GOVERNANCE PROFESSIONAL

Permanent, part time

25 hours per week x 39 weeks per annum (with potential for additional hours)

CHULMLEIGH ACADEMY TRUST

Grade E: £15.82 - £17.47 per hour – depending on experience

Required from February/March 2026

Chulmleigh Academy Trust is a family of academy schools, which includes Chulmleigh College, Chulmleigh Primary School, East Worlington School, and St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School. Our aim is to provide the highest quality education for the children and young people in our care at every stage, with exceptional teaching in a supportive, friendly, and safe environment.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, organised Governance Professional who will provide advice and administrative support to the Board of Directors and its individual members on governance, constitutional and procedural matters. The ideal candidate will have the ability to prioritise, demonstrate excellent management and communication skills and will need to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and discretion.   

This will be an exciting time to be joining an experienced and well-established Trust as the governance structure evolves to incorporate a new local governance model.  This will give the candidate a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference by supporting Trustees in shaping how the new level of governance operates in practice – therefore making the role their own.  The candidate will work closely with the Trust’s highly experienced Chair of Directors and will be fully supported by receiving a structured and in-depth handover from the experienced Clerk to the Directors.  Full training will be provided.

The successful candidate is expected to be highly proficient in both verbal and written communication, and the use of ICT. Comprehensive support will be provided to ensure a smooth introduction to this key role.

The role is available from February, but we are keen to appoint the best candidate and have some flexibility regarding the start date.

Main responsibilities include:

• To arrange meetings assisting with preparation, collation and distribution of associated papers.
• To facilitate effective and efficient meetings and strategic governance, recording governing board challenge, actions and decisions via concise and accurate minutes.
• To ensure governance is compliant with the relevant legislation and requirements in accordance with the Trust’s Master Funding Agreement, Articles of Association and Schemes of Delegation and complies with company and charity law.
• To facilitate and coordinate the induction process for new governors and promote governor training, succession planning and recruitment based on the skills required to fulfil the Board of Directors three key roles.
• To draft complex correspondence on behalf of the Directors and Senior Leadership Team.
• To serve as Company Secretary.

Further information including main duties across all areas of responsibility is contained within the Candidate Pack available in the attachments section below.

Employment benefits include eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. In addition, employees of the Trust are entitled to receive a 50% discount on childcare fees at our out of school clubs for children of compulsory school age.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and access for all, irrespective of age, background, race, gender, religion, ability, disability, or sexuality. We welcome applications for employment from the whole community.

Details of the application process are contained in the Candidate Pack.  Completed application forms to be emailed to personnel@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk by 10 am on Thursday, 29 January 2026.  All applications will be acknowledged.

As employers, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and in that regard, we have appropriate policies and procedures.  All staff undertake a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and interviews will include questions about safeguarding children.

In line with Government guidance, we may carry out online searches against shortlisted applicants’ names as part of our due diligence checks.

Closing date: 10 am on Thursday, 29 January 2026

Interview Date: Thursday, 5 February 2026