Senior Risk & Assurance Manager

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Senior Risk & Assurance Manager, a senior governance role overseeing risk management and Board assurance. You will lead the Board Assurance Framework, advise Executive Directors and chair risk committees, shaping resilient delivery of strategic objectives.

Operating with autonomy, you will translate complex risks into clear reporting, challenge senior leaders constructively, and foster a positive risk culture across East and

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in governance, risk management, assurance, audit or a related discipline.
• Significant senior-level experience of risk management, governance and assurance within NHS or a similarly regulated environment.
• Experience of leading Board Assurance Frameworks and advising Executive Directors and Board Committees.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and present complex information to Boards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Board Assurance Framework and annual risk review.
• Oversee risk management arrangements and policy application across the Trust.
• Provide high-quality risk and assurance reporting for Board and Committees.
• Identify emerging risks and advise on mitigation and escalation.

Skills

Senior risk/ governance

Board reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Influencing skills

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in governance/risk

Tools

IRM/CGI qualifications

Job description

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Risk & Assurance Manager

The closing date is 29 November 2026

We are seeking a highly experienced risk and assurance professional to become the Trust's lead specialist and principal adviser on risk management and Board assurance arrangements. This is a senior, influential role at the centre of corporate governance, supporting Executive Directors, senior leaders and Board Committees to understand and manage the risks that could affect delivery of the Trust's strategic objectives.

Operating with considerable autonomy, you will combine expert technical knowledge with credible challenge, clear analysis and strong relationships. You will help strengthen organisational resilience, support effective decision-making and embed a positive risk management culture across the Trust.

About you

You will be an established senior risk, assurance or governance professional who can work confidently as a recognised subject matter expert in a complex, regulated environment. You will bring sound judgement, intellectual curiosity and the professional confidence to challenge senior leaders constructively.

Main duties of the job

What you will lead

Operational management, development and quality assurance of the Board Assurance Framework, including the annual review and refresh of strategic risks.

The Trust's operational risk management arrangements, including consistent application of policies, methodologies and standards.

High-quality risk and assurance reporting for the Board, Audit Committee, Board Committees and Executive and Senior Leadership Risk Assurance Group.

Identification of emerging risks, assurance gaps, control weaknesses and cross-organisational themes, with advice on mitigation and escalation.

The Internal Audit recommendations tracker process using 4Action, and management and development of the 4risk system.

The impact you will make

Create a clear line of sight between strategic objectives, risks, controls, assurance and performance outcomes.

Provide expert scrutiny and constructive challenge on risk assessments, controls, assurances and risk ratings.

Enable the Board and senior leaders to assess organisational resilience and make well-informed, risk-based decisions.

About us

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community services for East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357K). Our services include planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity, and intermediate care across Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.

Through our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we deliver extensive services in 26 medical centres and schools in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With 500 beds and around 5,500 staff, we are one of the area's largest employers.

Since the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022, the Trust has become a key partner in Cheshire East & Cheshire West and Chester and in two provider collaboratives, aligning our strategic goals with the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System.

As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we're reimagining Leighton Hospital to create a new health and care neighbourhood, transforming healthcare delivery for a Healthier Future. Learn more on our Healthier Futures website.

At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Job responsibilities

See attached Job description & Person Specification for full details.

Essential experience and expertise

• Master's degree or equivalent level of experience in governance, risk management, assurance, audit or a related discipline.
• Significant senior-level experience of risk management, assurance and governance within the NHS or a similarly complex regulated environment.
• Experience of leading and developing Board Assurance Frameworks and advising Executive Directors and Board Committees.
• A strong record of influencing senior stakeholders, providing constructive challenge and presenting complex information to Boards and senior leadership teams.
• Highly developed analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex or ambiguous information and make sound judgements.
• Excellent Board-level report writing, facilitation, negotiation and influencing skills.

Professional background

A relevant professional qualification, or progress towards one, would be welcomed. Examples include the Institute of Risk Management, the Chartered Governance Institute, an internal audit qualification, or a project or programme assurance qualification. A broad understanding of the NHS is desirable.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent level of experience in governance, risk management, assurance, audit or related discipline.
• Relevant professional qualification (or working towards) such as: IRM (Institute of Risk Management)/ Chartered Governance Institute/ Internal Audit qualification or a Project or programme assurance qualification.

Experience

• Significant senior-level experience of risk management, assurance and governance within the NHS or similarly complex regulated environment.
• Experience of leading and developing Board Assurance Frameworks.
• Experience of advising Executive Directors and Board Committee.
• Experience of influencing senior stakeholders and providing constructive challenge.
• Experience of presenting complex risk and assurance information to Boards and senior leadership teams.
• Experience of leading organisational improvement programmes.

Skills

• Ability to operate autonomously as a recognised subject matter expert.
• Highly developed analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to challenge senior leaders constructively and professionally.
• Ability to interpret complex and ambiguous information and make sound judgements.Strong facilitation, negotiation and influencing skills.

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.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust