Head of Governance

The Nursing and Midwifery Council; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Life Insurance – 4x salary

Cycle to Work scheme

Season ticket loans

Employee Assistance Programme

Subsidised restaurant in PortlandPlace

Job summary

The Governance team at the Nursing and Midwifery Council is seeking a strategic leader to head the Governance function in London. You will lead a high-performing team, ensuring effective support to Council and committees and driving continuous governance improvement across the organisation.

You will build trusted relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders, champion inclusive leadership, and deputise for senior governance leadership when required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior governance role within a complex organisation.
• Experience supporting Boards, Councils, Committees or other senior decision-making bodies.
• Strong understanding of governance frameworks, accountability and assurance.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop diverse teams.
• Ability to build credibility with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Confident influencing and constructive challenge at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Governance function.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing, engaged and inclusive team.
• Create a culture where different perspectives are welcomed and valued.
• Ensure effective support is provided to Council, Committees and senior decision-making forums.
• Build strong and trusted relationships with Council Members and stakeholders.
• Champion continuous improvement and governance effectiveness.
• Lead governance projects and initiatives.
• Oversee governance reporting and assurance activities.
• Support the organisation through change and transformation.
• Deputise for senior governance leadership when required.

Skills

Senior governance leadership

Stakeholder management

Board and committee support

Influencing at senior level

Strategic governance improvement

Inclusive leadership

Job description

Head of Governance

Application Deadline: 17 November 2026

Department: Governance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London, Portland Place

Reporting To: Jacqueline Maunder

Compensation: £72,135 - £80,150 / year

Description

About the Team

The Governance Team sits at the heart of the NMC and plays a vital role in helping the organisation make well-informed, transparent and accountable decisions.

Working closely with Council Members, Committee Chairs, Executive Directors and colleagues across the organisation, the team provides the governance expertise, advice and support that enables effective decision-making and helps the NMC deliver on its purpose.

You’ll be joining a respected and well-established team where collaboration, inclusion and continuous learning are highly valued. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to better decisions, stronger governance and a more inclusive culture. We welcome different ways of thinking, varied career journeys and experiences gained across a range of sectors and environments.

This is a team where people are encouraged to contribute, challenge constructively, share ideas and support one another’s development. You’ll have the opportunity to lead talented professionals, build capability and create an environment where everyone can thrive, grow and do their best work.

As the NMC continues to evolve, the Governance Team will play an important role in helping the organisation navigate change, strengthen governance arrangements and prepare for the opportunities ahead.

Your Role and Impact

As Head of Governance, you’ll lead an experienced team and help shape how governance supports the NMC’s strategic ambitions.

This is a highly visible leadership role, offering the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders, Council Members and Committee Chairs while influencing decision‑making at the highest levels of the organisation.

You’ll be a trusted adviser, providing expert guidance on governance matters and ensuring governance frameworks, processes and practices remain effective, proportionate and fit for the future.

We are looking for someone who values partnership, listens to different viewpoints and creates space for others to contribute. You will champion inclusive leadership, helping to foster a culture where people feel respected, supported and empowered to succeed.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for the Governance function.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high‑performing, engaged and inclusive team.
• Create a culture where different perspectives are welcomed and valued.
• Ensure effective support is provided to Council, Committees and senior decision‑making forums.
• Build strong and trusted relationships with Council Members, senior leaders and stakeholders across the organisation.
• Champion continuous improvement and identify opportunities to enhance governance effectiveness.
• Lead governance projects and initiatives that support organisational priorities.
• Oversee governance reporting, assurance activities and key governance outputs.
• Support the organisation through periods of change and transformation.
• Deputise for senior governance leadership when required.

This role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact. You’ll help shape the future of governance within the organisation, influence how decisions are made and create an environment where colleagues can develop, contribute and succeed.

What You Will Bring

We’re looking for an experienced governance leader who combines sound governance expertise with strong leadership, collaboration and relationship‑building skills.

We recognise that great candidates may not have followed the same career path. If your experience has been gained in a different sector or through a varied professional journey, we encourage you to apply if you can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and leadership capability we’re looking for.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in a senior governance role within a complex organisation.
• Experience supporting Boards, Councils, Committees or other senior decision‑making bodies.
• A strong understanding of governance frameworks, accountability and assurance.
• A track record of leading, motivating and developing diverse teams and creating environments where people can perform at their best.
• The ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Confidence influencing and constructively challenging at senior levels.
• Experience driving governance improvements and delivering positive organisational change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong judgement, discretion and the ability to manage sensitive or complex matters.
• A collaborative, inclusive and pragmatic approach to problem‑solving.
• Resilience, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Most importantly, you’ll be someone who values the contribution of others, leads with authenticity and creates an environment where colleagues feel heard, supported and able to succeed. You’ll understand that strong governance is built not only on robust frameworks and processes, but also on inclusive leadership, diverse perspectives and meaningful collaboration.

If you’re looking for a role where you can lead a talented team, influence organisational decision‑making and help shape the future of governance while making a positive impact on colleagues, stakeholders and the wider public, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

• 30 days annual leave
• Enhanced Pension Contributions via our attractive Pension Scheme – with a basic 8% employer contribution as standard which increases up to 14% with optional added Employee Contributions
• Life Insurance – 4 x current salary
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• 24 Hours Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Perkbox membership
• Subsidised restaurant in our Portland Place office
• Season ticket loans

Additional Information

The role you are applying for is a flexible role, and whilst you will be posted initially to a team, this may require movement between teams as the flow of work dictates. You will of course understand that this flexible approach enables us to provide the best possible service to our registrants and reach the outcomes to our cases quickly and within a reasonable timeframe. This will not change your terms and conditions and will be discussed with you prior to you taking up the post.

Hybrid Working Policy

We are currently working to a policy of office attendance for two days per week with the rest of the time working from home. Before submitting your application, please ensure you are able to commit to working in one of our office locations twice per week. If you are applying for a part‑time role, please pro‑rate office attendance based on the number of days you would be working.

Our Pay Policy

It is expected that staff new to the NMC will ordinarily be appointed to the bottom of the relevant pay band. However in exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to offer a salary above the bottom of the relevant pay band but we may request proof of current earnings. Please note that we offer an annual review of salaries and adopt a generous progressive pay approach. Further details of which are available on request.

For our internal colleagues, you will be paid in accordance to our internal pay policy.

Reasonable adjustments

We will provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates throughout the recruitment process.

Please let us know if you need any additional support to enable you to make an application with us.

Screening and vetting

All of our roles are subject to pre‑employment checks. We are in the process of introducing a vetting policy, and it is possible that this role may become subject to DBS and further vetting checks in future.