AMS PSR

On behalf of HS2 , we are looking for a Governance Assistant (Inside IR35) for a 6 months contract based in Birmingham or London 3 days per week in the office

The Governance Assistant plays a critical role in enabling effective, timely, and well governed decision making across HS2 Phase One. Working closely with the Head of Business Operations, the post holder will support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Programme Office governance structures and reporting processes.

The role provides high quality secretariat and governance support to Programme Office decision making forums, ensuring that decisions are captured accurately, communicated clearly, and progressed efficiently. This is a pivotal position requiring excellent attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and confidence working within a large, complex programme environment.

As a Governance Assistant, your main responsibilities will be:

• Facilitating high quality decision making across all Phase One decision making forums by ensuring information is accurate, complete, and issued in a timely manner.
• Producing clear, accurate, and comprehensive meeting minutes, ensuring decisions, actions, and attendance are recorded and tracked for effective implementation.
• Owning the Phase One forward look and working closely with the Company Secretariat to ensure upcoming decisions are visible, planned, and scheduled appropriately.
• Ensuring Phase One governance processes and structures align with wider corporate governance arrangements through close collaboration with the Company Secretariat.
• Maintaining formal Terms of Reference for all Phase One decision making forums supported by this role and ensuring compliance with agreed governance standards.
• Supporting the Head of Business Operations in reviewing and improving Phase One governance structures to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
• Maintaining and regularly refreshing the Phase One Governance Manual to reflect current structures, processes, and arrangements.
• Assisting in the establishment and embedding of new standards and processes for Phase One decision making forums.
• Providing guidance to Programme Directors and team managers to ensure delegated authorities and governance processes are applied correctly.
• Supporting other secretariat functions by promoting best practice in record keeping, paper quality, action tracking, and facilitating training where appropriate.
• Actively promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all aspects of the role and complying with all organisational policies and initiatives.

Essential:

• Experience providing governance or secretariat support within a large, complex organisation, including servicing formal decision‑making forums.
• Ability to produce accurate, high‑quality meeting minutes and maintain clear action tracking, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage a demanding workload, balance competing priorities, and consistently meet tight deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work effectively with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Good understanding of governance frameworks, committee processes, and the importance of compliance and assurance.
• High levels of professionalism, discretion, and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, operating in line with organisational values.

Desirable:

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, HS2 guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

.Armed Forces Covenant / commitment

HS2 guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".