Executive Director of Corporate and Governance

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board; Warrington; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in Warrington is seeking an Executive Director of Corporate and Governance to lead corporate functions and ensure compliance and governance. The successful candidate will drive cultural transformation, support the workforce strategy, and lead patient engagement initiatives. Extensive experience in senior NHS leadership is required, alongside a Master's degree or equivalent. This role offers an opportunity to shape strategic priorities and improve organizational outcomes for the community.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of senior leadership within NHS or public sector.
• Proven record of delivering large-scale transformation and organisational development.
• Expertise in leading corporate governance functions and risk management at Board level.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and corporate governance oversight.
• Lead workforce strategy development and culture transformation.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties and governance principles.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Corporate governance

Change management

Patient engagement

Risk management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent experience

Membership of governance-related bodies (e.g., ICSA)

Job description

Executive Director of Corporate and Governance

The closing date is 05 February 2026

The Executive Director of Corporate and Governance is a senior leader within the Integrated Care Board (ICB), providing strategic leadership for all corporate functions and ensuring robust governance, compliance, and organisational resilience. The postholder will drive cultural and organisational transformation, embed inclusive leadership, and deliver measurable improvements in governance, workforce sustainability, and patient engagement. They will also lead digital and data governance within corporate services, ensure financial stewardship, and champion innovation to support the NHS Long Term Plan and Marmot principles.

The postholder will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the workforce strategy that underpins the ICB's strategic commissioning objectives. This includes ensuring that the health and care workforce is equipped, supported, and aligned to meet the evolving needs of the population and the ambitions of integrated care.

Main duties of the job

Any NHS Cheshire and Merseyside employee who is currently At Risk of Redundancy will receive preference for this vacancy.

Please note: This role will be subject to the Annual Fit and Proper Persons Test in line with NHS requirements.

Key responsibilities

Portfolio responsibilities may vary and adapt over time to respond to the needs and strategic priorities of the ICB/ICS. However, the postholder is expected to fulfil the following key functions:

• Strategic Leadership & Corporate Governance
• Workforce and People Leadership
• Patient Experience and Engagement
• Matrix and System Working
• Estates and Sustainability
• Data Protection
• Governance and Delivery Oversight

Strategic Leadership & Corporate Governance

Support the CEO, Chair and senior leadership team in developing and implementing the ICB's vision, values and strategy.

Provide advice on matters of probity, legal compliance and business conduct.

Act as the ICB's governance lead with oversight of company secretary, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations and best practice.

Ensure assurance in corporate governance systems including Board and Committee effectiveness, risk management and regulatory requirements.

Lead the strategic resource planning and allocation aligned with NHS priorities and local system needs.

Provide Board assurance through robust systems and processes, including regulatory requirements (e.g. CQC Well-Led assessment, annual report).

Act as Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and commission legal advice for the ICB.

Support delivery of the ICB/ICS financial plan through the identification and implementation of cost saving initiatives.

Ensure integrity, transparency and accountability in all ICB activities aligned with Nolan Principles and Model ICB Blueprint.

Provide executive oversight of business support functions including procurement, administration and corporate business continuity planning.

Drive efficiency and resilience in corporate operations through continuous improvement initiatives.

Workforce and People Leadership

Foster a compassionate, inclusive and values‑driven culture across the organisation.

Support workforce integration across NHS providers, local government, VCSE and academic partners.

Lead and develop high‑performing teams, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability and professional growth.

Oversee internal and external communications, corporate identity and public affairs ensuring transparency and consistency of messaging.

Lead strategic stakeholder engagement including NHS England, local authorities, MPs, Healthwatch, the wider public and media.

Ensure transparent, two‑way communication enabling public voice in ICB priorities and transformation programmes.

Lead on Freedom of Information, information governance and reputational risk management.

Ensure effective branding, public relations and crisis communication protocols.

Act as a strategic advisor on corporate affairs ensuring alignment with public sector values and reputational priorities.

Patient Experience and Engagement

Ensure robust systems for capturing and responding to patient feedback, complaints and PALS input.

Embed patient voice, lived experience and involvement in all ICB decision‑making.

Align engagement approaches with statutory duties and integrated care models.

Matrix and System Working

Promote a culture of system‑wide collaboration and shared ownership through matrix working.

Build strong relationships with system leaders, local authority partners, Healthwatch, provider collaboratives and trade unions.

