Job Introduction
Job Title: Governance & Executive Support Officer
Starting Salary: £34,434 opportunity to progress to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Stevenage
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Resources
About the team
To provide an expert level of executive and administrative support to the Operational Governance Boards, ensuring the smooth running of the end-to-end process of decision-making at the Governance Boards and onwards input into the Executive Leadership Board. The role-holder will work closely with the Chairs and Subject Leads for each Governance Board and will be responsible for managing and maintaining a Forward Plan for the Governance Boards, ensuring the timely preparation and circulation of Board Packs, circulating outputs from the meetings, maintaining action trackers and ensuring that actions are owned and progressed.
This role is pivotal to effective decision-making at HCC, requires in-depth organisational knowledge, and the creation of effective working relationships particularly with senior leadership and at all levels of the organisation.
About the role
- Provide expert executive and administrative support to the Operational Governance Boards.
- Ensure the smooth running of the end-to-end decision-making process for Governance Boards and support onward input into the Executive Leadership Board.
- Work closely with Chairs and Subject Leads for each Governance Board to support effective governance operations.
- Manage and maintain a Forward Plan for all Governance Boards.
- Prepare and circulate Board Packs in a timely manner.
- Circulate outputs and documentation arising from Board meetings.
- Maintain action trackers and ensure all actions have clear ownership and are progressed appropriately.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships, particularly with senior leadership and Executive Support colleagues.
- Apply in-depth organisational knowledge to support informed and effective decision-making across governance structures.
About you
Essential:
- A recognised vocational qualification or equivalent plus have broad experience in this area or may be of graduate entry level with sound practical experience.
- Significant practical experience gained through working in a similar area, demonstrating a proactive, high-quality approach to supporting governance activity and a commitment to continuous improvement of board processes.
- Understanding of the organisation’s political environment.
- Understanding of the organisation’s corporate plan and key responsibilities.
- The ability to work independently, taking ownership of tasks, following through on commitments, and maintaining momentum to meet tight deadlines.
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple complex schedules, forward plans, and action trackers with attention to detail to deliver accurate record-keeping and robust governance processes.
- Experience of building professional and effective working relationships with senior stakeholders
- Excellent communication skills demonstrated through the creation of accurate board documentation and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels of the organisation.
Desirable:
- A demonstrable passion for organisational effectiveness, good governance, and continuous improvement.
- Drive, enthusiasm, and a commitment to rapid learning to develop strong governance expertise.
- Transferable skills such as coordination, stakeholder engagement, high-quality administration, or managing complex information, even if gained outside a formal governance role.
- Previous experience of contributing to, coordinating, or supporting projects, demonstrating an ability to manage timelines, track progress, and work effectively with a range of stakeholders.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is within the Business Support Services, level 9 job profile. Please locate this via:
Job profiles: Business support services
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Alex Coningsby (alex.coningsby@hertfordshire.gov.uk)
Interview Date: w/c 16th March 2026
How to apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional information
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.