Director of Governance The Sandwell Colleges

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Director of Governance The Sandwell Colleges The Sandwell Colleges seek an experienced and skilled governance professional to lead the continued development of high-quality strategic support and compliance across our organisation.

• Location: Sandwell, West Midlands

Who we are As the largest provider of 16-19 study programmes in the West Midlands, delivering provision across three campuses, The Sandwell Colleges are committed to empowering every learner to achieve their full potential. Offering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment, the Colleges create opportunities for academic, personal and social development, preparing learners for higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

Having recently published our new strategic plan, we now have a clear roadmap which will drive our delivery through to the end of the 2028 academic year. Within this plan, we have redefined our mission to achieve excellent outcomes for all learners, ensuring successful futures for everyone. Over the next three years, our delivery will be underpinned by five primary strategic ambitions:

• Always ambitious for our learners - working towards 100% learner progression.
• Future-focused careers & skills - engaging local employers to co-create industry standard provision which leads to a pipeline of skills for now and the future.
• Powerful partnerships - civic, employer and education partners that deliver tangible impacts for our learners whilst growing our reach across the West Midlands.
• Empower our people - investing in our 'Sandwellness' wellbeing plan and to realise success as One Team.
• Financial resilience and sustainable colleges - strengthening our business model, expanding our market share and developing our estate.

Addressing the region's evolving skills gap ensures that learners develop the knowledge, technical abilities and professional competencies needed to excel in today's competitive job market.

Our inspiring team of tutors go above and beyond to help their students achieve not only their qualifications but also to guide them on their journey into work, further education, and university. Everything that we do as an organisation is underpinned by our organisational values:

• A mbitious
• R espect
• E mpower

Located in West Bromwich, Sandwell College boasts best-in-class facilities and exceptional teaching standards. Alongside delivering outstanding pass rates, we are proud to offer unrivalled mental health services and welfare support, ensuring that every student has access to the advice and guidance they need.

Highly regarded for its university-style campus and facilities, Central Saint Michael's Sixth Form offers more than 30 different courses to students. Learners can choose from core AS and A Level subjects alongside a range of specialist diplomas, creating a unique and flexible approach to learning designed to suit pupils' individual needs.

Students from the College go on to make their educational mark at Birmingham's own universities, as well as leading institutions throughout the UK and across a range of subjects.

Renowned as a centre of excellence for young people, Cadbury Sixth Form College places high-quality teaching, pastoral care, and strong student support at its heart.

More than 40 A Levels, T Levels, BTEC Diplomas and Subsidiary Diplomas are delivered by the College's specialist faculty, allowing students to build a strong skill set for the future.

The College is dedicated to creating a first-class learning environment and has recently completed the first phase of a multi-million-pound Science City development, providing a cutting-edge Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths centre.

About the role Employment Type: 0.8 - 1.0fte, Permanent.

Reporting to the Chair of the Corporation, Anne Frost, and working closely with our Principal & CEO, Lisa Capper MBE, and her executive team, the Director of Governance will play a pivotal role in upholding the highest standards of governance across Sandwell Colleges.

With a proven record of leading governance functions, you will embed best practice, ensure compliance with statutory frameworks, and enable the Corporation to operate strategically, transparently and effectively. Acting as both adviser and guardian, you will give the Board confidence in its leadership, decision-making and accountability.

A key aspect of the role is building strategic governance capacity and fostering constructive relationships with the Chair, Governors and senior leaders. You will provide authoritative, independent advice on statutory obligations, the Corporation's powers as a public body, and the implications of policy, legislative, and regulatory changes. You will also support risk, policy, board assurance and information management.

You will oversee effective governance systems, ensuring the smooth running of the annual governance cycle, accurate agendas and minutes, and proactive support for Board sub-committees. You will maintain statutory instruments, standing orders, registers and other key documentation, as well as ensure timely regulatory submissions and support for appointments, panels, and hearings.

With a Board of committed professionals, many still relatively new to the organisation, you will also lead on induction, training, and development. This will include regular skills audits, appraisals, recruitment, and a continuous focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Through this role, we aim to strengthen the Board's effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. Above all, governance must underpin the Colleges' mission: achieving excellent outcomes for learners and creating successful futures for all.

Who we are looking for Our new Director of Governance will bring a proven blend of professional expertise, credibility and personal integrity. You will hold a recognised governance qualification (such as Cert/Dip FEGP or ICSA) or demonstrate substantial experience that establishes your credibility as a trusted governance leader. While experience in the further education sector is preferred, we welcome applications from exceptional candidates who can evidence transferable expertise and articulate how their skills apply in our context.

You will have a strong grasp of corporate governance trends, company law and regulation, alongside working knowledge of GDPR, risk management, data protection, and wider statutory and compliance obligations.

The role requires the ability to operate at a senior strategic level-advising the Board and executive colleagues on complex governance issues-while building strong relationships with senior leaders, governors and stakeholders.

Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential, matched with organisational strength, resilience and the confidence to deliver clear, practical advice. Equally important are integrity, political awareness and alignment with the Nolan Principles, underpinned by a genuine commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

You will also be confident in using technology to support effective governance and able to balance independence and innovation with collaboration and teamwork.

Above all, as the organisation's moral compass, you will be a trusted ambassador for The Sandwell Colleges, bringing professionalism, discretion and visible commitment to governance of the highest standard.

Peridot Partners and The Sandwell Colleges are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Dan Baxter

Welcome from CEO & Principal of The Sandwell Colleges Dear Candidate,

Thank you for exploring this candidate pack. We hope it inspires you to apply for the role of Director of Governance at The Sandwell Colleges.

The Sandwell Colleges have flourished in recent years to become the largest and one of the most successful colleges in the West Midlands. We are proud of our reputation for high-quality learning, excellent outcomes, and outstanding features in our most recent Ofsted inspection (2022).

We are now entering an exciting new phase. Guided by our strategic plan, Your Future, Our Focus, we are responding to national, regional, and local skills priorities while developing new expertise and specialisms. Inclusion and diversity remain central to our mission as we support learners from some of the most disadvantaged communities to progress in their careers and lives.

With three campuses across Sandwell and Birmingham, plus specialist skills hubs, our learners benefit from industry-standard facilities, excellent teaching, and a supportive culture that helps them thrive. As an anchor institution, we play a vital role in driving regional economic prosperity through strong employer partnerships and targeted skills development.

Our ambition is matched by significant investment. Recent projects include a £6m Science, Technology and Advanced Engineering Centre, and new partnerships with the NHS and local universities to create a health-focused learning campus. We are also proud of our rich diversity, with over 90 languages spoken across The Sandwell Colleges . click apply for full job details