Job requirements
Essential
35 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other requirements
Adaptable and flexible according to the demands of the service
- Skills and abilities
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain highly complex legal, regulatory and assurance matters to varied audiences.
- Skills and abilities
Highly developed influencing, negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution skills, with the credibility to challenge Board members and senior leaders and secure action on contentious matters.
- Skills and abilities
Ability to make informed decisions, including in respect of non-routine matters assessing several different conflicting options, making accountable recommendations where there may be no precedent.
- Skills and abilities
Ability to lead a broad portfolio of complex interdependent projects, with responsibility for design & implementation of project plans
- Skills and abilities
Ability to interpret data to make recommendations about delivery & take appropriate action
- Skills and abilities
Ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely at all levels of the organisation, including executive colleagues
- Skills and abilities
Ability to hold others to account for agreed targets and to demonstrate personal accountability for delivering a high-quality service.
- Skills and abilities
Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
- Skills and abilities
Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Skills and abilities
Establish and maintain good team working relationships with internal and external personnel to avoid conflict of interest
- Skills and abilities
Support and motivate team members
- Skills and abilities
Ability to work with stakeholders and influence a range of diverse groups
- Skills and abilities
Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities consistently and develop these in others
- Skills and abilities
Present highly complex information to large groups of multi disciplinary staff
- Skills and abilities
Analytical and IT skills with meticulous attention to detail
- Skills and abilities
Supportive and able to foster an open and learning culture
- Skills and abilities
Ability to work under pressure managing competing deadlines.
- Skills and abilities
High degree of personal resilience to meet mental and emotional requirements of the post.
- Skills and abilities
Well organised and practical with a logical, analytical approach to work with attention to detail
- Skills and abilities
Positive and motivated
- Knowledge and experience
Substantial experience operating at corporate director, Board secretary or equivalent level in a large, complex and regulated organisation.
- Knowledge and experience
Relevant experience of designing and preparing senior level reports
- Knowledge and experience
Successful leadership of organisation-wide governance strategy,.
- Knowledge and experience
Experience of regulatory engagement, external audit and representing an organisation at regional or national level.
- Knowledge and experience
Evidence of making and defending high impact judgements where information is incomplete or conflicting and where decisions carry material regulatory, financial or reputational consequences
- Knowledge and experience
Experience of leading and managing teams
- Knowledge and experience
Cognisant of national initiatives and the policy direction indicated by the CQC, NHS England and the Department of Health in relation Corporate Governance
- Knowledge and experience
Knowledge of the legal requirements within the NHS in respect of Corporate Governance
- Knowledge and experience
In depth knowledge of the Corporate Governance Framework, Standing Orders, and other key governance publications.
- Knowledge and experience
A understanding of Freedom of Information and Subject Access request requirements
- Knowledge and experience
A thorough understanding of the CQC Regulation 5: Fit and Proper Persons
- Qualifications and professional registration
Master’s degree or equivalent advanced specialist knowledge acquired through a relevant professional qualification and substantial senior-level experience.
- Qualifications and professional registration
Chartered Governance Professional with relevant governance qualification e.g. Chartered Company Secretary) or have equivalent relevant experience governance (at least 2 years Corporate Governance experience working at an advanced level or at ‘Board’ level)
- Qualifications and professional registration
Evidence of sustained continuing professional development in corporate governance, regulation, risk and Board practice
Desirable
Not listed in the available specification.
Job overview
The Trust Board Secretary is a key senior role; a member of the Trust’s Senior Leadership Team and the Executive Management Team. The post holder is accountable for the strategic leadership, design and assurance of the corporate governance framework, ensuring that Board and organisational business is conducted with probity, transparency and in accordance with legislation, national standards and regulatory requirements. They operate with a considerable degree of autonomy and trust to maintain their independence as Trust Board Secretary. Operating independently of operational and clinical management structures, the post holder has direct access to the Chair, Chief Executive and every member of the Trust Board and is authorised to escalate material governance concerns directly to them.
They act as the conscience of the Board and the organisation on matters of probity and good governance. They are responsible for providing independent and authoritative advice to the Chief Executive, the Chair of the Trust, and other Board members on highly complex, sensitive and contentious corporate governance issues where there may be significant organisational, regulatory, financial or reputational consequences.
Main duties of the job
- Being the lead specialist in the Trust on corporate governance issues providing strategic direction and advice to members of the Trust Board, providing professional judgement on appropriate action in response to any differences of opinion that arise in relation to corporate governance issues.
- Set organisation-wide standards and advise the Board on appropriate action where highly complex or contentious issues create significant regulatory, financial or reputational risk.
Support the Chief Executive in fulfilling their Accounting Officer responsibility with respect to good governance and to maintain the highest standards of prudence, propriety, and regularity.
Remain abreast of and ensure the Trust complies with relevant legislation and best practice in corporate governance, interpreting national policy and guidance and advising the Board and others in the organisation accordingly.
Development of the Trust’s corporate governance structure and operating model, including delegated authority, committee architecture, assurance routes and accountability arrangements across all directorates and corporate functions.
- Provide strategic and professional leadership to the Trust’s secretariat function managing the smooth running of the Board and its Committees.
- A comprehensive list of duties can be found in the attached job description.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details with regard to this vacancy opportunity, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
We reserve the right to close the advert early in the event of high levels of interest. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.
We welcome applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship to work in the UK, and these will be considered alongside all other applications in line with our commitment to equality and inclusion.
Applicants can determine their potential eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by reviewing the Skilled Worker Visa criteria set out by UKVI on the gov.uk website.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Trust Secretary with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Cottingham, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £94,356 - £108,814 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 03 Nov 2026.
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