Contract: Permanent

Salary: Grade H, £31,022 - £33,699 per annum pro rata (pay award pending)

Actual salary: approx. £21,033 - £22,848 per annum

Hours: 30 hours per week, 38 weeks per year (term-time only)

To start: September 2026

We are seeking to appoint an experienced and knowledgeable Governance Professional to lead governance across SMART Schools Trust. This is a key role within our Trust Shared Services team, providing expert advice and support to our Board of Trustees, Members, and Local Governing Committees across our schools.

You will be the first point of contact for Trustees and Governors on governance, constitutional and procedural matters, ensuring the Trust Board is properly constituted and operating in accordance with legislation, the Academy Trust Handbook, and best practice. You will lead on statutory and regulatory compliance, manage the governance cycle, and support the development of governance frameworks across the trust. You will also line manage our Assistant Governance Professional.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in an education governance setting, a thorough understanding of the regulatory framework for academy trusts, and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders with clarity and authority. Strong organisational, communication and administrative skills are essential. Due to the meeting schedule, flexibility to work some evenings will be required.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Andrea Howard, Chief Financial Officer, by email ahoward@smart-trust.net.

Please download details of this post and an application form below:

Application Form

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

Job Description – Governance Professional to Trust Board and Local Governing Committees

Trust Information Pack

The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 29^th June 2026.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 8^th July.

Please email completed application forms to hr@smart-trust.net

We are unable to accept applications made via CVs or applications from agencies.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.