Corporate Governance Director: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications and professional development

Essential

• Educated to master’s degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent senior-level knowledge and experience.
• Recognised governance qualification, such as Chartered Governance Institute qualification, or equivalent substantial senior governance expertise in a highly complex environment.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, leadership, regulation or organisational management.

Desirable

• Postgraduate management or leadership qualification, or equivalent senior-level experience.

Experience

Essential

• Substantial senior leadership experience in corporate governance within a large, complex and highly regulated organisation.
• Significant experience of advising a Board, Chair, Chief Executive and senior executives on complex governance, constitutional and procedural matters.
• Senior experience within an NHS Foundation Trust or a directly comparable health or public-sector environment.
• Experience of leading Board and Committee governance, including work programmes, papers, minutes, decision records and effectiveness reviews.
• Experience of working with regulators, external auditors, legal advisers and other external assurance bodies.
• Experience of leading and developing professional teams and managing resources and budgets.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting a Council of Governors or an equivalent statutory stakeholder body.
• Experience of leading organisational risk, Board Assurance Framework and integrated assurance arrangements.
• Experience of working in large academic health / teaching hospital environment or equivalent experience.
• Experience of leading significant organisational reviews, complex projects or change programmes.
• Experience of acting on behalf of a Chief Executive or equivalent senior office-holder on complex and sensitive matters.
• Experience of leading Well-led reviews or comparable governance and leadership assessments.
• Experience of complaint resolution and direct engagement with patients, families or the public in sensitive circumstances.

Knowledge

Essential

• Expert knowledge of corporate governance principles, Board practice, assurance and decision-making in complex organisations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of NHS Foundation Trust governance, statutory duties, provider licence requirements and the Code of Governance for NHS Provider Trusts.
• Sound knowledge of risk management, internal control, assurance frameworks, audit and regulatory compliance.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Exceptional judgement and the ability to provide independent, impartial and authoritative advice in situations of significant complexity or sensitivity.
• Ability to think and act strategically while maintaining a strong grip on detail, delivery and procedural integrity.
• Outstanding written communication skills, including the ability to produce concise, accurate and high-quality Board reports, briefings and formal records.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex legislation, guidance and evidence.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority demands, work calmly under pressure and meet immovable deadlines.
• Confident use of digital tools, Microsoft Office applications and electronic governance systems and willingness to embrace new ways of working including the use of Artificial Intelligence..

Values and behaviours — PROUD

Essential

• Patients First: ensures that patients and the people served by the Trust are at the heart of decisions and governance.
• Delivery: maintains a strong focus on outcomes, follows through on commitments and supports continuous improvement.

Closing Date: 26 October 2026