Associate Director of Corporate Governance

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 94,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Associate Director of Corporate Governance to provide strategic leadership across corporate governance, board assurance and risk.

You will act as a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, Chair and Board, lead the Company Secretary function, strengthen governance frameworks and support the organisation through major regulatory developments, ensuring high standards of accountability and patient safety.

Qualifications

• Masters level education or equivalent experience.
• Continuing professional development / accreditation.
• Extensive specialist knowledge of corporate governance / risk management and assurance reporting.
• Associate or Fellow Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI).

Responsibilities

• Act as adviser to the Chief Executive, Chair, Board and senior leaders on governance, assurance, strategic risk and regulatory matters.
• Fulfil the Company Secretary role and lead governance for the Board, its committees and the Council of Governors.
• Strengthen the Trust’s governance and assurance frameworks, supporting clear accountability, regulatory compliance and sound decision-making.
• Lead Board and governor development and effectiveness, building strong relationships and governance capability across the organisation.
• Ensure Board and committee business is well planned, with timely, high-quality papers that enable effective scrutiny and decisions.

Skills

Governance

Board liaison

Regulatory compliance

Strategic leadership

Education

Masters level education

CGI membership (Assoc/Fellow)

Job description

Associate Director of Corporate Governance

NHS AfC: Band 8d

Main area Director Grade NHS AfC: Band 8d Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 158-26-290-EXE

Site The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - The Spine Town Liverpool Salary £94,356 - £108,814 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 06/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 23/11/2026

We want our recruitment process to be fair, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. If you need support or a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our Recruitment Team - 0151 5565176 or [e-mail]. Adjustments may include alternative formats, extra time for assessments, communication support, accessible interview arrangements, interview questions prior to interview or other changes tailored to your needs.

Right to work: We actively promote diversity and inclusion. This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. We recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Skilled Worker sponsorship will be assigned in line with Trust procedure. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC) NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional Associate Director of Corporate Governance to provide strategic leadership and expert advice across corporate governance, Board assurance and risk.

CCC is an ambitious specialist cancer centre delivering non-surgical oncology services to a population of 2.7 million. Guided by our new five-year strategy, we are committed to improving patient outcomes and experience through collaboration and partnership working.

Working at the heart of the organisation, you will ensure that the Board and senior leaders have the governance, assurance and insight required to make effective decisions and deliver our strategic ambitions.

This influential senior leadership role offers the opportunity to shape modern, proportionate governance arrangements and support CCC’s Advanced Foundation Trust application in quarter four of 2026/27.

Main duties of the job

The role

You will:

· Act as a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, Chair, Board and senior leaders on governance, assurance, strategic risk and regulatory matters.

· Fulfil the Company Secretary role and lead effective governance arrangements for the Board, its committees and the Council of Governors.

· Strengthen the Trust’s governance and assurance frameworks, supporting clear accountability, regulatory compliance and sound decision-making.

· Lead Board and governor development and effectiveness, building strong relationships and governance capability across the organisation.

· Ensure Board and committee business is well planned, with timely, high-quality papers that enable effective scrutiny and decisions

About you

You will be an experienced senior governance professional with comprehensive knowledge of Board governance, assurance, strategic risk and regulatory requirements , supported by sound judgement and excellent communication and influencing skills.

You will recognise good governance as more than compliance : it is an enabler of better decisions, stronger leadership and improved outcomes for patients

Working for our organisation

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading cancer centres providing highly specialist cancer care to a population of 2.4m people across Cheshire and Merseyside, and the surrounding areas, including North Wales and the Isle of Man.

Our vision is to not only maintain this level of commitment to excellence but to work with our academic and healthcare partners across the region to ensure care, treatment and patient outcomes continuously improve in the future. We are very proud of all our expert and loyal staff and we welcome people who share the collective aim of delivering excellence in everything that we do.

Our values represent who we are and what we believe in. They define how we act to deliver the best possible care for our patients and shape The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre as a great place to work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details about this exciting role on offer at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Interviews will be held on 23 November 2026 at The Spine, Paddington Village.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 6 November 2026.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level and/or equivalent experience working at this level.
• Evidence of continuing professional development / accreditation and learning.
• Extensive specialist knowledge of corporate governance/risk management and assurance reporting statutory and regulatory.
• Associate or Fellow Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI).

Knowledge

• Understanding of the relevant legislation (Data Protection, Freedom of Information Act, Human Rights Act, NHS Act 2012, Bribery Act).
• Knowledge and experience of NHS regulatory frameworks e.g. NHS England, Care Quality Commission.
• Understanding of the NHS and current policy framework.
• Knowledge of the Companies Act.
• Have a deep understanding of Advanced Trust status requirements and the application process.

Experience

• Considerable experience of working at Board and senior level in a substantial complex public sector organisation.
• Considerable experience of dealing with senior external stakeholders and confidently representing a public sector or commercial body.
• A track record of dealing with Corporate Governance and principles of business conduct
• Experience of working with / implementing Corporate Governance, regulations and statute in the public sector
• Experience of accessing legal advice and acting as the primary point of contact for legal advice to the Trust.
• Experience of managing Freedom of Information function.
• Experience of interpreting national policy.
• Track record of advising Boards on corporate responsibility and liability.
• Managing and successfully influencing internal stakeholders from junior to senior level, including Executive and Non-Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
• Managing and influencing corporate agendas.
• Leading organisational change.
• Experience of developing and implementing organisational functions or strategies for Corporate Governance.
• Implementing robust systems of internal control to support corporate governance
• Substantial experience as a company secretary of an organisation with significant commercial dealings or Foundation Trust setting.
• Experience of deputising for Board level directors
• Experience of public speaking / presentations to wide audiences.

The cost of processing a new DBS application is met by the successful applicant. DBS costs are recovered via salary deduction following commencement in post - further details including cost are available from the Recruitment Team. It is a Trust recommendation that candidates requiring a DBS check subscribe to the DBS Update Service - further details are available here - https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service . Candidates who withdraw post-DBS submission will be invoiced for the full cost of the check including administration fee.

The Trust takes active responsibility for meeting national guidance and legal requirements in relation to our Safeguarding Policy, including local arrangements for the protection of adults at risk.

The Trust is committed to providing high standards of both patient and staff experience. To support us in doing this the Trust, in partnership with Trade Unions has developed and embedded key values and behaviours that all staff are required to demonstrate throughout their employment. The Trust's values and behaviours support the Trust Vision 'to provide the best cancer care to the people we serve' and our Mission 'to improve health and wellbeing through compassionate, safe and effective cancer care'.

We promote and support diversity in our workforce. The Trust have staff networks such as Ethnic Diversity Staff Network, LGBTQ+ Staff Network, Armed Forces Staff Network, MAPLE Staff Network & Menopause Support Group. The Trust does not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment and has firmed up processes for reporting this, including a dedicated Freedom To Speak Up (FTSU) Guardian.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Lynn Fazakerley Job title Executive Assistant to Chair&Chief Executive Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0151 556 5947