Boston College seeks an exceptional governance leader to strengthen board effectiveness, drive compliance and shape governance excellence as the College continues to deliver its ambitious plans for growth and transformation.
Boston College is a thriving further education college serving more than 5,000 students from across Lincolnshire, with ambitious plans for growth, investment and continuous improvement.
With a new strategic plan, major campus developments – which have been delivered to support community engagement as well as educational delivery – and a strong commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes, the College is entering an exciting new chapter under the leadership of Principal & CEO, Lynette Leith, who joined the college in November 2025.
To support this journey, we are seeking an exceptional Executive Director for Governance to provide strategic leadership for governance, compliance and board effectiveness.
Working closely with Lynette and our new Chair, David Wright, you will be an experienced and influential governance professional who can build strong relationships, drive improvement, strengthen governance processes and help ensure the College continues to meet the highest standards of accountability, performance and delivery.
About the role
Our new Executive Director for Governance will play a pivotal role in supporting the Corporation, Chair and executive leadership team as the College delivers its ambitious strategic priorities.
Reporting directly to our Chair, David Wright, and operating as an independent governance professional, you will ensure that the Board and its committees function effectively, transparently and in full compliance with legal, statutory and regulatory requirements.
This is far more than a traditional governance role. As a member of the College’s executive team, our new Executive Director for Governance will help shape organisational effectiveness, support strategic decision-making and contribute to the continued development of a strong governance culture across the institution. The role combines governance leadership, policy oversight, legal and regulatory compliance, and board development, making it integral to the success of our long-term ambitions.
The successful candidate will have a range of key responsibilities. First and foremost, this will see you advise the Board on governance and compliance matters whilst overseeing Board and related committee processes. You will play a lead role in supporting governor recruitment and succession planning, leading induction and governor development programmes. Alongside this, you will coordinate external governance reviews and maintain an effective framework of policies, procedures and governance documentation.
The postholder will also oversee governance aspects of risk, assurance, information management and regulatory compliance, ensuring the highest standards of accountability and integrity are maintained throughout the organisation.
This is a role through which the successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact on the college and our local communities. You will strengthen relationships across the Board and senior leadership team, drive continuous improvement in governance processes, support the development of an evolving and ambitious Corporation, and help ensure Boston College is well positioned to achieve its vision of Brilliant Today, Better Tomorrow. For an experienced governance professional who wants to influence strategy, shape culture and contribute to meaningful organisational transformation, this represents an exceptional opportunity.
Who we are looking for
To take on this role as our new Executive Director for Governance, we seek a highly credible and accomplished governance professional who combines technical expertise with the ability to build strong relationships, influence stakeholders and drive improvement. The successful candidate will bring significant experience supporting boards, governing bodies or senior leadership teams within a regulated environment, ideally within further education, education, the public sector, higher education or the charitable sector.
You will possess a strong understanding of governance frameworks, regulatory compliance and board effectiveness, together with the judgement and integrity required to provide independent, impartial advice at the highest level. Experience of supporting board and committee meetings, developing governance documentation, managing policy frameworks, leading governor or trustee recruitment and development, and overseeing governance reviews will be highly valuable.
Beyond technical capability, this role requires an individual who is proactive, organised and delivery focused. Boston College is looking for someone who can quickly build credibility with governors and senior leaders, establish effective working relationships and make an impact from the outset. The ability to work at pace, manage competing priorities and translate ideas into practical outcomes will be essential.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are crucial, as is the confidence to challenge constructively, influence decision-making and champion the highest standards of governance, accountability and transparency.
Above all, candidates will share our commitment to continuous improvement and will be excited by the opportunity to contribute to an ambitious organisation undergoing significant growth, development and transformation.
Peridot Partners and Boston College are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Dan Baxter | dan@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07939 994524
Katie Morris | katiem@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 814264
Welcome from David Wright, Chair of Corporation
Thank you for considering the role of Executive Director of Governance at Boston College.
Good governance creates the conditions in which colleges, their people and their students can thrive. As Chair, I am committed to working with governors and senior leaders to build a governance culture that combines appropriate challenge with support, maintains the highest standards of accountability, and keeps our students and communities at the heart of every decision.
