Senior Governance & Assurance Lead

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is seeking a Senior Governance & Assurance Lead to shape and lead governance, delivery assurance, risk management and compliance across the organisation. You will work with Executive Directors and senior leaders to design and embed risk-based assurance, provide credible challenge, and deliver integrated reporting on performance, risk and assurance.

This role offers an opportunity to influence decision-making in a complex health innovation

Qualifications

• Masters level qualification or equivalent senior-level experience in governance, assurance, risk, audit, programme delivery or related field.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, risk management and organisational leadership.
• Relevant professional qualification or membership in governance, risk, audit, project or programme management.

Responsibilities

• Lead governance and compliance arrangements with oversight, reporting and readiness for external review.
• Establish proportionate assurance across programmes, services and strategic initiatives with independent challenge on delivery, risk, resources and budgets.
• Design and operate risk-based assurance across the HInM Path from opportunity development through to benefits realisation and impact evaluation.
• Develop integrated performance, risk and assurance reporting for executives and committees.
• Lead the corporate risk framework and oversee effectiveness of controls and mitigations.
• Lead development and use of digital tools, automation and reporting technology to improve assurance quality.
• Lead and develop the Governance & Assurance function and build organisational capability.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Decision-making

Education

Masters level qualification

CPD in governance/assurance

Professional qualification in governance/risk

Job description

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We are seeking an experienced and credible Senior Governance & Assurance Lead to develop and lead an integrated approach to corporate governance, delivery assurance, risk management and compliance. This is a specialist role with the opportunity to shape how assurance supports effective decision-making, proportionate control and successful delivery across a complex health innovation organisation.

Working closely with Executive Directors, senior leaders, programme and service leads, and corporate functions, you will provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and expert advice. You will design and continuously improve governance and assurance frameworks that give senior leaders and Boards confidence in delivery, compliance, performance and risk.

A key focus will be the development and operation of assurance across the HInM Path, our end-to-end commercial and delivery process, from opportunity development and definition through to initiation, delivery and closure. You will ensure that assurance is risk-based, proportionate and embedded within normal business processes, strengthening accountability without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Provisional date for interviews: Friday 4 th December

Main duties of the job

As Senior Governance & Assurance Lead, your key responsibilities include:

Corporate Compliance Management: Lead and improve HInM's governance and compliance arrangements, ensuring effective oversight, reporting and readiness for external review.

Programme & Service Delivery Assurance: Establish proportionate assurance across programmes, services and strategic initiatives, providing independent challenge on delivery confidence, value, risk, resources and budgets.

HInM Path Assurance: Design and operate risk-based assurance across the HInM Path, embedding oversight from opportunity development through implementation, benefits realisation and impact evaluation.

Performance & Assurance Reporting: Develop integrated performance, risk and assurance reporting that provides executives and committees with clear, actionable insight.

Risk Management & Internal Control: Lead the corporate risk framework, maintaining oversight of strategic and operational risks and challenging the effectiveness of controls and mitigations.

Assurance Tools & Technology: Lead the development and use of digital tools, automation and reporting technology to improve assurance quality, consistency and timeliness.

Leadership & Capability Development: Lead and develop the Governance & Assurance function, strengthening organisational capability and promoting accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.

Working for our organisation

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.
We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000 plus strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.
You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You’ll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.
We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation’s success.
Join us and help shape the future of our Trust—make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters level qualification or equivalent significant senior-level experience in governance, assurance, risk, audit, programme delivery or a related field
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to governance, assurance, risk management and organisational leadership.
• Relevant professional qualification or membership, for example in governance, risk, audit, project or programme management.

KNOWLEDGE

• Highly developed specialist knowledge of corporate governance, organisational assurance, risk management and internal control.
• Comprehensive understanding of integrated assurance models and proportionate, risk based assurance approaches
• Strong knowledge of programme and service delivery assurance, including assessment of delivery confidence, readiness, risk exposure and benefits realisation
• Understanding of governance and accountability within complex partnership and publicsector environments
• Knowledge of approaches to organisational performance reporting and evidence based decision making
• Knowledge of NHS governance, assurance and regulatory environments.
• Knowledge of innovation pathways and the governance of innovation activity

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Substantial senior-level experience leading governance, assurance, risk or compliance activity in a complex organisation
• Experience of designing, implementing and continuously improving governance, risk and assurance frameworks
• Experience of providing independent oversight, constructive challenge and credible advice to executives, senior leaders, Boards or committees.
• Experience of establishing and operating assurance arrangements across programmes, services or strategic initiatives.
• Experience of producing clear, integrated assurance and risk reporting for senior decision-making forums
• Experience of leading organisational readiness for audit, review or external assurance activity
• Experience of leading, managing and developing staff and building capability across organisational boundaries.
• Experience within regulated public-sector environment.
• Experience of working within innovation, transformation, research or system partnership settings
• Experience of gaining relevant ISO accreditations.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Highly developed analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to identify material risks, themes, patterns and control weaknesses.
• Ability to balance forensic and rigorous scrutiny with ensuring that high level recommendations for decision‑making at senior levels are clear.
• Ability to translate complex governance, risk, performance and delivery information into clear, actionable advice and reporting
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence, challenge and advise credibly at executive level.
• Ability to design pragmatic, proportionate approaches that strengthen control without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across professional, organisational and partnership boundaries.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgement and maintain focus in complex and ambiguous circumstances.
• Experience developing common tools, templates, standards and methodologies.
• Strong leadership, coaching and capability development skills.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Lindsey Fair Job title Head of Operations Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07717686067 Additional information

For any queries please contact [e-mail]