Head of Professional Services

JOB TITLE: Head of Compliance and Governance

HOURS: Full Time (35 hours per week, Monday to Friday)

CONTRACT: Permanent, Full Time

LOCATION: RLSS UK HQ, Red Hill House, 227 London Road, Worcester/ Remote working

DEPARTMENT: Charity

REPORTS TO: Charity Director

REPORTS: Compliance Manager, Governance Executive, Governance Administrator, Principal Standards Manager, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Executive, Volunteer Welfare & Safeguarding Officer

SALARY: Circa £42,000 p/a (Plus car allowance)

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Head of Compliance and Governance will be instrumental in leading the innovation around standards and will be central to managing policies and procedures as well as operational systems and management to ensure the charity is well governed and forward thinking.

You will lead a team across standards, compliance, governance, EDI and safeguarding; supporting, and developing staff and working with advisory bodies to meet these critical functions.

You will liaise with regulators to ensure that RLSS UK is responsive to current and long-term changes, responding to regulatory queries and ensuring regulatory compliance.

The role will require working across the organisation from qualification development through to customer service as well as working closely with working groups and external stakeholders to maximise opportunities and continuously drive improvement.

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance and Governance - Strategy

• As Responsible Officer (RO) be accountable for the charity’s compliance with regulation, our quality assurance framework and advising on significant incidents or risks that might arise from time to time
• Create and manage a Quality Management System including policies, procedures, IT systems and guidance, with robust implementation to set clear direction internally and externally to support and sustain regulatory compliance
• Liaise across the organisation to create effective training, learning materials and support to encourage best practice and communicate our policies
• Continuously monitor our compliance requirements with agility to ensure that we have an efficient and robust strategy
• Be the custodian of RLSS UK’s approach to risk and ensure effective management and reporting of risk

Compliance and Governance - Operations

• Lead on the management and investigation of Approved Training Centres, Trainer Assessors, and Instructors performance with regards to malpractice and/or maladministration
• Lead and provide direction and be the decision maker for sanctions applied to Approved Training Centres, Trainer Assessors, and Instructors with regards to malpractice and/or maladministration
• Lead and support the preparation for regulatory inspection and audit processes
• Lead external advisory groups and utilise external experts and relationships to ensure that we establish critical friends and are eliciting diverse thinking
• Where required, complete face-to-face compliance audits
• Represent your team at RLSS UK Trustee Governance Committee Meetings
• Oversee RLSS UK’s operational governance, most notably the facilitation of effective support of the RLSS UK Trustee Board

Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Oversee RLSS UK’s approach to safeguarding, including supporting the strategic direction of the Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity Advisory Group
• Oversee the proactive development of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion agenda

General and Management

• To always demonstrate and uphold the Society’s values and behavioural standards
• Ensure compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 by complying with internal information governance policies and maintaining up-to-date as part of RLSS UK’s compliance programme
• Proactively participate in the Society’s equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives and training, and promote a culture of respect and inclusion for all staff and customers
• To keep up to date with changes and to take advantage of learning opportunities to develop skills, expertise and knowledge
• Lead, direct and motivate a high-performing team

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of areas of activity and responsibility and will be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Relevant Skills and/or Aptitudes

• A good knowledge and understanding of regulatory criteria and conditions of recognition
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of leading a complex compliance or governance function
• Exceptional organisational skills and ability to work under time constraints to meet challenging targets and deadlines
• Ability to analyse complex problems, interpret operational needs, and develop creative solutions
• Regularly seeks to enhance systems and processes
• Must be extremely self-motivated and able to take the initiative on a range of tasks
• Be able to demonstrate good strategic awareness
• The ability to build strong working relationships both internally and externally
• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including managers, staff, candidates, clients, employers, awarding bodies, External Quality Assurers, and regulators
• Able to give feedback in an encouraging, constructive way
• A collaborative leader with a positive, solution-focused approach
• Experience at a similar level of line managing a team
• Have good computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office

Disclosure & Barring Service (known as DBS check)

• The role is subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service

Desirable Relevant Skills and/or Aptitudes

• Knowledge of RLSS UK, including its Qualifications and Awards
• Level 4 award in the External Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice or equivalent
• Previous experience of holding the role of Responsible Officer for the purposes of qualification regulation

YOUR APPLICATION

Please send your CV and a Cover Letter outlining why you should be our next Head of Compliance and Governance

Closing Date – 5 pm, Thursday 25 January 2024

Interview Date – Thursday 01 February 2024 at our Worcester Head Office