Career pathway: governance coordinator level
Governance professionals working at this level combine clerking responsibilities with delivering and coordinating wider governance support through a central team.
Working at governance coordinator level
Roles at this level usually combine clerking level responsibilities with delivering and coordinating wider governance support through a central team. It also involves line management of clerks and supporting and deputising for lead governance professionals as required.
Governance professionals working at this level are more likely to be employed than self-employed and work full time hours.
Pay at governance coordinator level
There is no standard salary structure for school governance professionals. Your salary will be set by your employer and varies according to duties, level of responsibility, accountability and other factors.
Our research shows that on average a school governance professional working at this level earns the full time equivalent of between £34,000 and £37,000 per annum.
The pathway includes indicative salary ranges based on market research, analysis of job adverts and feedback from those currently working in the profession. They should be taken as a broad indication because salaries for governance professionals vary.
- The indicative salary range quoted for those working at clerking level is broadly in line with the Chartered Governance Institute estimate for a trainee governance professional in the public sector and not-for-profit organisations.
- In contrast, the indicative salary range quoted for those working as a lead governance professional is significantly below the Chartered Governance Institute estimate for a qualified and experienced company secretary.
- While pay is not the only factor that influences career decisions, it does rank highly among them. Governance professionals working in the schools’ system who link their career trajectory to pay may aspire to work in more lucrative sectors, where six figure salaries for senior governance professionals are not unknown.
- A report published by Governorhub in 2023, uses the career pathway to explore pay and working patterns for governance professionals in schools and trusts. The report includes recommendations for negotiating pay, which both governance professionals and employers might find useful.
Example roles
- governance coordinator
- senior governance professional
- deputy head of governance
- regional governance lead/team leader
At this level, you are likely to be employed by either:
- multi academy trusts as part of a central support team
- local authorities providing governance services to schools and trusts
- commercial providers of governance services to schools and trusts
What your role is likely to involve
Find out what typical tasks and areas of work you can expect to be involved in. Not every job at this level will involve all these functions but many do.
Individual job descriptions will reflect the context, scale and complexity of the organisation.
- undertaking the duties of a clerk
- being a central point of contact
- issue resolution
- quality assurance and compliance issues
- business continuity
- overseeing induction/training/professional support
- organising recruitment and deployment
- conducting appraisal and quality assurance
- governor and trustee recruitment
- hearings and appeals
- appointment and removal processes
- managing records
- delivering training and briefings
- the formal duties of a company secretary, such as filing returns to companies house
- attending meetings and hearings in an advisory capacity
- supporting the lead governance professional in their role, deputising as relevant
- due diligence and developing governance practice across a group of schools
Qualifications, knowledge and skills
In most cases, employers at this level look for a good standard of education, some experience of clerking governing boards and or coordinating governance support and compliance activity and evidence of continued professional development. As well as:
An accredited (level 3) clerking qualification is generally considered to be a prerequisite for working at this level. Governance professionals working at coordinator level are also more likely to hold or be working towards a level four qualification, such as the level 4 Certificate in Academy Governance. Qualifications should be funded by the employer or built into the cost of a service level agreement.
Gained through induction and maintained by CPD
- the schools system: structures, accountability and funding.
- governance and compliance in different school structures.
- wider compliance principles, such as data protection.
- strong listening, verbal, written communication and IT skills
- planning and organisational skills
- interpersonal/relationship building/stakeholder engagement skills
- interpreting/quality assuring advice and recognising potential risks and issues
- line management: planning and coordinating the work of others
- presentation and facilitation skills
- personal integrity and commitment to the principles of public life
- confidence and influence as a line manager, coach, mentor
- ability to take responsibility for own actions
- confidence and ability to advise your peers
- calmness under pressure
- respecting confidentiality
- confidence and resilience (to challenge when necessary)
- commitment to CPD
Your working hours and conditions
Working hours and conditions are determined on an individual basis through a contract or service level agreement. At this level they typically involve:
- full time working (approximately 37 hours per week)
- flexible working arrangements, such as banked hours and term time only
- attending meetings outside of normal office hours
- travel within a locality to attend meetings
- routinely attending a central office
- an annual performance appraisal
Development at this level
All governance professionals should receive an induction, arranged through their employer, that is tailored to fit their professional background and experience. Most access the following to maintain their CPD:
- studying for specialist governance qualifications
- attending courses
- e-learning
- engaging with professional networks
- researching specific topics and staying up to date with education developments
Governance professionals working at this level are likely to have volunteered as a school governor or trustee, and continue to govern as part of their CPD in a role which adds to their breadth of experience.
Career pathway
Lara's career story
Lara began her career as a governance professional around 7 years ago. She undertook the level 3 qualification and gained experience which earned her promotion to her governance co-ordinator role.
Watch the video to learn more about how Lara's career has progressed and her aspirations for future progression.
Governance professional jobs
Access a range of governance professional vacancies, both full and part time, which are added to on a regular basis.
