Governor Development Advisor

The Role

Do you see yourself supporting leaders to make confident, well-informed decisions?

Can you use your governance expertise to drive transparency, accountability, and excellence?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Governor Services Team is looking for a passionate and dedicated Governor Development Advisor to join our amazing team and help make a difference today.

About the Role:

As a Governor Development Advisor, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of governance across Southwark’s schools. You will act as a trusted advisor to governors, senior leaders, and boards, supporting effective decision-making and promoting a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.

In this varied and rewarding role, you will:

• Support Boards and Committees by organising meetings, preparing agendas, and producing accurate, timely minutes that clearly capture key decisions and actions.
• Manage Governance Frameworks, maintaining policies, procedures, and statutory records to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide Expert Governance Advice on best practice, risk management, and regulatory changes to support informed strategic decisions.
• Coordinate Information and Reporting, ensuring stakeholders have clear, accessible, and compliant documentation.
• Encourage Training and Development, supporting governors and senior leaders with induction, CPD, and ongoing governance training.
• Drive Continuous Improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance governance processes and embed a culture of good governance across all settings.
• Support the Traded Service, providing high-quality, timely, and responsive services to schools and governing boards.

About You:

We’re seeking a proactive and detail-oriented individual who can balance technical expertise with excellent interpersonal skills. You’ll be confident advising senior leaders and boards, and skilled at maintaining strong relationships across diverse stakeholders.

Essential qualities and skills:

• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, statutory requirements, and best practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to produce clear minutes and reports.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, able to manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical mindset to interpret regulation, assess risk, and provide sound recommendations.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to build positive and productive relationships at all levels.
• Adaptability and confidence working in a dynamic environment with changing priorities.

Desirable:

• A professional qualification in governance, company secretarial practice, or related discipline.
• Experience supporting boards or committees within a complex organisation.
• Familiarity with digital governance tools and systems.

About the Team:

You’ll be joining the experienced and highly regarded Governor Services Team, part of the Education division within Southwark’s Children’s and Families Directorate. We are dedicated to strengthening school governance across the borough by providing expert advice, development, and high-quality traded services.

• You will report directly to the Head of Governor Services.
• The role is flexible, offering a blend of home working, office working, and school-based meetings.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Donna-Marie Muir at [email protected]

Additional Information:

• Governor meetings are primarily held outside normal working hours, with around 60 meetings per year for this role.
• This is a part-time role.
• Enhanced DBS required

Benefits and more information:

Recruitment timetable

Advert close date: 11:59pm on 19 th December 2025

Shortlisting date/s: 5 th January 2026

Interview date/s: 13 th January 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme . We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.