Corpus Christi College
Cambridge

Job Description

Job Title:

Head of Governance

Department:

Bursary

Responsible to:

The Bursar

Purpose of Job:
To  ensure  the  College's  governance  structures  and  processes  operate  smoothly,
transparently, and in line with all statutory and institutional frameworks providing support
and guidance to the College’s leadership and Governing Body.

Duties and responsibilities:

Governance

1.
•  Develop annual schedules of business for Governing Body, Executive Body and other key

committees of College as required;

•  Produce  draft  agendas  for  approval  by  Committee  Chairs  in  consultation  with  the

secretaries of Committees as required;

•  Ensure business at Governing Body and Executive Body is conducted in accordance with
the College’s Statutes and Ordinances, advising the Master, as the Chair, as required;
•  Draft  minutes  in  a  timely  fashion  for  approval  by  Committee  Chairs  and  subsequent

dissemination to College Officers and Committee Members;

•  Draft  and  circulate  action  logs  from  Governing  Body,  Executive  Body  and  other  key

committees;

•  Act as Secretary, for Governing Body and Executive Body, and providing administrative
support for other Committees, Working Groups, Project Groups and Advisory Panels as
required by the Master and/or Bursar;

•  Maintain  the  formal  records  of  the  Executive  Body  and  Governing  Body  (the  Chapter
Books); electronic records of College committee minutes; and information for trustees;

Compliance

2.
•  Work  with  the  Bursar  to  keep  under  review  the  College  compliance  with  the  Charity

Governance Code bringing any changes to the attention of Senior Officers;

•  Act as Charity Contact of the College for the Charity Commission, maintaining the College’s
entry  on  the  Charity  Register,  and  providing  updates  and  information  to  the  Charity
Commission if requested or required;

•  Refine and maintain a register of College policies including owners, dates for review and

committees responsible for approval;

•  Conduct a regular review of polices to ensure that policies are aligned and not incongruent

with the College’s Statutes and Ordinances;

•  Ensure compliance with FOI obligations including coordination of responses for approval

by the Bursar;

Head of Governance October 2025

•  Ensure  compliance  with  broader  statutory  and  regulatory  processes  including  duties

arising from PREVENT and Freedom of Speech;

•  Provide support and advice to the Bursar and Heads of Departments to ensure contracts

and licensing are compliant with relevant legislation;

•  Oversee the College’s register of interests and conflict of interest policy;
•  Provide support to the Dean of College;
•  Provide  support  for  any  formal  College  Disciplinary  Proceedings,  including  acting  as
secretary  of  the  Discipline  Committee,  the  Appeals  Committee  and  the  Statute  52
Committee;

•  Assist the Bursar in the development and maintenance of the College Risk Management
Framework and in the work with College Officers, Fellows and Heads of Department to
embed it across the College; and,

•  Assist  the  Bursar  in  the  maintenance  the  College  Risk  Register  ensuring  appropriate

committees contribute to the identification and management of risks.

Fellowship Administration

3.
•  Administer all paperwork and correspondence concerning the election and admission of
new  Fellows,  including  contracts  of  employment  and  registration  with  the  Charity
Commission of Fellows as trustees;

•  Oversee notices of election and annual Fellowship returns for The Reporter; to edit and

issue the College Register at the start of each term;

•  Liaise with the Chief Clerk/Finance Office and Accommodation Office for the issuing of
Fellows’ leases/licenses for accommodation and monitoring of living out allowances/rent
discounts; liaise with the Accommodation Office in the implementation of the allocation
of Fellows’ office and residential accommodation;

•  Administer Fellows’ confidential files on election, terms of contract, sabbatical leave;
•  Liaise  with  the  Bursar  to  ensure  that  all  new  Fellows  receive  an  appropriate  induction

including with respect to their roles as Charity Trustees.

4.

General

Health and Safety
All staff must adopt a responsible and proactive attitude towards health and safety and to
comply with any procedures as required by the College in order to ensure the health and
safety of themselves, their colleagues and any other persons that may be affected by their
actions.  They must be prepared to undertake any training provided in relation to health and
safety or which is identified as necessary in relation to their work.

College Staff Values
To uphold the College Staff Values of Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Creativity.

Safeguarding
A  commitment  to  safeguarding  our  students  and  staff  and  complying  with  the  College’s
policies related to this.

The above is not an exhaustive list, and the post holder may be expected to undertake other
related duties as required by the Bursar. The list of duties may be subject to revision at the
end of the probationary period.

Head of Governance October 2025

Person Specification

Criteria

Essential  Desirable

Education/Qualifications
•  Educated to degree level.
•  Governance qualification, e.g. ICSA.
Knowledge/Experience
•  Experience of managing all aspects of committee meetings including agenda,

minutes and actions.

•  Experience in an academic/ educational environment.
•  Experience of managing governance arrangements in a charity.
Skills
•  Accuracy and attention to detail.
•  Excellent  organisational skills  with the  ability  to adapt quickly  to  changing

priorities.

•  Good time management and prioritising skills.
•  Effective oral and written communication skills.
•  Experience of taking minutes at meetings.
•  Accurate typing skills.
IT Skills
•  High level of IT skills.  Microsoft Office Suite, E-mail.
Personal Qualities
•  Ability to work with and communicate with various people at all levels.
•  Discrete, confidential, diplomatic and approachable.
•  Ability to use initiative and independent judgement.
•  Good negotiating and influencing skills at all levels.
Physical/Special Requirements
•  Flexibility with hours and a willingness to work extra hours at peak periods.
•  Due  to  the  age  and  layout  of  the  college,  there  are  a  number  of  steep

staircases and areas of restricted access.

✓

✓

✓
✓

✓
✓
✓
✓

✓

✓
✓
✓

✓
✓

Issued by Department Head

……………………………………Name

✓

✓
✓

✓

……………………………………Signature

…………………………………….Date

Accepted and Understood by Postholder

…………………………………….Name

…………………………………….Signature

…………………………………….Date

This job description will be reviewed periodically when additions and amendments may be made.

Head of Governance October 2025