Band 8c - Trust Secretary, Corporate

Job overview

Are you an exceptional governance professional with the expertise, confidence, and integrity to support our Board at a time of significant national and local transformation?

We are seeking an outstanding Trust Secretary to join West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and play a pivotal role in shaping our governance, assurance, and strategic direction.

Main duties of the job

Working closely with the Director of Corporate Affairs, the successful candidate will ensure the Trust operates with the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity. As Trust Secretary, you will be the Trust’s lead expert on Board effectiveness, statutory compliance, and the coordination of assurance across the organisation.  The Trust Secretary will have responsibility for:

• Managing all aspects of Board and committee governance
• Ensuring compliance with statutory, constitutional, and NHS England regulatory requirements
• Overseeing the Board Assurance Framework and corporate governance environment
• Supporting Non-Executive Director recruitment, induction, appraisals and succession planning
• Leading on the Annual Report, Annual Governance Statement and Annual General Meeting
• Supporting CQC Well-Led evidence and external governance reviews
• Oversight of key corporate registers, declarations and governance documentation

This is an exciting time to join the Trust as we navigate the next phase of NHS reform. The successful candidate will bring deep insight into the evolving governance landscape outlined in the NHS 10-Year Plan. Alongside the Director of Corporate Affairs, the Trust Secretary will provide expert advice to the Board, helping the Trust respond to national reforms and positioning our governance arrangements to meet the requirements of future NHS models.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are looking for an exceptional individual who brings:

• Significant experience as a Trust Secretary, Company Secretary, or senior governance leader in a large, complex public or regulated organisation.
• Advanced knowledge of corporate governance, statutory compliance and NHS regulatory requirements.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with Executives, NEDs and senior clinical leaders.
• High levels of integrity, judgement, and political awareness.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to develop and motivate governance teams.
• A relevant professional qualification (e.g., Chartered Governance Institute / ICSA) is desirable.

This is a high-profile role that requires confidence, resilience, and the ability to manage complex information, demanding deadlines, and sensitive matters with skill and diplomacy. If you believe you have the expertise, experience, and personal qualities to lead our corporate governance function and help to support our Board through the next chapter of NHS reform, we would be delighted to hear from you.