others as detailed above, instilling confidence throughout.
• Ability to conduct whistleblowing/fraud/corruption investigations.
• Excellent committee support skills including minute writing.
For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.
Key dates
• Applications open 12th September 2025
• Applications close 13th October 2025
• Week commencing 20th October – First stage interview
• Week commencing 27th October – Second stage interview
How to apply
Applications should be made to Adam Skalsky at BWW Recruitment.
Guide Dogs and BWW are committed to supporting candidates who
are disabled or have additional needs. If you require any support with your application, please contact or