We are recruiting for an interim Company Secretary to work as a Governance Manager working within the Company Secretariat team on the publicly funded High-Speed Rail project in the UK this is a multi-billion-pound high-speed railway, which is a quasi-government, large, corporate entity.
 

Role Purpose

The Governance Manager will support the Company Secretary and the Deputy Company Secretary to develop, implement and improve the corporate governance structure and processes and manage the operational support provided to governance entities within HS2 Ltd to assure high quality outcomes, right first time.

The Governance Manager will also support the Company Secretary and Deputy Company Secretary in providing a full range of company secretarial and related services for HS2 Ltd, its Board, Board sub-committees, the Executive Committee and its sub-committees in order to minimise exposure and risk.

Reporting to the Company Secretary the Governance Manager will be tasked predominately with the company secretary duties associated with board meetings, and other meetings committees and panels.  Ensure board packs are timely produced, minutes taken and minutes published – with the experience to know when to redact politically sensitive information.

MUST HAVE RECENT EXPEIRENCE

• Company Secretary experience working within public sector, arm’s length body or FTSE listed large corporate company and hence have experience of considerable corporate governance.
• Ideally Chartered Company Secretary or Master qualified - ICSA OR ACG OR FCG OR FCIS
• Experience with board portal software (any sort).
• Coordinate, manage and prepare for Board Meetings – board packs, minute taking, produce board reports etc.

Work Situation

• The office location is Birmingham Snowhill (preferable) although open to London, Euston they operate a flexible hybrid working model working 2 day in the office - 3 from home.  Overall, this is a very flexible modern employer who cares about delivery not where you deliver from, however, if you wish to be based front the office more you can.

DAY RATE:                  £500 - £550 a DAY INSIDE IR35

Duties & Responsibilities

• The Governance Manager will support the Company Secretary and Deputy Company Secretary to develop, implement and improve the corporate governance structure and processes and manage the operational support provided to governance entities within HS2 Ltd to assure high quality outcomes, right first time.
• The Governance Manager will also support the Company Secretary and Deputy Company Secretary in providing a full range of company secretarial and related services for HS2 Ltd, its Board, Board Sub-committees, the Executive and its sub- committees in order to minimise exposure and risk.

The Governance Manager’s accountabilities are as follows:

• Responsible for the activities allocated to the ‘Governance Manager’ role, such activities to facilitate a high quality of decision making and the accurate and timely issuing of information.
• Continuous review of the governance arrangements for effectiveness and efficiency
• Participate in team meetings to provide specialist guidance on governance, to assist colleagues and to enable the implementation of policy, projects and change initiatives.

• Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

Required Criteria

Looking for an experienced Company Secretary with 5+ years’ experience will have worked within the Public sector, arm’s length public funded organisation or FTSE listed large corporate company and hence have experience of considerable corporate governance.  Ideally you will be a Chartered Company Secretary or Master qualified - ICSA OR ACG OR FCG OR FCIS.  You will have experience with board portal software (any sort) and good level of IT competence.  Have coordinated, managed and prepared for Board Meetings – board packs, minute taking, produce board reports etc.

Looking for a confident professional Company Secretary who can move into the Company Secretariat team at HS2 and hit the ground running.

SKILLS

• Ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, with ability to influence and offer constructive feedback
• Organised approach to work, able to balance adherence to process with the flexibility to assure a successful outcome.
• Ability to carry out issue and conflict resolution.
• Ability to produce and present information to a wide range of different stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, demonstrating integrity and diplomacy at all levels.
• IT skills for example Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
• Ability to provide attention to detail and quality control.

KNOWLEDGE

• Understands ‘best practice’ for corporate governance in a quasi-government, large, corporate entity.

TYPE OF EXPERIENCE

• Experience in implementing governance process for matrix-type organisations with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in drafting and presenting reports and briefings to a senior executive audience.
• Ability to provide company or committee secretarial services to given deadlines, and with minimal supervision
• Experience in dealing with and successfully influence key individuals at all levels.
• Experience in managing quality control for content and presentation of papers to Board and committees.
• Experience with board portal software (e.g., AdminControl, BoardPad, Board Vantage, etc).