Governance Manager

Fractional Governance Advisor

Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills.

International Trade Association

£70,000–£90,000 FTE, pro rata

Permanent, part-time – initially 10–12 days per month

An influential international trade association is seeking an accomplished governance professional to lead a significant programme of constitutional and governance reform.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Chair, Board and senior leadership team, you will act as the organisation’s principal governance adviser. You will help ensure its governance arrangements remain clear, proportionate and aligned with best practice for an international membership organisation.

A key initial priority will be leading a comprehensive review and modernisation of the organisation’s Articles of Association, By-laws and wider governance framework. You will coordinate input from senior stakeholders and work alongside an external governance consultancy or law firm where specialist support is required.

This is a permanent, fractional appointment requiring approximately 10–12 days per month during the initial governance review. The ongoing commitment will be agreed once this first phase has been completed.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the review and modernisation of the Articles of Association, By-laws and constitutional documents.
• Advising the Board, Chair, Chief Executive and senior leadership team on governance best practice.
• Reviewing the governance framework, delegated authorities, approval thresholds and escalation routes.
• Supporting Board and committee effectiveness reviews and overseeing the implementation of agreed recommendations.
• Providing governance and company-secretarial support for Board, committee and general meetings.
• Reviewing agendas, papers, resolutions and minutes to ensure appropriate governance standards.
• Overseeing statutory records, Companies House filings and compliance with relevant Companies Act requirements.
• Advising on membership, constitutional and governance-related matters.
• Supporting the development of the organisation’s risk, compliance and conflicts-of-interest frameworks.
• Monitoring developments in governance practice affecting trade associations and membership organisations.
• Producing a clear governance improvement roadmap for the next three years.

The successful candidate will have:

• Substantial governance and company-secretarial experience at a senior level.
• Demonstrable experience of leading governance transformation, constitutional reform or governance improvement programmes.
• Experience advising and supporting Boards, Chairs, Chief Executives and senior leadership teams.
• Strong knowledge of UK corporate governance, company-secretarial practice and Companies Act requirements.
• Excellent drafting skills and the ability to interpret and modernise complex constitutional documents.
• The confidence and credibility to provide independent advice and challenge constructively.
• Excellent judgement, discretion and stakeholder-management skills.
• A practical and proportionate approach to governance.

Experience gained within a trade association, professional body, membership organisation or not-for-profit environment would be particularly valuable, as would experience working with international Boards or stakeholder groups.

A legal qualification is not required. The emphasis is on substantial governance expertise, constitutional knowledge and the ability to lead a complex governance review successfully.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly credible governance professional to shape the future governance framework of an established international organisation while working on a flexible, fractional basis.

To apply, please send your CV. Due to the volume of applications, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

Membership Bespoke remains the only specialist recruitment organisation in the UK dedicated exclusively to membership-focused roles within professional bodies, trade associations, regulatory bodies and political parties.

Membership Bespoke is acting as a recruitment business in relation to this role. xwzovoh Membership Bespoke positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.