Senior Governance Manager (Ethics & Standards)

Application Deadline: 22 March 2026

Department: Governance

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: HQ - Leatherhead

Reporting To: General Counsel

Compensation: £80,000 - £90,000 / year

Description

Provide leadership and hands-on management of the governance process, which involves the investigation of complaints regarding  Federation Representatives across England & Wales. This will require an in-depth understanding of employment law, Police regulations, and PFEW policy, as well as having strong background in managing complex complaints and stakeholders. The Governance Senior Manager will manage the team and will support the General Counsel with the instruction of external solicitors and partners, for matters relating to PFEW legal issues and interests. 

This role is hybrid, working in the office a minimum of 2/3 days per week. 

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the subject matter expert on all governance matters, providing advice on all matters of employment law, policy, and Police Regulations  
• Build and manage effective relationships with external and internal solicitors and partners, under the direction of the general counsel
• Navigate through complex complaints and determine the best way to achieve resolution .  This will include developing strategies for resolution,  based on compliance with policy, law  and good governance practice
• Carry out initial assessments on complex complaints and supervise the team handling initial assessments of other complaints
• Commission investigations and act as a professional sounding board for investigators, to ensure their work is impartial, thorough and aligned with regulatory standards
• Manage and lead a team of governance professionals and investigators, many of them contracted and independent resources
• Identify and assess resourcing needs to keep governance investigations concluded in a timely manner and provide the leadership to meet those requirements (business cases, recruitment, etc)
• Undertake investigations directly when required and work collaboratively with other functions/department heads to ensure a coordinated and effective approach
• Identify emerging risks  and collaborate with colleagues in instances where a strategy needs to be developed to protect the work and reputation of PFEW, such as social media or communication strategies where appropriate
• Advise on performance issues at a Local and National levels, in a fair and consistent manner
• Collate and analyse management information on governance and performance trends to inform remedial actions, training needs and organisational improvements 
• Work with Branch Officials and Headquarter Managers to ensure a consistent and standardised approach to all performance and governance matters
• Liaise with Professional Standards Departments within Forces on overlapping/parallel investigations
• Maintain comprehensive decision -making records so there is consistency in advice and decision making, which will build member confidence in the governance process
• Undertake any additional duties to ensure the effective running of governance
• Maintain close oversight of team activities to ensure all governance tasks are carried out diligently and to a high professional standard in line with the principles of natural justice

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Be a qualified Solicitor and hold an SRA practising certificate or alternatively possess equivalent qualifications or experience demonstrating comparable legal/regulatory experience
• Ability to work with the highest levels of confidentiality managing  sensitive, political and complex complaints/investigations with professionalism  
• Experience in providing advice in employment law public law and/or regulatory law with the ability to quickly develop a working knowledge of Police Regulations and associated governance/ethics and standards frameworks
• Proven track record of managing a team and their workflow and identifying resource requirements to maintain timely and high quality outputs
• Able to identify risks, develop and advise on strategies to reduce organisational, legal, reputational, and procedural risks
• Experience as a trusted advisor to the senior levels of an organisation providing clear, evidence based advice on governance, performance, and legal matters
• Experience working within a regulated environment, where adherence to rules, ethics, and professional standards is critical, and where decision‑making must withstand scrutiny
• Ability to interpret and apply complex policies, regulations, and statutory frameworks, ensuring decisions and processes are fair, transparent, and aligned with natural‑justice principles

*Please note that these duties and responsibilities are not exhaustive and may be changed from time to time in line with the reasonable requirements of the Police Federation and as directed by the line manager, on behalf of the Head of Department.

*Applicants are advised to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert prior to the advertised closing date should we receive a large number of applications.

 

Benefits

We offer multiple benefits to our HQ employees including: competitive salary, private healthcare, life assurance, flexible working, hybrid working, enhanced pension contribution, enhanced leave, employee assistance program, onsite free lunches and refreshments, free onsite gym, free onsite parking, 26 days holiday (increasing with length of service), mental health clinics, support for continuous professional development, employee discounts and more….