Group Director of Governance

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWUHG) as Group Director of Governance, a non-voting board-level role at the heart of a highly significant healthcare transformation. The Group brings together the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn and The James Paget University Hospital under a single leadership structure, united by one purpose: delivering outstanding care for patients across Norfolk & Waveney.In this role, you'll serve as a key strategic adviser to the Group CEO, Chair, and Board, providing expert leadership on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, patient experience, legal services and information governance. This will be pivotal in ensuring the Group adheres to the highest standards of accountability and transparency, delivering ambitious organisational objectives and developing a world-class University Hospitals System.This is a unique opportunity to shape governance in a complex and evolving healthcare organisation serving over 1 million. You'll contribute directly to strategic decision-making, ensuring robust governance supports innovation, transformation and continuous improvement. Alongside a talented executive team, you'll help build a culture that places patients, staff and communities at the centre of everything while supporting ambitions for workforce development, service modernisation, financial sustainability and collaboration across the system

Main duties of the job

The Group Director of Governance will lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive corporate governance framework that supports effective decision-making and compliance across the Group. Reporting directly to the Group CEO, the post holder will act as the organisation's senior governance adviser, ensuring the Board and its committees operate effectively and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

You will oversee the Board Assurance Framework, coordinate governance reporting and provide assurance on the management of strategic risks and organisational performance. A key element of the role will be managing the Board secretariat function, supporting annual planning cycles, committee effectiveness and the implementation of decisions and actions arising from Board business.

Working closely with executive colleagues, regulators and external stakeholders, you will provide strategic leadership on governance, compliance and assurance, supporting the Group to meet national standards and regulatory requirements.

About us

As Group Director of Governance, you'll join NWUHG at a defining moment. Bringing together three established hospitals JPUH, NNUH and QEH into a single Group, we're building a unified approach to leadership and care while preserving what makes each site distinct.

The Group is undergoing significant structural change, with a new senior leadership team taking shape. As Group Director of Governance, you'll help shape that change directly influencing how the Group works now and for years to come.

Operating across three sites brings a scale and complexity few roles offer: three patient populations, three cultures, one shared purpose to build. It's a genuine opportunity to develop as a leader in a large, complex, multi-site organisation, working alongside colleagues equally invested in getting it right.

This appointment carries a competitive salary benchmarked against Very Senior Manager (VSM) NHSE pay rates, reflecting the scope and seniority of the Group Director of Governance role, together with a generous NHS pension and the full range of NHS staff benefits.

Job responsibilities

This is a Group position based at the Centrum building on the Norwich Research park but will require working across all three Trust sites.

We are seeking an exceptional and accomplished senior leader with substantial experience operating at Board or equivalent executive level within a large, complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider public sector. You will bring outstanding expertise in corporate governance, regulatory compliance and Board assurance, together with a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and provide trusted advice in highly sensitive and complex environments.We are looking for an individual who possesses exceptional communication, relationship-building and strategic leadership skills, with the credibility and judgement to command the confidence of Board members, executive colleagues and external partners. Experience of supporting Boards, preparing high-quality governance documentation and leading multidisciplinary teams will be essential, alongside a detailed understanding of governance frameworks, risk management and legislative requirements.If you are motivated and excited by the opportunity to make a lasting impact on healthcare delivery across Norfolk and Waveney you could be person for NWUHG. You will have the opportunity to help shape the future of our newly established Group, ensuring that governance arrangements support innovation, accountability and excellent patient care. As an advisor to the Board, you will demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, probity and personal accountability while helping to create an inclusive culture where patients, staff and communities can thrive.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Qualified Chartered Secretary (ICSA or equivalent)

Experience

• Substantial experience of managing and providing strong leadership of complex governance and/or legal matters at Trust and/or system level
• Strong understanding of the regulatory framework and demonstrated experience of working closely with regulators, particularly the CQC
• Strong understanding and leadership of NHS organisation and policy, and the Foundation Trust governance and compliance framework

Skills

• Ability to broker system-wide relationships, developing effective alliances and networks across boundaries

Personal Attributes

• Uses influencing skills to bring about improvement and innovation in services and standards
• Ability to handle and process significant detail, including at formal Board and executive team levels

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group

Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group