Executive Support & Governance Lead
Role: Executive Support & Governance Lead
Responsible to: CEO
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks
Salary: Grade 6 - £29,064.69 per annum
ABOUT KEELE STUDENTS' UNION
Keele Students' Union (Keele SU) is dedicated to empowering every student to be who they want to be and make a difference in the world. Our strategic plan for 2025-2028 focuses on preparing students for life after Keele, helping them have fun and make friends for life, and supporting them through their university challenges. We are committed to sustainable practices, inclusivity, and diversity in everything we do.
We are a £6.6m turnover registered charity (CIO), with a trading subsidiary registered with Companies House, and employ over 40 full-time career staff and 4 full-time Sabbatical Officers. Together, we represent, support and enhance the experience of around 14,000 students at Keele University.
Like many Students' Unions and higher education institutions, we are navigating challenges due to the current economic climate, the evolving needs of our members, and the global impact of conflicts. However, we are determined to use this new plan as a strategic stepping stone to grow and achieve our ambition of becoming one of the "top 10" Students' Unions. If you're excited by this opportunity and eager to contribute to our transformation, we'd love to hear from you!
You can find out more about Keele SU on the links below:
OUR VISION
Empower every student to be who they want to be and make a difference in the world.
OUR MISSION
Through the delivery of our quality support, activity, representation, entertainment, and value-for-money services, we will ensure that you are a part of a community which is inclusive, where you can grow in confidence and simply be students.
OUR VALUES
We are Global Citizens
We lead with ambition and inspire positive change, serving as role models for both people and the planet. We champion sustainable practices, inclusivity and diversity in everything we do. By empowering students, we prioritise environmental, ethical, and social sustainability while ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, supported, and represented, regardless of their background.
We Challenge & Collaborate
We strike a dynamic balance between challenging the University to improve the student experience and collaborating to create transformative change. As a critical friend, we always put students first, fostering collaborative partnerships within Keele's vibrant learning community to drive growth and success.
We Unlock Potential
We are committed to providing leadership opportunities and creating an environment where students can discover their strengths, unlock their full potential, and build lifelong friendships. Through a collaborative approach, we focus on empowering students to find their people and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime, leaving a lasting impact on each individual.
OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
We promise to prepare you for life after Keele
We aim to inspire every student at Keele to recognise the skills and behaviours they have developed, unlocking their potential through active engagement with the Students' Union, contributing to their growth and success.
We promise to help you have fun and make friends for life
We foster a dynamic and welcoming community within our vibrant University, where you can discover your people, build meaningful connections, and create unforgettable moments that lead to lifelong memories and friendships.
We promise to support you through your University challenges, every step of the way
We empower you through student leadership roles, collaborate with the University, and advocate for your needs, ensuring a transformative and sustainable approach to wellbeing and support at Keele.
OUR COMMITTMENT TO DIVERSITY
Keele SU is committed to diversifying our Board and actively encourages applications from individuals who define as one or more of the following: Black, Asian, Women, LGBTQ+, and disabled. We believe that a diverse Board will better represent and serve our student community.
BENEFITS
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 42 days annual leave (30 days leave, bank holidays and 5 discretionary Christmas vacation days)
- Keele Gym and Potteries First Bus Pass Loan scheme
- Student Union discounts
- Annualised hours
- Staff parking permit
- Super friendly staff team!
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Executive Support & Governance Lead is responsible for coordinating the systems, processes and relationships that underpin effective leadership, governance and organisational delivery across Keele SU. The role provides high-level executive support to the Chief Executive Officer, Elected Officers and Leadership Team, ensuring priorities are well planned, meetings are effectively coordinated, and leadership activity is aligned with both internal and University processes. A core focus of the role is ensuring strong organisational alignment, supporting teams to understand strategic priorities, tracking progress, gathering evidence of impact, and providing clear reporting back to the Leadership Team to support effective decision-making. The post-holder will lead on governance coordination, ensuring the effective operation of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee through high-quality planning, structured documentation, clear action tracking and compliance oversight. This includes maintaining statutory records and completing required updates and submissions to the Charity Commission for England and Wales on behalf of the Board of Trustees. The role acts as a central point of coordination for leadership and governance information, ensuring accuracy, consistency and version control across organisational reporting and documentation. In addition, the role will support cross-organisational compliance activity, particularly in relation to Health & Safety, working closely with the COO to ensure effective oversight, reporting and follow-up across all teams. The post-holder is expected to promote a culture of forward planning, accountability and timely delivery, reducing last-minute activity and strengthening organisational discipline. This is a collaborative, cross-organisational role requiring strong organisational judgement, excellent interpersonal skills, and the confidence to provide constructive challenge and manage upwards to ensure delivery. |
INTERVIEW PROCESS
Interviews will be conducted in person or online. Keele SU does not wear formal attire, and we encourage candidates to wear what is comfortable and/or their traditional attire. We welcome all people from all backgrounds and aim to create an inclusive and supportive environment.
HOW TO APPLY
Please complete the application form on the recruitment portal by: 23rd May 2026, 17:00pm
Interview Date: Week commencing: TBC
Please see the full Job description and Person Specification for full details about the role.
Details
£29,064.69 - £31,379.96 per month
Location: Keele, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 5BJ, GB