Governance Manager in London

WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is the world's leading provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications; since 2003 over a million people have taken a course with WSET. Our courses are designed to inspire and empower anyone looking to develop their drinks knowledge - from beginners to experts and from enthusiasts to professionals.

WSET's purpose is to empower people through inspiring learning experiences all over the world. We offer a comprehensive suite of globally recognised qualifications covering wines, spirits, sake and beer.

Join us!

WSET's purpose is to empower people through inspiring learning experiences all over the world. We offer a comprehensive suite of globally recognised qualifications covering wines, spirits and sake.

We are the world’s leading provider of qualifications in wines, spirits, beer and sake, delivering over 140,000 exams each year to candidates in over 70 countries via our network of Approved Programme Providers (APPs).

WSET is a global organisation and we are proud to have people who work for us all over the world. We have people in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA as well as the UK.

The successful applicant will contribute to a culture of integrity, empowerment, dynamism, and inclusivity within WSET.

The Governance Manager will play a key role in the Governance team by working closely with the Senior Governance Manager, and alongside WSET’s global team in:

1.Training of Governance Staff and WSET Internal Teams

•Communicate with managers in other regions to manage projects and compliance work across the team.

•Train new and existing members of the Governance team and other areas of the business as needed, producing, and coordinating training plans with other regions. Ensure consistency in training across regions and functions.

•Supervise and consult on enquiries and requests from Governance team members and other internal stakeholders who require support to address compliance or policy matters.

•Deputise for the Senior Governance Manager in their absence or on specified occasions as agreed.

•Collate/provide information to feed into management reports as requested. 

2. Quality Assurance Compliance, Regulation, Training and Policy

•Lead on non-compliance cases with support from the Senior Governance Manager as needed, communicate with WSET APP Development and other WSET teams.

•Work with the Senior Governance Manager to devise, implement and maintain procedures for monitoring the quality standards of centres.

• Update and implement approved procedures and policies in coordination with LT, ensuring all members of WSET are trained and briefed.

•Educate and communicate within WSET and externally to increase understanding of and compliance with WSET policies and procedures. Advise members of WSET on quality assurance, risk and compliance issues, promoting a culture of risk-based thinking and continual improvement. Produce training materials and lead training presentations for WSET internal stakeholders and Governance team.

•Represent Governance interests at regularly scheduled meetings that work to smooth operations in the business.

•Monitor and report centre compliance in line with approved procedures and recommend/implement mitigation, corrective and preventive measures, and sanctions in accordance with WSET policy.

•Develop and maintain the WSET Quality Management System including documentation such the Continual Improvement Plan.

•Monitoring of regulatory Policy Updates and WSET notices as requested. Maintain a working knowledge of regulatory requirements.

•Continually review WSET policies and procedures for changes and updates considering business changing business priorities and strategy.

•Monitor and maintain risk assessments and risk registers across the awarding functions of WSET.

3.APP Approvals

•Review and manage the approval of new centre applications, along with any enquiries on APP or WSET policies.

•Update when necessary and maintain centre documentation which accurately reflects approved procedures and other WSET policies.

•Review of Diploma Centre Applications.

4.APP Visits

•Administer and record a programme of remote and in-person centre inspections and visits to monitor the quality of all WSET programs of learning and assessment, and centre compliance with the same. Carry out centre visits.

•Organise visits and ensure follow-up requirements are actioned.

•Manage completion and storage of all centre visit documentation.

•Support the Head of Governance with development of centre visit documentation and operating procedures.

•Assist as needed to train WSET staff in APP Visit best practice.

5.Internal Audit/Compliance

•Lead and perform internal WSET reviews under the direction of the Senior Governance Manager, conducting scoping, planning delivery and reporting.

Skills and Competencies

•Supervisory/managerial experience are essential.

•Experience in quality assurance, risk and compliance is required.

•Educated to degree level or equivalent.

•Familiarity/experience of WSET qualifications, Minimum of Level 2 required, Level 3 or Diploma candidate highly desired.

•High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office is essential.

•Fluency in English is essential. Competency in a second language covered by WSET is not required but may be an advantage.

Personal Attributes

•High level of personal integrity and authority to maintain WSET criteria and standards with customers and across business units.

•Well-organised with meticulous attention to detail.

•Client-focused, including timely responses to internal and external customers, with first-rate communication skills, sensitive when dealing with different cultures.

•Ability to handle conflict and differing stakeholder demands.

•Highly numerate and literate.

•Sound planner who anticipates issues, prioritises, makes decisions, and can work to deadlines.

•Calm, responsive, creative and collaborative approach to problem-solving.

UK Benefits   

Annual Leave - 27 days pa + public holidays, increases with service; ability to buy/sell 5 days

Pension (Generous options available after three months)

Health insurance (after three months):

Vitality scheme - post probation - Access to virtual GP appointments, Rewards include Caffe Nero drinks, Cinema Tickets, Apple Watch, Cash Back on Waitrose shopping, 75% off at Champneys, 6 month subscription with HeadSpace, Discounted Weight Watchers membership and gyms, Smoking Cessation day worth £300 and half price health screens

Eye voucher scheme

Food and drink in the office

Nespresso coffee makers and a range of other drinks, fruit, cereals, soups

Season ticket & gym membership loan scheme

Group income protection scheme

EAP

24/7 confidential help and support from trained counsellors and advisors

Death in service

4x annual salary paid to nominees with associated bereavement support for family

Enhanced family friendly leave and pay

Celebration vouchers

Cycle2Work scheme

Discretionary bonus

Development - WSET's in-house training and qualifications in Wines, Spirits, Sake and Beer as well as other professional development opportunities