Full-Time

Senior Governance Manager

Smiths Detection Group

Smiths Detection Group

1,001-5,000 employees

Produces trace-detection sensors for security

No salary listed

London, UK

In Person

Category
Legal & Compliance (2)
,
Required Skills
Risk Management
Requirements
  • Professionally qualified Chartered Governance professional, with strong technical and academic credentials.
  • Sound knowledge and practical experience of UK company law, listing rules, corporate governance and listed company regulatory compliance and risk.
  • Highly organised, with a structured approach to managing high-profile governance activity.
  • Strong judgement and analytical capability, able to navigate ambiguity and provide clear, pragmatic advice.
  • Proven ability to influence and partner senior stakeholders, including Non-executive Directors and Executive Committee members.
  • Confident communicator with excellent written and verbal skills, able to adapt style and produce high-quality Board-level documentation.
  • Self-motivated, resilient and curious, with a strong drive to challenge the status quo and deliver continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
  • Act as a trusted adviser on corporate governance matters, supporting effective Board and committee decision-making across the Group.
  • Influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders, including the Board, Executive Committee, management and external advisers, providing clear advice and constructive challenge.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable legal, listing rule and regulatory requirements, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of best practice and external developments in governance, risk and internal controls.
  • Act as Secretary to the Audit & Risk Committee and the Group Disclosure Committee, providing advice, including on MAR and disclosure obligations, and producing high-quality Board and committee papers.
  • Take ownership of the delivery of the Annual Report, including drafting and oversight of the governance sections.
  • Develop and manage the registrar strategy and retail shareholder services, ensuring high-quality delivery and value for money.
  • Provide oversight of Executive Share Plans and Sharesave arrangements, ensuring robust governance and effective participant engagement.
  • Drive continuous improvement and innovation in governance processes across the Group.
  • Manage outsourced providers and external spend, ensuring effective supplier performance, resilience and value through active engagement and RFP processes.
Smiths Detection Group

Smiths Detection Group

View

Smiths Detection provides sensors and systems that detect weapons, explosives, and other contraband to improve global security. Its product lineup centers on trace and material-detection technology used in security screening—devices and integrated systems that scan for traces or signatures of dangerous materials and raise alerts for operators, often connected to data analysis and monitoring software. The company differentiates itself through its long corporate heritage, its integrated approach spanning detection hardware, software, and global service support, and by expanding capabilities via strategic acquisitions (notably Morpho Detection) and focused maintenance/refurbishment services through Med Graphix to extend the life of deployed equipment. The goal is to help governments and organizations protect people and assets by delivering reliable detection solutions and ongoing lifecycle support that keep security gear operating over time.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

1950

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Launched automated remote baggage screening with US-South Korea in August 2025.
  • Secured Dubai International Airport screening contract at Airport Show 2025.
  • Partnered with BigBear.ai integrating AI threat detection into x-ray equipment.

What critics are saying

  • CVC acquisition faces US FTC antitrust block in 3-6 months over aviation monopoly.
  • Leidos $1.4B Raytheon contract erodes ports/borders share in 12-24 months.
  • Rapiscan's AI MACS software captures 20% aviation market in 9-15 months.

What makes Smiths Detection Group unique

  • Smiths Detection holds global #1 position in aviation security screening 47 of top 50 airports.
  • Proprietary iCMORE system certified by German Federal Police on November 3, 2025.
  • Acquired Morpho Detection in 2017 expanding trace detection capabilities.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Your Connections

People at Smiths Detection Group who can refer or advise you

Benefits

Health Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Conference Attendance Budget

Professional Development Budget

Stock Options

Company Equity

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Company News

AJ Bell
Mar 20th, 2026
Smiths Group plans PS1.5 billion return as interim profit declines.

Smiths Group plans PS1.5 billion return as interim profit declines. Friday, March 20, 2026 Smiths Group PLC on Friday posted a decline in both interim profit and revenue, and revised its full-year revenue growth outlook following the reclassification of Smiths Detection. The London-based engineering company reported £126 million in pretax profit for the six months that ended January 31, down 17% from £152 million a year prior. Driving the weaker earnings was a 1.0% top line contraction, as revenue fell to £915 million from £924 million. Chief Executive Roland Carter described 2026 as a 'significant year of progress' for the company, as it seeks to 'reposition Smiths towards higher growth and higher returns markets'. Smiths said it plans to return an additional £1.5 billion to shareholders through 2027, through a combination of a structured return and a further buyback programme. The company said it will utilise proceeds from the sale of Smiths Detection, adding that this capital return is in addition to the 2026 £1 billion buyback that is underway. In December, Smiths announced the sale of Smiths Detection to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners PLC at an enterprise value of £2.0 billion. Also in December, it agreed to sell its connectivity products and solutions business, Smiths Interconnect, to Molex Electronic Technologies Holdings LLC, at an enterprise value of £1.3 billion. On Friday, Smiths declared an interim dividend of 15.00 pence, up 5.4% from 14.23 pence. Looking ahead, Smiths provided an updated outlook to its financial 2026 guidance, following the reclassification of Smiths Detection as discontinued operations. The company sees organic growth for the financial year of 3% to 4%, down from 4% to 6% guided previously. Smiths reported revenue of £2.92 billion in financial 2025. Shares in Smiths fell 5.5% to 2,222.00 pence on Friday morning in London. 'Following the completion of the disposals, Smiths will be a focused, premium industrial engineering company. Our strategy is delivering significant value and supporting enhanced, sustainable returns, alongside our continued investment into Smiths, and commitment to a further £1.5 billion of returns to shareholders,' added CEO Carter.

