Strategic Lead for Governors – Hackney Education

Are you a strategic leader passionate about empowering school governing boards, advancing educational equity and driving high standards of governance across Hackney schools?

Hackney Education is committed to delivering exceptional education and ensuring that every school is supported by strong, effective and inclusive governance. As part of our updated School Performance and Improvement structure, we are seeking a visionary Strategic Lead for Governors to work alongside our team of Education Improvement Advisers (EIAs) to champion governance excellence across the borough.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Head of School Performance and Improvement, the Strategic Lead for Governors plays a central strategic role in delivering the local authority’s statutory duties under the Education Act 2002. You will lead on local authority governance strategy, risk assessment, advice and training to ensure school governing boards operate with robust oversight, integrity and compliance.

In this pivotal role within our new structure, you will work closely with Education Improvement Advisors (EIAs), Headteachers, Chairs of Governors and council officers to monitor governance effectiveness, intervene early in schools designated as causing concern and drive initiatives to diversify governing boards in line with Hackney’s anti-racism and inclusion commitments.

What You Will Do

Strategic Governance Leadership: Design and deliver comprehensive support mechanisms and strategies ensuring governing boards fulfill their core functions: maintaining clarity of vision and strategic direction, holding executive leaders to account and overseeing financial and educational performance.

Risk Assessment & Monitoring: Lead the development of Hackney’s governance risk assessment framework, conducting systematic monitoring, targeted support and intervention for boards in schools causing concern or undergoing structural change.

Statutory & Legal Compliance: Provide expert strategic advice on complex governance challenges, including Interim Executive Boards (IEBs), hard federations, academy conversions, MOUs/SLAs, complex exclusions, complaints and legally required Independent Review Panels (IRPs).

Drive Equalities & Diversity: Lead innovative programmes to diversify governing boards, focusing on recruiting young governors,with parent governors and community governors from Black and global majority communities and design the annual Hackney Governors’ Conference.

Governor Training & Professional Development: Oversee high-quality training, briefings and guidance for chairs and board members to keep pace with legislative changes, national strategies and best practices.

What We Are Looking For

Proven leadership and management experience in policy implementation, risk management and governance assurance within education or public sector settings.

Expert understanding of school governance frameworks, legal compliance (Education Act 2002, Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Equality Duty, Safeguarding, SEND) and current education policy.

Demonstrable dedication to embedding anti-racist, equitable and inclusive practices across governance structures.

Exceptional ability to build trusted partnerships with Chairs of Governors, Headteachers, Education Improvement Advisors and council leaders, with strong commercial and financial acumen.

Why Join Hackney?

Shape strategic governance across one of London’s most dynamic education authorities, directly benefiting children, schools and local communities.

Work as a key peer within an integrated School Performance and Improvement team alongside Education Improvement Advisers and system leaders.

Lead pioneering diversity initiatives, statutory governance strategies and high-profile borough-wide conferences.

The role requires an Enhanced DBS check

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 08 November 2026 (22:59)

Interview date: 26 November 2026

Please note – we reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high number of applications.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

Documents

• Strategic Lead for Governors JDPS