Role Profile Job Title: Governance Manager Salary: up to £55,000 pro-rata depending on experience (20 hours per week) Annual Leave: 30 days per annum, pro-rata. What’s the role? The role holder’s primary function will be to provide an effective governance service to Homes in Somerset (HiS). Supporting the Chief Executive and Board, the postholder will deliver all aspects of the company secretary role, supporting the Chair and Chief Executive to deliver a high functioning board. The role will also deliver against all aspects of governance and data security across HiS with a specific focus on information governance. The role is a key liaison point for the Board and will pick up duties as required by the Chief Executive and Chair. The role holder therefore must be flexible and reactive to the needs of the Chief Executive and Chair to deliver actions commensurate with the level of their responsibility across the organisation. The role will report to the Chief Executive. What will I have to do? The specific accountabilities of this role will be flexible and change to meet the needs of the organisation as required but will include (or be equivalent in nature to) those listed below: Governance Provide robust company secretarial support for the Homes in Somerset Board and Committees, to include: Ensuring all the governance arrangements across HiS operate effectively. Ensuring board members are effective in their role and creating strong relationships with them. Maintain an affective and compliant governance framework, reviewing and advising as necessary. Maintain an effective training and development programme for board members which will include 360-degree appraisals and coaching as appropriate. Manage the onboarding and induction processes for board members, committee members and co-optees. Fulfil the role of Company Secretary (training provided as necessary). Ensure agendas, minutes and reports are in the correct format (agendas will be managed by the Executive Assistant Draft reports (as appropriate). Attend all board meetings and produce accurate, timely minutes and action trackers. Work with the Chair and Chief Executive to review current arrangements for the assembly and distribution of board papers, implementing new systems if required. Attend Audit & Risk, Development and the Sedgemoor Tenants’ Assurance Committee (STAC) meetings as required. Maintain an effective forward plan for all governance related matters. Prepare written resolutions and shareholder consents and obtain approvals as required Act as point of contact for Board and committee members to provide advice on the governance process to ensure probity and effective decision making. Provide input to the content of Board away days and Spotlight sessions. Meet with Chief Executive and Chair as required. Monitor compliance with regulatory standards, self assessments and applicable codes of governance. Lead on the completion of all company returns, e.g. Companies House statutory returns, ensuring that they are filed in an accurate and timely manner. This will include completing any Director changes with Companies House. Maintain and update the governance section of HiS strategic risk register as well as maintaining the register of interests for directors. Implement appropriate governance software to improve engagement and efficiency of board members. Information Governance Ensure that HiS has effective processes in place for managing key governance requirements. Ensure that the organisation responds appropriately and within statutory guidelines to, as a minimum, freedom of information requirements, subject access requests, GDPR requirements, data breaches and all other relevant information governance matters. Policies and Procedures Be responsible for ensuring that key governance-related policies and procedures are kept up to date through a programme of service reviews. This will include ensuring that all policies and procedures comply with equality and diversity and legislative requirements, as well as guidance and best practice. General Always adhere to HiS policies and procedures. Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating your own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development. Undertake as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required. Attend and contribute to team meetings and other meetings as required (this role exists independent of a leadership team). Other Duties The role will undertake other duties as required and emerging from wider management team discussions that may be cross cutting for the organisation as a whole. The role will be supported by the Executive Services team in the delivery of wider cross cutting duties. What do I need to be successful? Experience Extensive knowledge and practical experience of corporate governance work (preferably in a public sector/social housing organisation) and an understanding of co-regulatory requirements. An understanding of the legal/regulatory/best practice requirements of social housing providers, limited companies and charitable organisations. Experience of fulfilling the role of Company Secretary (ideal but not essential as training can be provided). Strengths Having a political acumen and personal sensitivity that allows potential issues to be anticipated and managed effectively. Being highly organised and able to plan and work autonomously to meet deadlines, ensure other people deliver and foresee/navigate problems themselves (deal with the unexpected). Being able to give reliable advice and make sound, evidence-based decisions - working within agreed levels of delegation. Strong planning skills, with good experience of leading small to medium-scale projects across governance services. This role requires great communication and organisational skills, the ability to challenge and interrogate, provide robust advice and guidance and work accurately in a fast-paced environment. The post holder will need to be resilient, focussed and knowledgeable in these specialisms. Thinks strategically with a strong awareness of the organisation’s vision and how it achieves its priorities. A high degree of flexibility with good experience of managing change in ambiguous, fast-moving environments across multiple business areas. Requirements The duties of the role will be carried out in line with the Homes in Somerset Hybrid Working Policy. It is a condition of employment that the role holder can attend the office as required to attend face to face meetings in order to fulfil the obligations of the role. The duties of the role will involve travel to board meetings on a regular basis and travel to committee meetings as required. It is a condition of employment that the role holder can exercise satisfactory travel mobility to fulfil the obligations of the role. This post is subject to a criminal records disclosure check. Experience of working effectively under pressure and meeting tight deadlines with a commitment to ensure things happen as they are supposed to. An ability to deliver change and improvement in an effective and timely manner, ensuring stakeholders remain engaged throughout. Excellent ICT skills and knowledge of the functions within a range of Microsoft applications and other IT systems, including Office 365/SharePoint. Skills & Competencies Leadership Lead by example in accordance with the company values (focused, innovative and trusted). Operate with honesty, integrity and openness. Take accountability for yourself. Contribute to and support the wider corporate agenda. Take ownership of issues, instil a “can do” attitude and always act in a professional manner, with honesty and integrity. Bring a real resilience and commitment to the Company. Customer Focus Put internal and external customers at the heart of what we do and engage fully and effectively with our tenants and other customers. Deliver a right first-time customer focused service, to our internal and external customers at all times. Treat our customers with respect and provide a fair and consistent service. Focus on Performance and Excellence Create a high-performance culture that provides an excellent value for money service Stay up to date with best practice and align your approach accordingly. Consistently deliver results to a high standard. Set clear targets and objectives for your service area. Encourage innovation and support a learning, no blame culture. Collaborative Work with wider teams and clients to deliver success, do not operate in a silo environment. Value a team approach to projects and challenges within your role. Be an effective communicator. Engage with board members and colleagues regularly, provide support and involve them in the work of the Company. Qualifications The following qualifications and experience are essential and desirable: Essential - Significant governance experience in a similar role for 3 years. Desirable - Company Secretary (training provided if necessary however postholder must be successful in their qualification).