Chief Governance and Performance Officer

Chief Governance and Performance Officer Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM Main area Governance and Performance Grade Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

40 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time/Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-F-265000

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital - Division Corporate Town Cambridge Salary Salary is dependant on experience (p.a. pro rata) Closing 21/01/:59

Job overview Make a Difference at one of the UK's Largest Acute Hospital NHS Trusts

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) is seeking an exceptional leader to join our Executive Team as Chief Governance & Performance Officer (CGPO). This is a pivotal board role, providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight across all Director-level functions including Corporate Governance, Corporate Affairs, Performance & Planning, Analytics & Insight, Strategic Risk Management, Board & Committee Management, and Communications & Engagement.

As CGPO, you will drive performance improvement, strengthen accountability, and enhance transparency across the Trust, ensuring compliance with regulatory and statutory frameworks. You will work closely with the Chief Executive, Board, Non-Executive Directors, executive colleagues, clinical leaders, and external partners to deliver sustainable improvement in governance, performance, and outcomes.

Main duties of the job Key Responsibilities

• Executive leadership for corporate governance, planning and performance, analytics and insight, communications, and organisational assurance.
• Principal advisor to the Trust Board, Chair, Chief Executive, and Non-Executive Directors on governance, statutory compliance, performance oversight, and strategic risk management.
• Lead the development and operation of integrated frameworks for enhanced accountability, decision making, and organisational effectiveness.
• Ensure high quality, timely, and transparent information supports Board, regulatory, and operational assurance.
• Partner with the Executive Team to co design and deliver transformation, focusing on patient safety, sustainability, and performance improvement.

About You We are looking for a credible, trusted, and influential leader with:

• Demonstrable experience and successful delivery at executive level, ideally within the NHS or a large, complex, regulated organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of corporate governance, statutory and regulatory compliance, assurance frameworks, and Board governance.
• Proven track record of leading complex, high profile programmes and using data, analytics, and insight to drive strategic decision making and performance improvement.
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to influence at Board and system level.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and the Trust's values: Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Working for our organisation Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

• Applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
• or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

The advert will close at midnight on 21st January 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 4th February 2026.

Benefits to you At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose created colleague only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part time working, job share, term time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of qualification
• Evidence of recent continuous professional development in senior leadership, governance, performance or transformation

Experience

• Significant experience working at very senior / executive level, ideally within the NHS or a large, complex, regulated organisation
• Extensive knowledge of corporate governance, statutory and regulatory compliance, assurance frameworks and Board governance
• Demonstrable experience of providing expert advice and assurance to a Trust Board, Chair and Non Executive Directors
• Proven experience of setting, communicating, and translating strategic vision into deliverable operational plans
• Proven experience of leading complex, high profile and cross organisational programmes
• Experience of co ordinating and overseeing operational and financial planning processes
• Experience of leading teams through periods of uncertainty, transformation, significant risk and scrutiny

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of the political context, policy environment, and financial regime in which a Foundation Trust operates
• Detailed understanding of NHS structures, governance requirements and regulatory processes including: 1. NHS Oversight Framework 2. Tiering and Capability Assessment 3. CQC and NHS England requirements
• Knowledge and a proven track record of effective partnership working with senior clinical and operational leaders to co design and implement change
• Strong track record of using data, analytics and insight to drive strategic decision making and performance improvement
• Experience of strengthening accountability and performance frameworks and embedding a performance culture

Skills and Abilities

• Able to demonstrate the Trust's values: Together, Safe, Kind, Excellent
• Inclusive, collaborative, and visionary leadership style
• Strategic thinker with strong communication, interpersonal, negotiating, and influencing skills
• High self awareness of leadership and impact on others, with the ability to vary styles and approaches
• Curious and innovative, with a strong patient focused approach
• Able to shape development across the health and social care system
• A proactive champion for equity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability
• Highly developed strategic thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret complex information and risk
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