Senior Governance Advisor

We have a new and exciting opportunity to join our governance team as our Senior Governance Advisor!

We're looking for a proactive and detail-driven governance professional to play a pivotal role at Freebridge. Supporting the Company Secretary, you'll help ensure strong corporate governance, smooth Board operations, and effective decision-making - all while contributing to meaningful organisational impact.

Our Freebridge Community Housing goal is to provide affordable, safe, and quality homes for current and future generations, for those who need a place to call home. Freebridge was set up in 2006, to receive the transfer of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk's housing stock. We now have over 7500 properties across West and North Norfolk, in addition to building new homes for social and affordable rent, and to support those who want to move into shared home ownership. We've had numerous achievements, including delivering our tenants' promises and bringing homes to the Decent Homes Standard, affording our customers a much better quality of living. At Freebridge, we live by our values: Belong, Own It, Think Customer, One Team One Purpose, and Be the Change.

Requirements

Outline of key responsibilities

• Provide an efficient, high-quality governance service to support the effective operation of Freebridge
• Work closely with the Company Secretary, Chair, and Chief Executive to ensure the smooth running of the Board and its committees, including coordinating Board member induction, appraisal, training and development, and recruitment and appointment processes
• Deputise for the Company Secretary where appropriate, carrying out functions outlined in Standing Orders. This includes maintaining and witnessing the use of the Company Seal, overseeing the receipt and opening of tenders, ensuring statutory and regulatory obligations are met (in liaison with colleagues), and maintaining statutory registers
• Support the Company Secretary in maintaining high standards of governance and ensuring full compliance with relevant regulatory requirements, deputising as required
• Coordinate and support the submission of annual returns to the Regulator of Social Housing and the Financial Conduct Authority, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Support the Board in complying with an appropriate Code of Governance and Code of Conduct, and assist in addressing any areas of non-compliance
• Support governance requirements relating to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime for consumer credit
• Assist with the review and maintenance of governance documentation, including Freebridge's Rules, Standing Orders, Board Member Agreement, and governance policies, and contribute to the review of Financial Regulations where appropriate
• Maintain governance registers, including interests, fraud, and anti-money laundering requirements

We are looking for someone who has/is

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
• Strong knowledge of the housing sector and associated governance issues, gained through relevant experience
• Intermediate IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office
• Strong consultation, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders

Desirable

• A good understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Company Secretary
• A relevant professional qualification such as CGI (formerly ICSA), or a willingness to work towards this
• An understanding of data protection and DSAR process

Benefits

What's in it for you?

At Freebridge, we're appreciative of our team and you can enjoy the following benefits from joining us, among many more:

• An Annual Salary of: £41,400
• Generous Holiday Leave: Enjoy 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years of service
• Exclusive Employee Discounts: Access amazing deals through our Reward Gateway
• Comprehensive Leave Policies: Enjoy 6 months full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks full pay for paternity leave
• Health and Wellbeing Support: Access physio and counselling services, along with an employee assistance programme
• Charitable Leave: One day per year to volunteer for a cause you care about
• Discounted Gym Membership: Stay fit with discounted membership at Alive Leisure
• Pension Scheme: A great pension scheme with generous employer contributions (up to 12%)

Diversity & Inclusion:

Diversity is key to our values and culture. We create a workplace where every voice is heard and respected, embracing diverse perspectives to drive innovation. Our inclusive environment empowers colleagues, ensuring equal opportunities for all. We don't discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. We're happy to accommodate reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to enable you to perform your best. As part of this commitment, we also offer accessibility tours for candidates to help ensure an inclusive and welcoming experience from the outset.