Education Governance and Compliance Officer

Come and join us and Make a difference

Are you someone who cares deeply about helping schools flourish? Do you enjoy bringing clarity, integrity and support to complex processes? Would you like to play a key role at the heart of our diocesan work with 230 schools and academies?

We are looking to appoint an Education Governance and Compliance Officer to join our committed and highly supportive Education Team. This is a new and vital role that underpins much of the statutory, strategic and relational work of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE).

You will work closely with the Director and Deputy Director of Education to lead diocesan support for school governance, admissions, academy conversions, and DBE approval processes, ensuring our schools and trusts receive expert guidance and that all legal and compliance requirements are met. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys precision, problem‑solving, partnership working and enabling others to succeed. As a new role within our team, you have the chance to make it your own.

About the Role

In this role, you will:

Be the lead diocesan officer for governance and admissions, offering clear, responsive and practical advice to headteachers, governors, clergy and MAT leaders. Oversee our academy conversions and governance compliance, coordinating with legal teams, multi-academy trusts, local authorities and the Department for Education. Support and administer the work of the Diocesan Board of Education, including agendas, papers, minutes, approvals and statutory processes. Maintain accurate governance records, oversee foundation governor appointments and ensure all changes are recorded efficiently. Develop guidance, templates, training materials and briefings that help schools navigate complex statutory duties with confidence. Work collaboratively as part of a small, dedicated team committed to the flourishing of Church of England schools across the region. Every day is different and offers opportunities to support schools, strengthen systems, and contribute to the Diocesan Education Team's wider impact.

What we offer

A friendly, welcoming and collaborative team who work openly and supportively. Opportunities for professional development and growth within a learning‑focused culture. The package includes a competitive salary, flexi-time scheme, an 8% non-contributory pension with an additional 5% matched contributions, hybrid working (50%), Cycle to work scheme, EV salary sacrifice scheme and 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays and four customary days a year (between Christmas and New Year). Who we are looking for

We would love to hear from you if you:

Bring experience in governance, compliance, legal frameworks or education policy. Have excellent attention to detail and the ability to analyse and interpret statutory requirements. Communicate clearly, confidently and professionally with a wide range of people. Enjoy building strong relationships with schools, governors and partners. Are committed to the mission and ethos of the Church of England and the flourishing of all our schools. If you want to contribute meaningfully to the life of our schools and help ensure the highest standards of governance and compliance, this could be the role for you.

We’re committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. That’s why all our vacancies are shortlisted anonymously, removing personal details from applications to ensure every candidate is assessed purely on their skills and experience.

How to apply

Further details or to apply for this role please use the link below. https://pathways.churchofengland.org/en/jobs/education-governance-and-compliance-officer/3587

Closing date: Thursday 30th April 2026 Shortlisting: Tuesday 5th May 2026 Interviews: Friday 22nd May 2026 Location: Church House, 17–19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX

To arrange an informal discussion or to find out a little more, please contact the Diocesan Director of Education, Simone Bennett: simone.bennett@leeds.anglican.org

Our Values

The Diocesan values, Loving, Living, Learning, are vital to the way we encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We aim to:

Love God, the world and one another. Live in the world as it is, but, drawn by a vision of something better, we want to help individuals and communities flourish, Learn when we get things wrong, by listening and growing together

The Diocese of Leeds is proud to be a Living Wage Employer

Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance (The Board) is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and the workplace and in avoiding unlawful discrimination. Accordingly, the Board will ensure that recruitment and selection, training and development, and promotion procedures result in no job applicant or employee receiving less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, class or caste, religious belief or lack of religious belief (unless this is an occupational requirement), disability, trade union membership or non-membership, gender or sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, responsibility for dependents or being a part-time or fixed-term worker. The Board’s objective is to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities.

For clergy applying to this role, your Area/Suffragan Bishop must be informed of your applications at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, you must seek a Diocesan Bishop’s Licence in order to be eligible for a new role, and please be aware that granting a licence is subject to a CCSL from your Area/Suffragan Bishop.

The Diocese of Leeds is currently unable to sponsor candidates without the Right to Work in the UK. Candidates must have Right to Work in the UK to take up this role.

To download a copy of our policy for the recruitment of ex-offenders from the diocesan website, please click on the below link:

https://www.leeds.anglican.org/vacancies