Governance Officer

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust

Salary: NJC SCP 23–28 (£34,434 – £39,513 per annum)

Hours: 37 hours per week, full-time, all year round (including evening meetings)

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Governance

Location: Trust Headquarters, Port of Liverpool Building, Liverpool, with regular travel across SJCMAT schools

Start Date: September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter

Shape the Future of a Growing Catholic Multi Academy Trust

Are you an organised and ambitious governance professional looking to make a lasting impact across a growing family of schools?

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional Governance Officer to join our growing central governance team at an exciting stage of our development.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in delivering effective governance across a growing Catholic Multi Academy Trust. Working alongside the Head of Governance, school leaders, governors and external partners, you will help ensure governance operates efficiently, lawfully and to the highest professional standards.

You will provide professional clerking, governance administration and compliance support while helping to shape governance systems that will support our schools as the Trust continues to grow.

About St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust

SJCMAT is a growing family of Catholic schools serving communities across the North West. Inspired by our mission to provide the highest quality Catholic education, we are committed to ensuring that every child flourishes academically, spiritually and personally.

As our Trust continues to expand, strong governance is essential to ensuring our schools remain effective, accountable and focused on delivering the very best outcomes for children. This role offers the opportunity to develop a rewarding career in governance while making a genuine contribution to the future success of our schools.

Why this role stands out

Build Your Governance Career

Join a growing governance team and benefit from funded professional development, governance qualifications and opportunities to progress as the Trust continues to expand.

Make a Real Difference

Support the governance arrangements that enable our schools to thrive and help ensure effective decision-making across a growing family of Catholic schools.

Develop Broad Governance Experience

Gain experience across clerking, compliance, governor development, governance administration, data protection and Trust growth activity.

A Mission Worth Serving

Join a Catholic Trust rooted in faith, service and community, where your work will contribute directly to improving educational outcomes for children and young people.

What you will lead

The successful candidate will provide support for:

1. Clerking Local Governing Body meetings and governance panels
2. Agenda preparation, minute taking, action tracking and procedural advice
3. Governor recruitment, elections, induction and training coordination
4. Maintenance of statutory registers, governance records and compliance systems
5. Governance administration and policy review processes
6. Data protection administration, Subject Access Requests and Freedom of Information requests
7. Complaints, admissions, exclusions and disciplinary panel administration
8. Governance training events and governor development activities
9. Governance due diligence and onboarding processes for schools joining the Trust
10. Governance compliance across the Trust and support for internal audit activity

We are looking for someone who:

1. Has experience of clerking, minute taking or supporting formal meetings in a professional environment
2. Possesses excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail
3. Can communicate confidently and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders
4. Has an understanding of governance, compliance or formal decision-making processes
5. Is highly organised and able to manage competing priorities effectively
6. Has strong written communication skills and the ability to produce accurate records
7. Is committed to high standards of service, professionalism and confidentiality
8. Shares our commitment to safeguarding, integrity, excellence and continuous improvement

What we offer

1. Funded governance qualifications and professional development opportunities
2. A clear career pathway as both the governance team and Trust continue to grow
3. A professional and collaborative working environment based within our landmark headquarters at the Port of Liverpool Building
4. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
5. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
6. Reimbursement of eligible business travel expenses
7. A supportive team culture rooted in Catholic values
8. The opportunity to make a tangible difference to the governance and success of our schools

Informal and Confidential Discussion

We recognise that opportunities such as this often prompt questions about the role, governance within SJCMAT and the exciting future of our growing Trust.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the position, please contact:

Khalil Mohammed

Chief Financial and Strategy Officer

✉️ KMohammed@sjcmat.co.uk

📞 0151 332 6717

Khalil would be delighted to discuss the role, the Trust's growth plans and the exciting opportunity this position offers to build a successful career in governance within SJCMAT.