Governance Manager

British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies

Hours
37 hours per week

About the Organisation

British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the UK and Ireland. Our organisation aims to improve the mental health of people across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland by advancing research and promoting excellence in CBT and related professions. We have more than 27,000 members across the UK, Ireland and overseas, and a staff team who work remotely.

We deliver a wide range of events via online and in-person CPD sessions and two conferences which support the professional development of members and non-members, whilst sharing best practice, showcasing research and creating valuable networking opportunities.

About the role

Your role will be the lead for governance and assurance across BABCP, supporting the Board, Committees and staff teams to ensure robust governance arrangements, effective risk management and compliance with regulatory requirements.

This role will focus on:

• Ensuring the continued development, implementation and embedding of BABCP’s Governance and Assurance Framework, including the identification, management and monitoring of organisational risk.
• Supporting the Board and Committees through the provision of expert governance advice, effective administration, performance monitoring and the delivery of key governance activities including the AGM, elections and Annual Report.

Coordinate the setting, monitoring and embedding of a Governance and Assurance Framework in line with our agreed strategy and governing documents. Working to develop strong and effective cross-functional working initiatives between the Board, various committees, the staff team and membership.

The successful candidate will have significant experience of leading and managing governance and assurance functions within an organisation of similar scale, and be confident working with senior stakeholders, Boards and Committees. You will need to be highly organised, able to build strong and effective working relationships, and capable of providing expert advice on governance, assurance, risk and regulatory matters.

Experience of working within a regulated environment, with knowledge of governance best practice and relevant legislation, would be an advantage. We are looking for a candidate who can think strategically, solve complex problems, and work collaboratively with colleagues to strengthen governance practices and support organisational objectives.

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Provide induction and ongoing support for committee and board members
• Be a key point of contact for Board and Committee Chairs and Members and staff, providing an administrative and advisory role to ensure governance standards are maintained
• Support the Board and Committees to set agendas relative to their remit, maintain appropriate minutes and related documentation, track actions, outcomes and resolve or escalate barriers to delivery
• Consult, influence and build relationships across the membership and staff teams 
• Lead on the coordination of a compliant and informative BABCP Annual Report for the benefit of external stakeholders and the membership
• Oversee delivery of the AGM in line with the Articles of the Association and best practice and work with relevant staff teams to promote member engagement

Strategy:

• Ensure a robust assurance framework is in place, including tools for identification and management of risk, and providing assurance of strategic delivery
• Ensure the governance function meets the needs of members and other stakeholders (PSA, Charity Commission, Companies House, ICO)

Performance Management:

• Ensure agreed performance targets are monitored and achieved
• Set and manage the performance targets of the Governance Assistant
• Oversee committee workplans, action tracker status and take appropriate action as required. 

Governance:

• Ensure that BABCP has the frameworks to ensure compliance with all regulatory guidance, statutory and legislative requirements (such as those set out by Companies House, the Charity Commission and the Professional Standards Authority)
• Develop, implement and oversee the framework for the maintenance of relevant terms of reference and policies etc ensuring they are up to date, in line with best practice and current legislation
• Responsible for the identification and management of governance-related risk 
• Develop, implement and oversee  BABCP’s risk management framework
• Ensure resources applied to governance activities are commensurate with the level of risk for the organisation.
• Oversee the framework for the delivery of robust, accessible and inclusive Board and Committee elections

Other:

• Provide expert governance-related advice to the Board, Committees and senior staff as required
• Maintain knowledge of governance best practice and collaborate with relevant organisations as required.
• Ensure all work is aligned to the vision, mission and values of BABCP
• Ensure all functional strategies, policies, processes and guidance notes are up to date in line with best practice / current legislation. 
• Carry out all other duties as may be reasonably assigned from time to time, within the level of this job description

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Leading and managing governance and assurance functions in an organisation of similar scale
• Providing expert advice to senior staff/stakeholders on governance, assurance and regulatory matters
• Embedding risk and assurance frameworks
• Working in a regulated environment
• Working with clinicians

Knowledge, Abilities & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of governance legislation relevant to BABCP    
• Familiar with internal audit processes
• Able to think strategically and solve complex problems
• Able to work collaboratively with colleagues to raise awareness, knowledge and confidence in relation to risk and governance best practice
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex matters for a non-specialist audience

Personal Attributes:

• Able to develop strong and effective working relations to build trust and influence
• Confident in making decisions at the right level
• High personal integrity with a strong focus on personal accountability to deliver effective outcomes

Required Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate five years relevant professional experience

Working locations

• Home-based
• Occasional attendance at meetings and functions across the UK and Ireland as necessary.

How to apply

• Please provide a CV and cover letter to [email protected] by midnight on 23rd August 2026.
• Please refer to the person specification as part of the job description for more information on the criteria to be successful in the role.
• Please note: We expect a high volume of applications for the role, so early application is encouraged as the advertisement may be withdrawn ahead of the application deadline.
• If you have not heard from us by 9th September 2026, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. We encourage you to keep an eye on our future vacancies and apply again, as we are always looking for talented individuals to join us.

Interviews

• It is anticipated that interviews will be held remotely on 2nd September 2026, but this may be subject to change.
• Feedback will be provided to those who are invited to interview.

Policies

BABCP supports and promotes Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

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