Job summary
We are looking for a full time (36 hours) Board Governance Manager in
the Planning and Governance team, to manage our Board (the Authority), the
Audit and Governance Committee and other subcommittees. This is an interesting
and wide-ranging governance role, incorporating meeting preparations, minuting,
and ensuring new members are inducted well.
The HFEAs office is at 2 Redman Place, Stratford, London. This
post is offered as your choice of either office based (in which case you need
to attend the office at least once per week) or home based with occasional
office attendance (you can be asked to attend the London office up to three
times per month).
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will also ensure that external members and advisers for various committees are recruited and appointed in a timely way, and will lead our annual review of governance arrangements and committee effectiveness, including regular updates to our Standing Orders. Other aspects of the role include arranging annual training for members, working closely with Chairs to ensure agendas and meeting arrangements work well for them, providing expert advice and information on governance matters, and line managing the Executive Assistant to the Chair and Chief Executive, with oversight of their work.
The purpose of this role is to ensure that our meetings and minutes are
of a high standard, so that Board and committee decisions are taken and
recorded well, with members feeling well supported, and to ensure that our
Board and other meetings operate in accordance with our Standing Orders.
About us
The HFEA is
the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in
fertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics
carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.
This post is
offered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend the
office at least one day per week) or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified by
your line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, east
London, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongside
several other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybrid
working we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1.
Lead on
corporate board-level decision making and governance, including the servicing
and minuting of Authority meetings, the Audit and Governance Committee and
Remuneration Committee, ensuring a high quality and responsive service to
members and working closely with the Chairs.
2.
Lead
and run the process for recruiting, appointing, inducting and developing board
and committee members, external licensing panel members, and a range of external advisors and co-optees in
accordance with their contracts, terms of office, HFEA policies and the
requirements of each entitys terms of reference.
3.
Lead on
maintaining and updating all records and standard operating procedures relating
to Board and committee members appointments, their terms of office, register
of interests and biographies, associated website information, and advisers, advisers
contractual paperwork and all associated induction and information packs.
4.
Lead on
providing governance information and data for key reports and enquiries including
the HFEAs Annual Report.
5.
Lead on
ensuring up to date and appropriate governance policies, practices and tools,
including Standing Orders. Run an annual
review of committee effectiveness and implement the agreed outcomes of the
review.
6.
Manage
the Executive Assistant to the Chair and Chief Executive, the annual scheduling
of committee dates, and the forward workplan for Authority agendas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1.
Lead on
corporate board-level decision making and governance, including the servicing
and minuting of Authority meetings, the Audit and Governance Committee and
Remuneration Committee, ensuring a high quality and responsive service to
members and working closely with the Chairs.
2.
Lead
and run the process for recruiting, appointing, inducting and developing board
and committee members, external licensing panel members, and a range of external advisors and co-optees in
accordance with their contracts, terms of office, HFEA policies and the
requirements of each entitys terms of reference.
3.
Lead on
maintaining and updating all records and standard operating procedures relating
to Board and committee members appointments, their terms of office, register
of interests and biographies, associated website information, and advisers, advisers
contractual paperwork and all associated induction and information packs.
4.
Lead on
providing governance information and data for key reports and enquiries including
the HFEAs Annual Report.
5.
Lead on
ensuring up to date and appropriate governance policies, practices and tools,
including Standing Orders. Run an annual
review of committee effectiveness and implement the agreed outcomes of the
review.
6.
Manage
the Executive Assistant to the Chair and Chief Executive, the annual scheduling
of committee dates, and the forward workplan for Authority agendas.
Person Specification
Managing work
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, with diplomacy and the ability to influence. Credible and able to deal comfortably with key individuals at all levels
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills with a systematic approach combined with attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively .
- Ability to make reasoned judgments and decisions
- Ability to keep calm in stressful situations
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Qualification in corporate governance or as a company secretary
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at a senior level including managing a governing board
- High level experience of producing publicly published minutes of complex meetings to a high standard and of managing multiple formal committees in a public sector organisation
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective, robust governance policies and procedures to ensure that the Authority and its Committees run smoothly
- Experiencing of managing committee terms of office and member recruitment
- Maintenance of detailed, high quality records and collection of regular updates to ensure continued accuracy
- Experience of liaising with senior staff and board members
- Experience of line managing and developing staff
- Track record of excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience of working closely with team members and others to deliver a flawless governance service
Desirable
- Specific experience of inducting and training new committee members advisers
- Specific experience of managing an audit or finance committee
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- Good working knowledge of corporate governance practices and public sector transparency requirements
Person Specification
Managing work
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, with diplomacy and the ability to influence. Credible and able to deal comfortably with key individuals at all levels
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills with a systematic approach combined with attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively .
- Ability to make reasoned judgments and decisions
- Ability to keep calm in stressful situations
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Qualification in corporate governance or as a company secretary
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at a senior level including managing a governing board
- High level experience of producing publicly published minutes of complex meetings to a high standard and of managing multiple formal committees in a public sector organisation
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective, robust governance policies and procedures to ensure that the Authority and its Committees run smoothly
- Experiencing of managing committee terms of office and member recruitment
- Maintenance of detailed, high quality records and collection of regular updates to ensure continued accuracy
- Experience of liaising with senior staff and board members
- Experience of line managing and developing staff
- Track record of excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience of working closely with team members and others to deliver a flawless governance service
Desirable
- Specific experience of inducting and training new committee members advisers
- Specific experience of managing an audit or finance committee
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- Good working knowledge of corporate governance practices and public sector transparency requirements