The Associated Press
Jan 20th, 2026
Smiths Detection launches automated remote baggage screening between South Korea and US

Smiths Detection has enabled the launch of an automated International Remote Baggage Screening System between South Korea and the United States, led by Incheon International Airport Corporation. The system allows US Customs and Border Protection to screen checked baggage remotely before passengers land, eliminating traditional reclaim-and-recheck processes and reducing connection times by up to 20 minutes. The platform uses Smiths Detection's SecurePort-IRBS-K software with 22 licenses, integrated with HI-SCAN 10080 XCT computed tomography systems at Incheon's Terminal 2. Currently operational on the Atlanta route since August 2025, the system will gradually expand to Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, Detroit and Salt Lake City. The deployment represents the first fully automated, DICOS-based baggage screening workflow between two sovereign countries.

Homeland Security Today
Dec 3rd, 2025
CVC Announces Acquisition of Threat Detection and Security Screening Technology Company Smiths Detection for £2 Billion

CVC announces acquisition of threat detection and security screening technology company Smiths Detection for £2 billion. CVC, a private markets investment firm, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Smiths Detection, a threat-detection and security-screening technology company for airports and critical infrastructure, from Smiths Group plc. Headquartered in the UK, Smiths Detection employs 3,400 people, including over 1,100 field service engineers and over 500 R&D professionals and operates from facilities across Europe, the US and Asia. The business has a global #1 position in aviation security - i.e. screening technology for carry-on bags, hold luggage, and air cargo at airports - where it serves 47 of the world's top 50 airports, with both industry-leading hardware and sector-leading digital capabilities, including automated detection algorithms. Smiths Detection also serves other critical infrastructure end markets such as urban security (screening systems for government and commercial buildings, public venues and spaces) and ports and borders (cargo and vehicle inspection) and the business has a leading niche chemical threat identification capability for defense end markets. Dominic Murphy, a Managing Partner and Co-Head of the UK private equity team at CVC and Conor Keogh, Managing Director at CVC, said: "Smiths Detection's industry-leading threat detection and security screening technologies play a crucial role in helping protect people and critical infrastructure worldwide. We look forward to supporting the business during the next phase of its growth and development through continued investment in technology innovation, high-quality engineering and best-in-class aftermarket service." James Mahoney, Partner and Head of CVC's private equity activities in the Aviation, Defence & Space sectors added: "We are excited to partner with Jérôme de Chassey and his team. Smiths Detection's strong market positions, anchored by its global leadership in aviation, create a compelling platform for long-term value creation." The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Barclays acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins acted as legal counsel to CVC. The investment will be made through CVC Capital Partners IX.

Surperformance
Dec 3rd, 2025
HSBC appoints new chair as Smiths Group sells detection unit for £2B

HSBC Holdings has appointed Brendan Nelson as group chair following a selection process that considered internal and external candidates. Nelson, who joined HSBC's board in 2023 and served as interim chair since October, previously worked at KPMG and held board positions at BP and Royal Bank of Scotland. Smiths Group has agreed to sell Smiths Detection to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners for an enterprise value of £2 billion. The London-based engineering firm expects net cash proceeds of around £1.85 billion, with completion anticipated in the second half of 2026. Combined with the recently announced sale of Smiths Interconnect, the transaction repositions Smiths as a focused industrial engineering company. The firm intends to return a large portion of proceeds to shareholders.

Passenger Terminal Today
Nov 14th, 2025
Former TSA administrator joins Smiths Detection board

Former TSA administrator joins Smiths Detection board. Smiths Detection Inc. has appointed former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator John S Pistole to the board of directors for Smiths Detection US. Pistole brings more than three decades of public service and national security leadership to the company. He previously served as deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2004 and TSA administrator from 2010, leading approximately 60,000 employees and overseeing security operations at more than 450 US airports. In his role as an outside director on the board, Pistole will provide strategic guidance in areas such as global security risk, screening innovation, regulatory engagement and transportation infrastructure protection. Pistole holds a bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, from Anderson University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Indiana University Robert H McKinney School of Law.