Head of Quality Governance & Risk

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Manchester is seeking an experienced leader for the role of Head of Quality Governance & Risk. This position involves strategic leadership and management of quality assurance processes, ensuring compliance and a culture of improvement. Applicants should have a strong background in quality improvement and experience in project management. This fixed-term, full-time role offers a salary range of £64,455 to £74,896 per year.

Qualifications

• Experience in a patient safety role within health systems.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and NHS policies.
• Strategic leadership experience supporting Board Executives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to quality governance.
• Lead development of the Trust Local Risk Management System.
• Support production and delivery of the Trust's Quality Improvement Strategy.

Skills

Effective communication with clinical, academic, and staff levels

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Strong presentation skills

Analytical skills for qualitative and quantitative data

Judgement in ambiguous situations

Vision development and translating into plans

Education

Educated to Masters level or equivalent senior level experience

Quality improvement qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced, knowledgeable, and driven leader for the role of Head of Quality Governance & Risk at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The role supports the Associate Director of Quality Governance and provides leadership to the Trust's Quality Governance agenda and Risk Management Strategy. The post holder should have a strong background in Quality Improvement, project management, and transformation, and be a confident communicator who engages a wide range of stakeholders. Applicants should demonstrate evidence of implementing Quality Improvement methodologies and project/programme management experience.

Main duties of the job

Deputising for the Associate Director of Quality Governance, the post holder will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure robust governance systems across the Trust. Provide senior leadership to the Patient Safety, Clinical Governance, Health & Safety, Risk and Quality Improvement teams. Lead the development and evolution of the Trust Local Risk Management System and related strategies. Promote a culture of transparency, learning, and continuous improvement, ensuring regulatory compliance and high standards of care.

About us

The Christie is one of Europe\'s leading cancer centres, based in Manchester and serving a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire. The Trust provides radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and a wide range of support and diagnostic services, and is active in international cancer research and clinical trials.

Details

Date posted: 18 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 per year pro rata

Contract: Fixed term (12 months)

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference: 413-97830-QS-MS

Job locations: Quality and Standards - E00025, Manchester, M20 4BX

Job responsibilities

Act as the formal deputy to the Associate Director of Quality Governance, including representation at senior meetings, committees, and external forums. Provide leadership in the absence of the Associate Director, ensuring continuity across quality governance functions. Support the production, publication and delivery of the Trust\'s Quality Improvement Strategy and Governance Framework, working closely with divisional and corporate teams. Oversee the administration and review of the Trust\'s risk registers, ensuring alignment with the Board Assurance Framework and risk management strategy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Educated to Masters level (in a relevant discipline) or equivalent senior level experience
• Essential: Quality improvement qualification or equivalent experience
• Desirable: Post-graduate governance qualification or leadership qualifications

Experience

• Essential: Experience in a patient safety role with understanding of improving patient safety in health systems
• Essential: Knowledge of clinical governance, incident response, risk management, and NHS policies and standards
• Essential: Strategic leadership experience supporting Board Executives (including voluntary roles)
• Essential: Experience implementing national guidelines and advising on implementation
• Essential: Experience developing and delivering training programs
• Essential: Experience co-designing with patients/service users
• Essential: Evidence of CPD
• Essential: Providing advice on complex professional and people issues
• Desirable: Budget management experience and financial processes
• Desirable: Project/change management experience (e.g., Agile, Prince 2)

Skills

• Interpret complex information from safety and administrative data
• Effective communication with clinical, academic, and staff levels
• Senior leadership capability
• Vision development and translating into plans with tight deadlines
• Collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Autonomous decision-making and prioritisation
• Time management and prioritisation
• Network building to share best practice
• Persuasive communication and influencing skills
• Judgement in ambiguous situations
• Strong presentation skills and ability to convey complex information
• MS Office familiarity; analytical skills for qualitative and quantitative data

Knowledge

• Systems thinking, human factors, and just culture
• Equality Act 2010 considerations and data analysis on protected characteristics
• Healthcare inequalities factors and access to services
• Quality improvement science developments
• NHS patient safety strategy understanding and implementation
• Safeguarding and legal duties

Values

• Demonstrates organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Openness to change and learning
• Kind and compassionate approach
• Courage to challenge appropriately
• Involvement of patients and the public in work
• Active personal and team development

Compliance

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and requires Disclosure to be submitted to the DBS.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Notes: For overseas applicants, guidance on criminal records checks is available on the UK government sites.

Employer details

The Christie NHS FT

Address: Quality and Standards - E00025, Manchester, M20 4BX

Employer website: christie.nhs.uk