Governance Officer (Grade E2)

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Edinburgh

About the job

Job summary

SFC is seeking an experienced Corporate Governance Officer to ensure that the SFC adheres to the high standards expected in the public sector.

The Corporate Governance Officer will work with the Senior Governance Officer and Deputy Director Governance and Planning to deliver a comprehensive and professional corporate governance and secretariat service to the SFC Board and its committees as well as ensuring that SFC Board members are effectively supported. 

The Corporate Governance Officer will support the provision of a professional, confidential and high quality administrative and logistical support service to SFC’s statutory committees to include agenda production and management, timely production of committee papers, advanced minute taking and follow-up of actions as required from meetings.

The Corporate Governance Officer will primarily assist in the establishment, coordination, maintenance and ongoing development of a range of corporate governance processes and systems, which ensure statutory and regulatory compliance.

An experienced corporate governance professional, you should have experience in managing an evolving governance and secretariat function and bring a dynamic and proactive approach to committee engagement. You will have an in-depth knowledge of governance principles and be able to evidence a proactive working style, anticipating and managing strategic issues effectively. You should have strong influencing skills and the ability to provide expert governance advice and support to SFC’s senior team and Board. You will be expected to work flexibly across the responsibilities of the corporate governance team, stepping in to provide cover and support when required to ensure deadlines are met. A keen understanding of the strategic context within which SFC is operating will be key to success in this role.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• To assist the Senior Governance Officer and Deputy Director Governance & Planning to provide administrative support to the SFC Board committees. This will include planning meeting dates, the preparation and distribution of agendas papers, action logs as well as minute-taking, paperless board portal access, administration and query management, booking of venues/ rooms and making appropriate catering arrangements.
• Monitor the correct drafting and formatting of committee papers and ensure their timely dispatch to members.
• Maintain systems to support the accountability of SFC and good practice in governance and openness, including the register of SFC Board/ Committee members’ interests, biographies, the receipt of gifts and hospitality, expenses, relevant budgets, the operation of the SFC’s codes of conduct, lengths of terms of office, and freedom of information relating to relevant papers.
• Assist with the on boarding and induction of Board members, including the collation of a comprehensive induction pack.
• Provide comprehensive and detailed briefings for Committee Chairs, Board members and the Chief Executive as appropriate.
• Under the supervision of the Senior Governance Officer, support the process for the maintenance, development and implementation of key corporate governance procedural documents in respect of the effective operation of the SFC Board committees and the wider corporate governance structure and ensure that these are visible to staff/ public as appropriate.
• To work flexibly across the wider team, including supporting Board member development and engagement events and activities and policy administration.
• Provide other support to the Deputy Director, Governance & Planning (Secretary to the Board), drawing on relevant skills and experience.

Person specification

It is important through your CV/ Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria

Essential:

• Experience in delivering effective and excellent committee and senior executive secretariat process and functions, taking a strategic approach.
• An excellent understanding of the principles of good governance and good practice in corporate governance.
• A well-developed understanding of the political and governance context in which SFC is operating.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience of writing high quality minutes and reports and drafting high level briefing notes for senior executives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build effective relationships, work collaboratively with senior leaders and take account of others’ perspectives.
• Ability to work autonomously, take ownership of work and prioritise tasks and time appropriately.
• Demonstrable political acuity and highly tuned emotional intelligence, coupled with a proven track record of implementing effective governance systems.
• Demonstrable evidence of tact and diplomacy and the ability to deal with confidential matters with discretion.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, including the ability to work calmly and at pace under pressure while maintaining attention to detail and the flexibility to manage a divers range of priorities and react to change.
• Competent in the use of standard office IT packages such as Microsoft 365 with the ability to learn to use other packages which may be introduced from time to time.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,686, Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council contributes £10,175 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.
• Annual leave entitlement of 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 2 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro-rata.
• A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home anywhere in the UK for some of the time while also maintaining regular in-person contact with colleagues. 
• Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation-proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.
• Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service-Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website. 
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.
• We provide support to SFC employees with Volunteering Days.
• Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest-free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first-come basis.

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : [email protected]
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

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