Governance Manager

Governance Manager

6 month initial contract

The Governance Manager is responsible for supporting effective governance, control, and assurance arrangements within projects, programmes, or portfolios. The role ensures that governance processes are applied consistently and proportionately, enabling informed decision making, transparency, and compliance with organisational and government standards.

Working closely with Project and Programme Managers, business stakeholders, and assurance functions, the postholder will coordinate governance activity, maintain accurate reporting, and support the smooth operation of governance forums. This role plays a key part in ensuring risks, issues, dependencies, and decisions are visible, controlled, and managed appropriately.

The role is suited to someone with strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and experience working within structured delivery or corporate governance environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the effective operation of governance arrangements across projects, programmes, and portfolios, ensuring alignment with organisational standards.

• Apply governance processes, controls, and documentation consistently and proportionately, maintaining oversight of decision-making and ensuring all actions and outcomes are clearly recorded and tracked.

• Ensure compliance with relevant project delivery frameworks, policies, and assurance requirements, supporting the maintenance of robust governance structures.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date logs for risks, issues, dependencies, and assumptions, ensuring comprehensive tracking and visibility.

• Coordinate the production of regular governance and performance reports for boards and senior stakeholders, providing timely and accurate information to inform decision-making.

• Track actions and follow up in advance of governance forums, supporting Project and Programme Managers as required.

• Plan, coordinate, and support governance meetings, including the preparation of agendas, papers, and briefing packs.

• Record decisions, actions, and key discussion points, ensuring a clear audit trail and monitoring the completion of actions, escalating concerns where necessary.

• Act as a central point of contact for governance queries from delivery teams and stakeholders, providing guidance and support.

• Support assurance activity, including internal reviews, audits, and gateway processes, and coordinate the collation of evidence to demonstrate compliance with governance and delivery standards.

• Assist with the implementation of recommendations arising from assurance or audit activity.

• Work collaboratively with project teams, business stakeholders, and assurance functions, building effective working relationships to facilitate consistent and timely governance activity.

• Communicate governance requirements clearly and assist colleagues in meeting compliance expectations.

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in a governance, project support, programme support, or delivery management role.

• Understanding of governance, control, and assurance processes within a structured environment.

• Experience maintaining risk, issue, dependency, and action logs.

• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities.

• Ability to produce clear, accurate reports and meeting documentation.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience working within project, programme, or corporate governance frameworks.