Governance Officer | Vacancy

• Full-time (35 hours/week)
• Permanent
• Hybrid working
• Starting salary £38,087 per annum
• Closing date: Monday 22 June, 23:59

About the RSE

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotland’s National Academy. Through the expertise of our Fellowship and the work of our staff, we bring together knowledge, ideas, and people to help address the most important issues facing Scotland and the wider world.

Our Fellowship of over 1,800 individuals spans academia, business, public service, the arts, and civil society. Alongside this, the RSE delivers a wide-ranging programme of research support, policy advice, public engagement, and international collaboration.

We are a collaborative, purpose-driven organisation with a strong commitment to supporting our people and promoting a positive and inclusive working culture.

Our small team is about to become a wee bit bigger. You may spot several roles advertised across the RSE this summer. These opportunities reflect investment in our people and future priorities as we grow our ambition to make knowledge useful.

About the role

We are looking for an agile, organised Governance Officer to be the glue that connects and facilitates complex moving parts across our organisation. Working closely with colleagues and committee Convenors, you will ensure our governance is translated into efficient, fit-for-purpose processes with absolute attention to detail.

This is a varied role where you will develop and manage robust governance processes and maintain the annual governance calendar to keep actions and timelines on track. You will ensure our committees running seamlessly, by providing secretariat support to several committees, from preparing agendas to capturing actions.

You will also coordinate the rolling recruitment of new members and support their induction and onboarding, ensuring all processes are delivered efficiently and in accordance with RSE Laws and Standing Orders.

About you

You will bring:

• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple interlinked committees and maintain a complex governance calendar
• Proven experience delivering high quality secretariat support, including agenda planning, paper coordination, minute-taking, and action tracking
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with confidence working closely with senior leaders, committee Convenors, and cross-functional colleagues
• A proactive and detail-oriented approach to managing timelines ensuring deadlines are met and governance processes run smoothly
• The ability to manage cyclical processes (e.g. committee member recruitment, governance timelines, business planning) with a focus on continuous improvement
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to keep stakeholders informed and coordinate across teams.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on bringing structure and clarity to complex processes, enjoys working collaboratively with senior stakeholders, and takes pride in delivering high-quality governance support with precision and attention to detail.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application via BreatheHR. At the document upload stage, please ensure you provide both required documents:

• A CV (maximum two A4 pages) outlining your relevant skills and experience
• A cover letter (maximum one A4 page) setting out your suitability for the role and your interest in working at the RSE

Applications must be submitted by 23:59 on Monday 22 June.

Interviews for this role will take place on Thursday 2 July at the RSE in Edinburgh.

Please note that the RSE is not in the position to sponsor work or student visas. Pre-employment screening will include the necessary right to work in the UK checks as well as reference checks.

If you have any questions about the role or any difficulty accessing the online form, please contact vacancies@theRSE.org.uk.

Downloads

Download the RSE Governance Officer job description (PDF, 126KB)

Benefits of working at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (PDF, 109KB)