Interim Director of Governance

HealthHarmonie Ltd; Park Central; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Interim Clinical Governance Lead. This role combines hands-on delivery with strategic oversight within a complex healthcare environment. The successful candidate will provide leadership, strengthen governance frameworks, and ensure compliance with NHS standards. Ideal candidates will possess senior clinical governance experience, credibility at the executive level, and a pragmatic approach to delivery. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact during a short engagement.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in clinical governance leadership within healthcare.
• Proven track record with NHS clinical governance frameworks.
• Ability to lead and influence at executive levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across clinical governance and patient safety.
• Ensure alignment with best practice governance frameworks.
• Support oversight of incidents and risk management.
• Lead improvements to governance systems for future needs.

Skills

Senior experience in clinical governance

Strong understanding of NHS clinical governance

Experience developing governance processes

Credibility operating at executive level

Pragmatic, delivery-focused approach

Job description

Role Overview

This is a senior interim role suited to someone who enjoys combining hands‑on delivery with strategic oversight, and who can operate credibly at executive level within a complex healthcare environment.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact over a short period, helping to strengthen governance foundations while supporting the organisation's longer‑term direction.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership across clinical governance, quality and patient safety
• Ensure governance frameworks, processes and reporting are robust, consistent and aligned to best practice
• Support effective oversight of incidents, complaints, audit, risk and learning
• Strengthen governance assurance and reporting to support executive and board oversight
• Support readiness for regulatory and commissioner engagement
• Lead targeted improvements to governance systems and processes to support future needs

Governance Frameworks and Assurance

• Work within recognised NHS and CQC governance frameworks
• Support embedding of proportionate, effective governance arrangements across services
• Ensure policies, audit programmes and risk registers maintained and used effectively
• Promote learning from incidents, complaints and audit to drive continuous improvement

Data, Systems and Technology

• Support improved use of data and digital systems to strengthen quality, safety and compliance
• Enhance visibility, tracking and assurance through effective dashboards and reporting
• Help reduce manual processes and improve consistency through smarter system use

Key Relationships

• Executive and senior leadership team
• Clinical leaders and specialty teams
• Governance, quality and patient safety colleagues
• External stakeholders as required

Qualifications

• Senior experience in clinical governance or quality leadership within healthcare
• Strong understanding of NHS clinical governance and assurance frameworks
• Experience developing and embedding governance processes across organisations or services
• Credibility operating at executive level
• Pragmatic, delivery‑focused approach

Desirable

• Clinical background (e.g. nurse, doctor, AHP)
• Experience across NHS‑facing and independent sector services
• Experience supporting organisations through change or growth
• Strong interest in using technology and data to support quality and regulatory compliance