Lead complex transformation initiatives, effectively managing change across the ICB/ICS.

Support alignment of local approaches and workforce priorities into a harmonised corporate model that promotes consistency, equity and organisational resilience.

Build strong relationships with HRDs, Directors of People and OD leads across the ICs to deliver a unified workforce offer.

Act as a connector between national NHS bodies and local delivery teams, translating policy into action.

Estates and Sustainability

Develop and implement an estates strategy aligned to ICB priorities and NHS sustainability goals.

Oversee property management, compliance with health and safety standards and statutory requirements.

Manage relationships with NHS Property Services and local authorities to support estate rationalisation and optimisation.

Drive delivery of NHS Green Plan objectives through estates management and operational practices.

Lead carbon reduction initiatives and promote sustainable approaches in estate planning and utilisation.

Data Protection

Ensure compliance with Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR requirements, including privacy impact assessments.

Oversee processes for managing data breaches and reporting obligations.

Act as organisational lead for data protection or ensure appropriate Data Protection Officer function is in place.

Governance and Delivery Oversight

Ensure transparency and compliance in strategic decision‑making and programme delivery.

Ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in all ICB activities, aligned with the Model ICB Blueprint, Nolan Principles and constitutional standards.

Oversee performance, risk and assurance frameworks for integrated delivery models, ensuring compliance and public confidence.

Support delivery of the ICB/ICS financial plan through the identification and implementation of cost saving opportunities.

Provide assurance on programme delivery, risk management and performance across health and care partnerships.

Monitor delivery against strategic objectives, ensuring alignment with ICs priorities and regulatory requirements.

Lead reporting and evaluation processes to demonstrate impact, value for money and continuous improvement.

Provide assurance to the ICB Board on the progress and impact of transformation programmes.

Ensure compliance with statutory duties, national frameworks and robust risk management.

Key Deliverables Aligned to NHS Priorities

Strategic Priority – Champion compassionate, inclusive and values‑based leadership.

Embed psychological safety, wellbeing and staff engagement as cultural norms.

Promote Freedom to Speak Up and EDI initiatives across the ICB.

Drive community and patient engagement in redesign.

Embed lived experience in policy, lead public and stakeholder engagement and ensure transparent, statutory‑aligned communication.

Deliver measurable improvements in patient feedback systems, complaints handling and PALS responsiveness.

Ensuring governance, leadership and culture underpin transformation.

Lead governance and Board operations to ensure compliance, transparency and a values‑driven culture.

Provide Board assurance on workforce risks, staffing levels and safe care standards.

Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory workforce requirements.

Maintain oversight of workforce‑related performance metrics across the ICB.

Ensure compliance with Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR, including privacy impact assessments and breach management.

Deliver robust corporate business continuity planning and procurement efficiency improvements.

Facilitate system coherence and collaboration – drive system‑wide collaboration by aligning local models, leading matrix working and building strategic partnerships to ensure consistency and resilience.

Work with local authorities, providers, and VCSE to deliver integrated workforce solutions.

Ensure staff voice and Trade Union partnerships shape strategy.

Build collaborative workforce models with academic and education partners.

Lead targeted programmes to reduce health inequalities and report progress against agreed metrics.

Develop and implement an estates strategy aligned to ICB priorities and NHS Green Plan objectives.

Deliver measurable carbon reduction targets and sustainability improvements across estate operations.

Ensure compliance with health and safety standards and statutory requirements for property management.

Emergency Planning & Resilience Response – Provide executive assurance for emergency preparedness and resilience, fulfilling Accountable Emergency Officer duties.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in system leadership and working with system partners, supported by evidence of agreeing and delivering on shared objectives that have resulted in policy/strategic outcomes.
• Membership of governance-related bodies (e.g., ICSA).

Experience

• Extensive experience of senior leadership and oversight within NHS, public sector or similar complex environments.
• Demonstrable expertise in leading corporate governance functions such as communications, HR/workforce or public sector corporate affairs.
• Proven record of delivering large‑scale transformation, people strategies or organisational development programmes.
• Demonstrable expertise in leading corporate governance functions and risk management at Board level within healthcare and/or social care settings.
• Proven track record of leading cultural and organisational change to deliver improved outcomes for local populations.

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.

Employer name

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board

Address

Hew Hems Head Office – NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Headquarters (with travel across Cheshire and Merseyside)