Assistant Director Governance & Risk

NHS; Abercynon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health board in Wales is seeking an Assistant Director of Governance & Risk to manage Board Business. This role involves providing expert advice to senior management and implementing governance frameworks. Qualified candidates should have a Master's degree in Corporate Governance and substantial leadership experience. The position is set within a collaborative environment aimed at improving health services across a diverse region, offering benefits including career growth and a strong pension plan.

Benefits

Leading pension

Generous leave

Flexible work

Qualifications

• Educated to Master's Degree Level or equivalent management experience.
• Knowledge of strategic risk and good governance practices.
• Experience in managing Board Business and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of Board Business in line with Welsh Government legislation.
• Provide independent professional advice to the Board.
• Manage complex situations requiring sound judgment.

Skills

Leadership

Risk Management

Financial Management

Communication

Collaborative Working

Education

Master’s Degree in Corporate Governance

Risk Management Qualification

Job description

Go back Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Assistant Director Governance & Risk

The closing date is 21 January 2026

This is a Secondment/Fixed Term for 12 months due to service needs. If you are interested in applying for it as a secondment, please obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying.

An exciting secondment opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Director of Governance & Risk.

In this leadership role, the post holder will work at a senior level in a highly pressurised and sometimes volatile and hostile environment.

Act as a key source of advice and support to CTMUHB Chair, Chief Executive and entire Board (Executive Directors, Independent Members and Associate Board members).

Deal with highly complex situations requiring analysis, interpretation, and sound judgment. This is especially relevant when responding to Board Business and advice to the Chair on highly sensitive or complex issues where interpretation of the Standing Orders, Manual for Accounts and other Welsh Government guidance is required.

Have lead responsibility for the implementation and maintenance of the Risk Management Strategy, Risk Appetite and Board Assurance Framework for the entire Health Board ensuring that effective risks systems are in place supporting service to Board escalation of risk.

Act as the Deputy Director of Corporate Governance and deputise for the Director of Corporate Governance/Board Secretary.

Main duties of the job

Lead the delivery of Board Business in accordance with Welsh Government Standing Orders and other relevant legislation and ensure that there is continual improvement in standards of board business, risk management and compliance.

Work collaboratively with external and internal stakeholders to ensure the provision of high quality and timely Board business services, maintaining Health Board wide professional standards ensuring consistency and facilitating the sharing of good practice.

Work without supervision with freedom to act in the professional capacity for which they lead with escalation to the Director where necessary.

Make informed choices in the absence of required information, deciding on relevant actions involving the interpretation of the Standing Orders.

Lead with confidence, demonstrating flexibility and openness to change.

Have demonstrable in-depth knowledge and experience of financial management, staff management, performance management, and project management required for the role.

Provide independent professional advice to the Board and act as a guardian of good governance within the organisation.

Work undertaken will impact across the whole of the organisation, and the post holder will regularly interact with the most senior post holders in the organisation including the CEO, the Chair, Vice Chair, all Executive Directors and Independent Members.

About us

Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) University Health Board, part of NHS Wales, serves a large population across a diverse and beautiful region, steeped in history and heritage. With nearly 13,500 staff, our health board is one of Wales's largest employers.

Together, we are Team CTM; a workforce dedicated to offering excellent patient care and support to the 450,000 people across our three regions, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. We operate three District General hospitals, several community hospitals, primary and community care facilities.

CTM's location offers the best of South Wales, just 20 minutes from Cardiff's vibrant city life, the natural beauty of the Brecon Beacons, and the serene coastline at Ogmore. Whether you enjoy lively urban amenities, peaceful countryside, or seaside escapes, our location makes an ideal setting for both work and personal life.

Our CTM 2030 Strategy--Our Health, Our Future--focuses on uniting our region around shared health and wellbeing goals. Our values guide us daily:

• We listen, learn, and improve
• We treat everyone with respect
• We work together as one team

CTM employees enjoy benefits including; a leading pension, generous leave, flexible work, career growth, and access to ongoing learning and development.

At CTM, you'll find a welcoming, team‑oriented workplace that values diversity and compassion, where you can take pride in your work and the difference it makes.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Welsh Skills Desirable: This post is advertised as Welsh Desirable. This doesn’t mean essential; while the candidate doesn’t need to have skills in Welsh, we’ll consider it an advantage when short‑listing and selecting candidates. This isn’t fluency, just Speaking & Listening skills at Level 3 (equivalent to CEFR B2) or above. Level 3 means basic conversations with patients about their everyday health. For more information, see Welsh Language Guidance in the documents right at the bottom.

Person Specification

Qualifications and/or Knowledge

• Educated to relevant Master’s Degree Level in relevant field (Corporate Governance) or equivalent level of management experience at a Board Level.
• Risk Management qualification and knowledge of strategic risk.
• Evidence of continuous CPD.
• Robust knowledge of the healthcare environment and roles and responsibilities within it, with a thorough understanding of current issues and challenges and the wider political and public sector context.
• Excellent understanding of the application of Standing Orders and Good Governance practices and principles.
• Welsh Language Speaking/Listening Skills at Level 3 or above.

Experience

• Substantial experience of managing Board Business and setting standards of Good Governance within organisations.
• Substantial experience of delivering in a senior leadership role.
• Experience of working as part of a multi‑professional team.
• Experience of developing and implementing Governance frameworks to support service delivery and service change.
• Substantial experience of giving professional advice and gaining the confidence and respect of senior colleagues and stakeholders, with the gravitas to provide challenge.
• Have budgetary monitoring, personal and performance management experience.
• Experience with regard to people management, managing change.

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.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board