Secretary to Governing Body and Council

Secretary to Governing Body and Council

Reports to:

Principal

Contract:

Part-time 0.6 - 0.8 FTE

The Role

The Secretary supports the Principal, the Bursar and Senior Tutor in ensuring that Homerton
College meets its governance and regulatory obligations and that its internal structures operate
effectively, transparently, and in accordance with the highest standards of accountability.

Supporting Council, the Governing Body, and key College committees, the postholder will help to
guide governance processes, ensure compliance with statutory requirements, and advise senior
leadership on governance and policy matters.

This postholder will Chair the Statutes and Ordinances Committee which is responsible for the
ongoing revision of the College Statutes and Ordinances. In addition, there may be ad hoc projects
that involve collaborating with senior colleagues to enhance the College’s governance framework.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Governance and Compliance

•  Act as Secretary to Council and the Governing Body preparing agendas, briefing materials, and

accurate minutes.

•  Key member of the Fellowship committee which makes recommendations to Governing Body

and Council regarding the senior membership of the College.

•  As a member of the Governance Working Group, regularly review and ensure governance

processes comply with the College Statutes, Ordinances, and relevant regulatory requirements
(e.g. Charity Commission).

•  Oversee the training and development of the College’s trustees so that:

i.
ii.

they are properly briefed on their legal duties; and
receive regular induction and refresher training to discharge their responsibilities
effectively

•  Maintain and update key policies and procedures including the Fellows Handbook.
•  Provide advice and guidance on governance matters to the Principal, Bursar, Fellows, and other

stakeholders.

•  Maintain up-to-date trustee information and register of interests

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•  Advise on proper process regarding the resolution of conflicts and disputes between members

of the Governing Body or Council.

•  Manage the process by which trustees and statutory officers are elected.

Regulatory and Statutory Oversight

•  Oversee compliance with external regulatory requirements, including the completeness and

timeliness of submissions such as statutory returns to the Charity Commission.

•  Monitor developments in higher education regulation and governance best practice, advising on

implications for the College.

Committee Support and Internal Coordination

•  Coordinate the work of Council and Governing Body, ensuring effective scheduling,

membership, and decision-making processes.

•  Plan, publish, and manage the annual governance calendar, aligning committee schedules,

statutory deadlines, and key reporting cycles to ensure timely decision-making and compliance
throughout the academic year

•  Ensure Council performs a timely review of the purpose, relevance, and effectiveness of all
College committees, ensuring each has a clearly defined remit and continues to serve its
intended function.

•  Facilitate smooth communication and information flow between governance bodies and senior

leadership.

•  Support the induction and training of Fellows and committee members on governance

responsibilities.

Fellowship Administration and Registrar Duties

•  Maintain and update Fellowship records, liaising with the University to ensure accurate

reporting and upkeep of the Regent House roll.

•  Manage Fellowship titles, appointments, and induction processes.
•  Advise Fellows on their privileges, rights, and responsibilities.
•  Produce and update the Fellows’ Handbook and ensure accurate representation of Fellows in

College publications and communications.

Strategic and Project Leadership

•  Chair the Statutes and Ordinances Committee.
•  Play an active role in the College’s strategic planning process, ensuring priorities are clearly

articulated, approved through appropriate governance channels, and embedded into committee
workplans.

•  Establish systems to monitor and track progress against these priorities, preparing regular
reports for Council and Governing Body and advising on adjustments where required to
achieve outcomes.

•  Represent the College in external governance forums and networks.

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College Data Protection Lead

•  Work closely with the Data Protection Officer at Intercollegiate Services Ltd as the Data

Protection Lead for Homerton College.

•  Ensures effective management, accountability, compliance and assurance for all aspects of data

protection compliance in the College, including:

o  Personal data incident reporting and management;
o  Staff training and awareness;
o  Manage subject access requests; and
o  Oversee Data Protection Impact Assessments.

Person Specification

Essential requirements

•  Degree or equivalent qualification.
•  Significant experience of governance in a complex organisation (e.g., higher education, charity,

public sector, legal, or similar).

•  Strong knowledge of charity governance, statutory compliance, and legal processes relevant to

trusteeship and higher education regulation.

•  Excellent organisational, communication, and drafting skills, with strong digital literacy.
•  High attention to detail, with tact, discretion, and political sensitivity.
•  Ability to work proactively and independently, managing multiple priorities and deadlines

efficiently.

•  Systems- and process-focused, with proven ability to deploy modern technologies to improve
governance administration and a willingness to explore AI-enabled solutions for efficiency.
•  Collaborative and approachable, with proven ability to engage and influence a wide range of

stakeholders.

Desirable requirements

•  Legal training or a qualification in Charity Law, Governance, or a related field (e.g.,

ICSA/Chartered Governance Institute).

•  Knowledge of the University of Cambridge or collegiate university governance structures.
•  Experience managing or overseeing data protection, information risk, and regulatory

compliance frameworks.

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