Director of Corporate Governance

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Wigan; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust in England seeks an experienced Director of Corporate Governance. This senior leadership role ensures robust corporate governance while acting as Board Secretary. The ideal candidate will possess extensive governance expertise and strong interpersonal skills, supporting effective decision-making in a complex healthcare environment. Responsibilities include overseeing governance frameworks, compliance, and Board effectiveness. Applications are encouraged from diverse backgrounds, promoting the Trust's core values.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in corporate governance within a complex environment.
• Ability to provide authoritative advice to senior leadership.
• Proven track record in compliance and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as chief adviser on corporate governance and compliance.
• Serve as Board Secretary ensuring proper functioning of Committees.
• Lead the development of the corporate governance framework.

Skills

Governance expertise

Interpersonal skills

Judgement

Job description

Job Overview

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is seeking to appoint an experienced and highly credible Director of Corporate Governance to play a pivotal role at the heart of the organisation.

This is a senior leadership and technical governance role, responsible for ensuring that the Trust’s corporate governance arrangements are robust, proportionate and effective, enabling the Board to lead with confidence and clarity. Acting as Board Secretary, the postholder will provide authoritative advice to the Chair, Chief Executive, Executive and Non-Executive Directors and Council of Governors on all aspects of corporate governance, assurance and regulatory compliance.

At WWL, we value governance that is purposeful, enabling and human — supporting good decision-making rather than bureaucracy for its own sake. We are therefore looking for a governance professional with deep expertise, sound judgement and the interpersonal skills to operate effectively in a complex, fast-paced NHS environment.

• Closing date for applications: midnight Monday 12th January 2026.
• Final interviews W/C 26th January 2026.

The Director Of Corporate Governance Will

• Act as the Trust’s chief adviser on corporate governance, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and best-practice requirements.
• Serve as Board Secretary, ensuring the Board and its Committees are properly constituted, supported and effective.
• Lead the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of the Trust’s corporate governance framework, including Standing Orders, Scheme of Delegation and governance policies.
• Oversee effective Board and Committee management, ensuring high-quality agendas, papers, minutes and forward plans.
• Lead the Trust’s Board Assurance Framework, corporate risk management arrangements and governance links to internal audit.
• Lead on the production of the Annual Report and Governance Statement, working closely with Executive colleagues.
• Ensure effective governance and support arrangements for the Council of Governors, including induction and development.
• Act as the Trust’s accountable officer for the Freedom to Speak Up agenda, providing assurance on organisational response to concerns and overseeing the GM ICB FTSU contract.
• Lead and develop the executive support and corporate governance teams.
• Represent the Trust in discussions with regulators, system partners and external stakeholders.
• Participate as a member of the Executive On-Call rota.

As a key member of the Trust’s senior leadership community, the postholder will role‑model the Trust’s values and contribute to delivery of Strategy 2030.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name: Jonathan Phillips
Job title: Director
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 07817 988490

To Apply

Please attach a CV and cover letter in support of your application to [e-mail] using the subject “WWL Dir of Corporate Governance application”.

Any postal applications should be sent directly to:

Jonathan Phillips
Seymour John Ltd
The Whitehouse, Wilderspool Business Park
Greenalls Ave,
Stockton Heath, Cheshire WA4 6HL