Governance Senior Lead

University of Sunderland in London - Governance and Operations

Location:	Canary Wharf Estate, South Quay Station, London
Salary:	£62,846 to £67,897 per annum
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Permanent

Placed On: 20th March 2026

Closes: 7th April 2026

Job Ref: USL895

Role overview

We are seeking an experienced senior leader to join the University of Sunderland in London as Governance Senior Lead. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across Governance, Quality, Compliance and Timetabling and MI, supporting institutional performance and outstanding student outcomes.

The successful candidate will bring clarity, structure, and leadership within a complex and fast‑moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams
• Drive service quality, performance, and continuous improvement
• Manage budgets, resources, and contracts effectively
• Lead academic quality assurance, regulatory compliance, timetabling, MI and institutional governance, supporting Deputy Director
• Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships
• Contribute to senior leadership and institutional strategy

Essential Requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience in a UK Higher Education environment or comparable complex, regulated organisation
• Substantial experience in one or more of the following governance-related areas:
  • Academic quality assurance and enhancement
  • Regulatory compliance (e.g. OfS conditions, UKVI, Prevent, Safeguarding)
  • Risk management and institutional governance
  • Student casework
  • Timetabling or management information systems.
• Proven experience managing teams, budgets, and performance
• Strong strategic planning and decision‑making capability
• Excellent influencing and communication skills
• Track record of delivering measurable outcomes

Desirable

• Experience managing audits, inspections or reviews (internal or external, such as OfS, UKVI, PSRBs or QAA).

About us

Based in Canary Wharf, the University of Sunderland in London is a dynamic campus delivering year‑round education with multiple student intakes. Our professional services teams play a vital role in supporting student success.

What we offer

• Four‑day working week pilot (32 hours, no reduction in pay)
• Competitive pension scheme
• Generous annual leave and closure days
• Training and development opportunities
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car schemes
• Modern Canary Wharf campus
• Living Wage Employer

Please note that this role is fully office‑based, so you would be working onsite each day.

How to apply

Apply via our e‑recruitment platform.

For an informal discussion, contact:

Lynsey Bendon, Assistant Director via lynsey.bendon@sunderland.ac.uk