Governance Officer

Hybrid - York (Expectation of attending in person in one of our York offices for at least 2 days per week)



Permanent, Full Time (35 hours per week)

About the role

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Governance Officer to support the effective governance of Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) and Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).Working across the JRF Group, but principally with the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust Board and its sub-committees, you will advise on changes to policy and practice to ensure that we achieve the highest standards of good governance, including ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. You will provide high-quality governance support, including ensuring that our board and committee meetings are well-planned; supporting the chair in running them effectively; and producing high quality and accurate minutes.

The role has two primary duties:

• To ensure the smooth running of JRHT governance meetings (including Board meetings, and associated committees) including preparation for and efficient running of the meetings and follow up activity, working closely with the chair and the JRHT leadership team


• To play a full part as a member of the JRF Governance Team in ensuring that our governance across the JRF Group demonstrates the highest standards of transparency and accountability and is compliant with JRF and JRHT's charitable objectives and regulatory requirements

About you

As our Governance Officer, you will have an excellent working knowledge of governance principles and practice, particularly in relation to Registered Housing Providers, Community Benefit Societies, Charities and Companies Limited by Guarantee.

With in-depth knowledge of organisational governance within a registered housing provider, you will be able to maintain effective communications with the Executive, Chair and Board Members, and to form relationships that engender trust and openness. Able to maintain complete confidentiality, you will be highly professional and take a transparent approach to supporting and challenging Board Members on matters of governance.

Other requirements include:

• Experience of and confidence in working with senior-level boards


• Being highly organised with significant administration experience


• Ability to take high-quality, accurate minutes


• Excellent English language skills


• The ability to make good decisions and solve problems to improve the service the team provides.


• Very high level of competency in using standard software packages (including Microsoft 365) and experience of using meeting pack production software


• The ability to quickly interpret and translate data.


• High level of competency in time management skills

How to apply

If you share our passion and this role sounds like you, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Please submit your CV and supporting information via our online application platform.

The closing date for applications is 12th June 2025.

Interviews will take place in York on week commencing 7th July 2025.

We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.

Additional Information

Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background.

We positively encourage applications from people from marginalised backgrounds, including but not limited to those with experience of living in poverty.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and operate an anonymised recruitment process so that bias is eliminated from the shortlisting process.

In support of our approach to flexible working, we are happy to receive applications from those seeking full-time employment, as well as those who may want to share the role on a part-time basis. When making your application, please state whether you want to be considered for either full or part-time work and, if part-time, the number of hours per week you would be looking for.

At JRF we’re at our best when we’re continually building on trust, showing we care and making a difference – and hope others will do the same. So, for those roles which allow it, we’re developing a more blended approach to how and where you work. This means you can expect to work flexibly between the office and home (with an expectation of two days a week in your home office).

We encourage you to read our EVP, which is located here: https://jrf-jrht-brand.frontify.com/share/7C1kD2FusMtEVnje2ijA

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you have any additional needs and need reasonable adjustments to be made to the interview process, please let us know.