Corporate Governance Director

Job overview

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in England, providing a comprehensive range of local, regional and specialist services, and working in partnership with universities, NHS organisations, local authorities, and wider system partners.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our Trust Executive Team as Corporate Governance Director.

This is a pivotal leadership role, reporting directly to the Chair and Chief Executive and serving as the Trust Secretary. As a member of the Trust Executive Group, you will help shape the strategic direction, sustainable performance and long-term success of the organisation, ensuring the highest standards of governance, accountability, and stewardship.

You will act as the principal adviser to the Chair, Chief Executive, Board of Directors and Council of Governors on governance, accountability, constitutional compliance, decision-making, probity and assurance, while leading the continued development of an effective governance framework that supports decision-making, robust assurance, and organisational improvement.

This is a unique opportunity to influence one of the NHS's leading teaching hospitals at the highest level, working alongside executive and non-executive leaders, governors and system partners to ensure the Trust remains well-led, effective and responsive to the needs of our patients, staff, and communities.

Main duties of the job

The Corporate Governance Director will provide strategic and professional leadership for the Trust’s corporate governance framework, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, NHS policy and guidance, the NHS Provider Licence, the Trust Constitution and recognised standards of good governance.

Acting as Trust Secretary, you will support the effective operation and continuous development of the Board of Directors, Council of Governors, and their committees, providing expert advice on governance, constitutional and procedural matters and helping to ensure high-quality assurance, scrutiny, and decision-making.

You will lead the Trust's governance framework, including responsibility for constitutional governance, risk and assurance arrangements, Board effectiveness, governor and membership governance, regulatory compliance and Well-Led development. The role also provides leadership for the Chief Executive's Office and includes responsibility for significant Trust-wide reviews, strategic programmes and sensitive corporate matters delegated by the Chief Executive.

The successful candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience in a complex and highly regulated environment, together with exceptional judgement, political awareness and the ability to build trusted relationships, influence at the most senior levels and provide independent, authoritative advice on matters of significant complexity and sensitivity.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Corporate Governance Director is responsible for providing strategic and professional leadership for the Trust's corporate governance framework and acting as Trust Secretary.

The postholder will serve as principal adviser to the Chair, Chief Executive, Board of Directors, and Council of Governors on governance, constitutional, regulatory and accountability matters. They will lead governance, assurance, risk, and Board effectiveness arrangements, support the effective operation of the Board and Council of Governors, lead the Chief Executive's Office and contribute to the wider leadership of the organisation as a member of the Trust Executive Group.

Please see the accompanying detailed Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role, responsibilities and requirements.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.