Our new Executive Director of Governance will play a vital role in this work. We are seeking someone with excellent professional judgement, integrity and credibility; someone who can provide authoritative advice, strengthen Board effectiveness and ensure that our governance is highly effective and has a positive impact on the college.
You will work closely with Lynette, the Corporation and me at an important point in Boston College’s journey. It is a rare opportunity to shape governance, make a visible contribution and help an ambitious college deliver meaningful impact across Lincolnshire.
I hope you will consider joining us.
David Wright
Chair of Corporation
Welcome from Lynette Leith OBE, Principal and Chief Executive
Thank you for your interest in joining Boston College as our new Executive Director of Governance.
This is an exciting and pivotal time for the College. We have very ambitious plans for our students, staff and communities, and strong, effective governance will be central to turning those ambitions into lasting impact.
We are looking for an exceptional governance professional who will work closely with our Chair, myself, the Corporation, and wider exec team to ensure that our governance is rigorous, insightful and firmly focused on improvement. This is much more than a compliance role. You will join the exec team; you will be a trusted adviser and a key partner in shaping the College’s future.
You will be joining an organisation with a strong sense of purpose and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. If you share our ambition and believe that excellent governance can be a powerful driver of improvement, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Lynette Leith OBE
Principal and Chief Executive
About Boston College
Boston College is a dynamic and vibrant further education college at the heart of Lincolnshire, serving more than 5,300 learners across five sites in Boston, Spalding and Horncastle.
We offer an extensive range of provision for young people, adults, apprentices and higher education students which allows us to play a critical role in developing skills, supporting social mobility and driving economic growth across the communities we serve.
Guided by our vision of Brilliant Today, Better Tomorrow, we are committed to helping every learner achieve their brilliant best while creating positive and lasting impacts for employers, our communities and the wider region. The College has built a strong reputation for our inclusive approach, a broad and responsive curriculum, and our commitment to continuous improvement. Our latest Ofsted inspection published in December 2023 recognised the College as Good, reflecting the dedication of our staff, leaders and governors to delivering high-quality education and training.
Our new Executive Director for Governance will play a pivotal role in supporting the Corporation, Chair, CEO and executive leadership team as the College delivers its ambitious strategic priorities.
We recently launched our new Strategic Plan for 2025-2028, which is centred on five pillars:
- People
- Performance
- Productivity
- Partnerships
- Personality
Underpinning this is a series of ambitious, compelling operational strategies driving change and innovation in key work streams across the college.
We are an organisation with a genuine appetite for change, a strong culture of collaboration, and a shared commitment to building a stronger future. As a result, we are already making significant progress, with robust financial planning, a growing and maturing leadership team, and an ambitious transformation agenda.
Learn more about Boston College
Accessibility information
We believe that everyone has the right to live with dignity, equality, comfort and independence.
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step-free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Assistance dogs are welcome
- Portable hearing loop; suitable for short-range conversations
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- Accommodations for a candidate’s sign language interpreter or access to an interpreter through the government’s Access to Work scheme
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
As a Disability Confident employer, we recognise our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure people with disabilities receive fair treatment throughout recruitment, selection, and their employment with us. Beyond meeting our legal obligations, we’ve made a wider pledge to improve employment opportunities for disabled people. This means we’re committed to:
- Ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
- Communicating job vacancies in ways that are accessible to disabled candidates
- Offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role
- Providing reasonable adjustments, both during recruitment and once in post
- Supporting existing employees who have, or develop, a disability
Through the Disability Confident scheme, we aim to help ensure disabled people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations in the workplace.
If you require any adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, including at interview, please contact our recruitment team, who will be happy to discuss this with you:
Dan Baxter | dan@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07939 994524
Katie Morris | katiem@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 814264
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Boston College—Executive Director for Governance” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Dan Baxter | dan@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07939 994524
Katie Morris | katiem@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 814264
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
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Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 7th October 2026
We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact applicants.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Boston College are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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