Governance Development Lead

Salary: Outer London Business Support Scale, Grade PO3\4, £47,256–£53,910, inclusive of London Weighting

Location: Copthall House, 9 The Pavement, Grove Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1DA

Working Pattern: Full-time, all year round, 36hrs per week (8.45am – 4.30pm M-Th; 8.45am – 4.15pm Fr)

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust) is a specialist multi academy trust home to 13 schools across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire.

Established in 2013 by Orchard Hill College, a post-16 specialist education provider, the Trust represents all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and has a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND.

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust provides corporate support services to Orchard Hill College.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Governance Development Lead to play a key role in shaping and strengthening governance across Orchard Hill College Academy Trust. As Deputy to the Director of Governance, you will work closely with Trustees, governors, executive leaders and school leaders to develop effective governance structures, drive continuous improvement, and ensure governance remains a strategic enabler of the Trust's success. This is an exciting opportunity for a governance professional who is passionate about leadership, organisational development and building high-performing governance arrangements that positively impact outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Governance in delivering the Trust’s strategic governance agenda and deputise as required.
• Lead governance development initiatives to enhance governance effectiveness across Trustees, Committees and Local Governing Bodies.
• Oversee governor and trustee recruitment, succession planning, engagement and diversity initiatives.
• Develop and deliver governance training, induction programmes and development opportunities for governors, trustees and governance leaders.
• Provide high-quality governance advice, guidance and strategic support to senior leaders, Trustees and governing bodies.

Key Requirements

• Significant experience supporting governance within an academy trust, education, public sector or similar governance environment.
• Strong knowledge of academy trust governance, board effectiveness, accountability frameworks and governance best practice.
• Experience leading governance development, improvement, organisational change or governance effectiveness initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, advise and challenge constructively at senior level.
• Strong strategic, analytical and communication skills, with experience producing reports, briefings and recommendations for senior audiences.

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes OHCAT a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about opportunities across the Trust and the difference our staff make every day.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date: Thursday 19th November 2026

Interviews will take place on: 24th and/or 25th November 2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.

Safeguarding Statement

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

In line with the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Trust will request and review references and carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates prior to interview as part of our safer recruitment process. Any concerns raised will be followed up with the applicant before a recruitment decision is made.