Chartered Governance jobs

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) launched in April 2026 with a clear and ambitious mission: to make work fairer for everyone. We bring together key powers to protect workers, support responsible businesses, and take decisive action against exploitation. Today, we regulate employment agencies, license gangmasters in the agricultural and horticultural sectors, tackle serious labour abuse and modern slavery, and enable enforcement of the National Minimum Wage.

But this is just the start.

With new powers under the Employment Rights Act 2025, we are expanding our role even further. We are building the capability to ensure workers receive what they are entitled to, from holiday pay to statutory sick pay, and strengthening the system so that rights are not just set out in law, but actively upheld in practice.

Our approach is bold and practical:

• We empower workers, ensuring they understand their rights and can easily access support and raise concerns
• We make it easier for businesses to comply, simplifying processes and helping responsible employers do the right thing
• We take firm action against those who exploit workers and undercut fair competition

This is a unique opportunity to join an organisation at the very beginning of its journey. You will help shape how we operate, influence our culture, and play a direct role in improving outcomes for millions of workers and employers across the UK.

We are looking for people who are curious, collaborative and driven by making a real difference, people who want to build something that matters

The Head of Governance will provide leadership and oversight of the organisation’s governance framework, performance reporting, risk and assurance functions.

The role will ensure that robust governance arrangements are in place to support effective decision-making across the organisation, including the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and the FWA Advisory Board, supported by the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).

The post holder will lead delivery of high-quality corporate reporting, including performance reporting and contributions to the Annual Report and Accounts, ensuring transparency, accountability and alignment with sponsor department requirements.

This role is critical in ensuring the organisation operates with strong governance, effective oversight, and clear accountability—underpinning delivery of strategic objectives and maintaining confidence with ministers, the sponsor department, and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership and Management

• Build, lead and develop a multidisciplinary governance team of c.9–10 staff, setting clear direction, priorities and standards.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative culture with strong professional capability across governance, performance reporting, and assurance.
• Provide visible leadership across the organisation on governance best practice, influencing senior stakeholders and working closely with the Chief Executive.

Governance Framework and Corporate Governance

• Design, implement and continuously improve the organisation’s governance framework, ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures.
• Ensure effective operation of governance structures, including:
  • Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
  • FWA Advisory Board and sub-committees (including ARAC)
• Lead the development and maintenance of key governance documents, including terms of reference, framework agreements and governance statements.
• Ensure governance arrangements align with wider public sector standards and requirements.
• Provide strategic oversight and leadership of secretariat functions supporting the Advisory Board and ELT.
• Ensure high-quality forward planning, agenda setting, and paper clearance processes.
• Support senior leaders in bringing robust, evidence-based proposals to governance forums.

Performance Reporting and Corporate Reporting

• Lead the organisation’s performance reporting framework, ensuring clear, accurate and timely reporting of organisational performance.
• Oversee production of regular performance reports for ELT, Board and sponsor department (DBT).
• Work with the Corporate Services Directorate on the coordination of the Annual Report and Accounts, including ownership of the governance and performance content.
• Ensure performance data is used effectively to drive strategic decision-making.
• Work with colleagues from across the organisation to improve the quality of the performance data and work with the sponsor Department to develop new KPIs for the organisation from 2027.
• Support the development of the Strategy and annual Business Plan.

Risk management and assurance

• Lead the organisation’s risk and assurance framework, ensuring effective identification, management and escalation of strategic and operational risks.
• Promote a strong risk management culture across the organisation, supporting Directors and senior leaders.
• Oversee development and maintenance of the organisation’s risk registers.
• Ensure regular reporting of risk and assurance to ELT, ARAC and the sponsor department.
• Manage the relationship with internal audit.
• Lead ongoing development of governance, reporting and assurance processes, ensuring they remain proportionate, efficient and effective.
• Ensure lessons learned from audit and assurance activity are embedded across the organisation.

Sponsorship and external accountability

• Act as a key interface with the sponsor department (e.g. DBT) on governance, performance reporting and assurance matters.
• Ensure compliance with sponsorship arrangements, including reporting requirements and governance expectations.

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with the essential criteria

Essential criteria:

• Experience of leading governance, performance reporting, or risk and assurance functions in a complex organisation.
• Experience of operating at senior level, advising and influencing executive or board-level stakeholders.
• Experience of developing and implementing governance frameworks and corporate reporting processes.
• Experience of leading and developing teams, with strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing ability, particularly with senior leaders and evidence of working across organisational boundaries.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, concise reporting.
• Good understanding of risk management and assurance frameworks.
• Experience supporting boards or committees (e.g. ARAC).

Desirable criteria:

• Experience working in an arm’s length body or government environment.
• Knowledge of public sector governance requirements (e.g. Managing Public Money).
• Experience of delivering an annual report and accounts.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@fairworkagency.gov.uk