Governance Manager, Transformation (FCSF135)
Governance Manager, Transformation (FCSF135)
Contract: 12-month fixed term contract, working 35 hours per week (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)
Salary: £38,689 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.
Location: Manchester (The role will be based in Manchester; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)
Introduction
We are looking for a Governance Manager to join our Corporate Services Directorate and play a key role in strengthening governance and assurance across Arts Council England’s transformation programme.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a growing Programme Management Office (PMO) function, helping to establish clear, proportionate governance that supports effective decision-making, risk management and delivery confidence across a portfolio of complex change initiatives. You’ll be part of a collaborative and evolving team focused on improving how we oversee and enable change across the organisation.
Arts Council England invests in creativity and culture so that everyone in England can experience and benefit from it. Joining us means being part of a mission-driven organisation that values inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Role Details
In this role, you will lead the effective governance and assurance of transformation activity across Arts Council. You’ll work closely with programme and PMO leadership, delivery teams and service owners to ensure governance frameworks are clearly defined, consistently applied and proportionate to the organisation’s needs.
You will take ownership of the day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of transformation governance, ensuring that standards, controls and decision-making structures are well understood and effectively embedded across programmes and projects.
You’ll provide oversight of transformation activity, helping to assess delivery confidence, risk, dependencies and alignment to strategic priorities. This will include ensuring that issues are surfaced early and that governance forums are supported with clear, high-quality insight to enable effective decision-making.
A key part of the role will be shaping clear, accessible reporting and assurance. You’ll translate complex delivery information into meaningful, decision-ready insight for a range of audiences, including senior leaders, using plain English and focusing on what matters most.
You’ll work closely with stakeholders across the organisation, acting as a bridge between delivery teams and senior leadership—maintaining independence while enabling effective delivery within agreed governance frameworks.
We’re looking for someone who brings experience of working in governance, assurance, portfolio or PMO environments within complex organisations, ideally involving transformation or change. You’ll be confident operating within governance structures, providing constructive challenge, and working effectively across organisational boundaries.
Strong communication skills are essential, along with the ability to adapt your approach to different levels of delivery maturity. A sound understanding of project and programme management principles, including agile ways of working, will help you succeed in this role.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.
If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website here
We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.
About us: Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more, click here.
Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
We believe our recruitment process should be inclusive and transparent. Find out what to expect with our application Guidance: How to apply and recruitment selection process | Arts Council England and more about our commitment to diversity on our website here.
To view the job description please click here
To view the recruitment pack which outlines more details about working for Arts Council please click here
Job ref: FCSF135
Closing date: 09:00am, 08 April 2026
1st Interview: (virtual) 15 April 2026
2nd Interview: (virtual) 24 April 2026
Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk
