Trust Secretary

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Hull and East Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Trust Board Secretary to provide strategic governance leadership, steer the corporate governance framework, and advise the Chair, Chief Executive, and Board on complex governance matters with significant regulatory and reputational implications.

The role sits at the heart of the Senior Leadership Team and Executive Management Team, offering autonomy and a pivotal link to ensure probity, transparency and compliance with legislation and

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent advanced specialist knowledge acquired through a relevant professional qualification and substantial senior-level experience.
• Chartered Governance Professional with relevant governance qualification e.g. Chartered Company Secretary) or have equivalent relevant experience governance (at least 2 years Corporate Governance experience working at an advanced level or at 'Board' level)
• Evidence of sustained continuing professional development in corporate governance, regulation, risk and Board practice

Responsibilities

• For further details with regard to this vacancy opportunity, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
• We reserve the right to close the advert early in the event of high levels of interest.
• We welcome applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship to work in the UK, and these will be considered alongside all other applications in line with our commitment to equality and inclusion.
• Applicants can determine their potential eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by reviewing the Skilled Worker Visa criteria set out by UKVI on the gov.uk website.

Skills

Executive governance leadership

Strategic communication

Decision making under uncertainty

Stakeholder management

Analytical IT skills

Team leadership

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Chartered Governance Professional (or equivalent)

CPD in governance, regulation, risk

Job description

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Trust Secretary

The closing date is 03 November 2026

The Trust Board Secretary is a key senior role; a member of the Trust's Senior Leadership Team and the Executive Management Team. The post holder is accountable for the strategic leadership, design and assurance of the corporate governance framework, ensuring that Board and organisational business is conducted with probity, transparency and in accordance with legislation, national standards and regulatory requirements. They operate with a considerable degree of autonomy and trust to maintain their independence as Trust Board Secretary. Operating independently of operational and clinical management structures, the post holder has direct access to the Chair, Chief Executive and every member of the Trust Board and is authorised to escape material governance concerns directly to them.

They act as the conscience of the Board and the organisation on matters of probity and good governance. They are responsible for providing independent and authoritative advice to the Chief Executive, the Chair of the Trust, and other Board members on highly complex, sensitive and contentious corporate governance issues where there may be significant organisational, regulatory, financial or reputational consequences.

Main duties of the job

Being the lead specialist in the Trust on corporate governance issues providing strategic direction and advice to members of the Trust Board, providing professional judgement on appropriate action in response to any differences of opinion that arise in relation to corporate governance issues.

Set organisation-wide standards and advise the Board on appropriate action where highly complex or contentious issues create significant regulatory, financial or reputational risk.

Support the Chief Executive in fulfilling their Accounting Officer responsibility with respect to good governance and to maintain the highest standards of prudence, propriety, and regularity.

Remain abreast of and ensure the Trust complies with relevant legislation and best practice in corporate governance, interpreting national policy and guidance and advising the Board and others in the organisation accordingly.

Development of the Trust's corporate governance structure and operating model, including delegated authority, committee architecture, assurance routes and accountability arrangements across all directorates and corporate functions.

Provide strategic and professional leadership to the Trust's secretariat function managing the smooth running of the Board and its Committees.

A comprehensive list of duties can be found in the attached job description.

About us

The Humber Health Partnership is one of the largest acute and community Partnership arrangements in the NHS, seeing well over one million patients every year and managing a budget of over £1.3 billion.

Made up of two Trusts - Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) - our Partnership has significant ambitions and is committed to delivering world-class hospital and community services for the 1.65 million people we serve.

Together we employ nearly 20,000 staff. Our five main hospital sites are Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Goole and District Hospital, for NLAG and Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital for HUTH.

As Teaching Hospitals working with the Hull York Medical School, we both lead and contribute to research in many areas - biomedical research, primary care, palliative medicine, cardiovascular and respiratory medicine, vascular surgery, cancer surgery and oncology.

We believe that by developing a diverse, inclusive, innovative, skilled and caring workforce, we can deliver excellent care to our patients and a great future for our employees, our Partnership and our community.

Job responsibilities

For further details with regard to this vacancy opportunity, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

We reserve the right to close the advert early in the event of high levels of interest. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.

We welcome applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship to work in the UK, and these will be considered alongside all other applications in line with our commitment to equality and inclusion.

Applicants can determine their potential eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by reviewing the Skilled Worker Visa criteria set out by UKVI on the gov.uk website.

Person Specification

Qualifications and professional registration

• Master's degree or equivalent advanced specialist knowledge acquired through a relevant professional qualification and substantial senior-level experience.
• Chartered Governance Professional with relevant governance qualification e.g. Chartered Company Secretary) or have equivalent relevant experience governance (at least 2 years Corporate Governance experience working at an advanced level or at 'Board' level)
• Evidence of sustained continuing professional development in corporate governance, regulation, risk and Board practice

Knowledge and experience

• Substantial experience operating at corporate director, Board secretary or equivalent level in a large, complex and regulated organisation.
• Relevant experience of designing and preparing senior level reports
• Successful leadership of organisation-wide governance strategy,.
• Experience of regulatory engagement, external audit and representing an organisation at regional or national level.
• Evidence of making and defending high impact judgements where information is incomplete or conflicting and where decisions carry material regulatory, financial or reputational consequences
• Experience of leading and managing teams
• Cognisant of national initiatives and the policy direction indicated by the CQC, NHS England and the Department of Health in relation Corporate Governance
• Knowledge of the legal requirements within the NHS in respect of Corporate Governance
• In depth knowledge of the Corporate Governance Framework, Standing Orders, and other key governance publications.
• A understanding of Freedom of Information and Subject Access request requirements
• A thorough understanding of the CQC Regulation 5: Fit and Proper Persons

Skills and abilities

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain highly complex legal, regulatory and assurance matters to varied audiences.
• Highly developed influencing, negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution skills, with the credibility to challenge Board members and senior leaders and secure action on contentious matters.
• Ability to make informed decisions, including in respect of non-routine matters assessing several different conflicting options, making accountable recommendations where there may be no precedent.
• Ability to lead a broad portfolio of complex interdependent projects, with responsibility for design & implementation of project plans
• Ability to interpret data to make recommendations about delivery & take appropriate action
• Ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely at all levels of the organisation, including executive colleagues
• Ability to hold others to account for agreed targets and to demonstrate personal accountability for delivering a high-quality service.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Establish and maintain good team working relationships with internal and external personnel to avoid conflict of interest
• Support and motivate team members
• Ability to work with stakeholders and influence a range of diverse groups
• Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities consistently and develop these in others
• Present highly complex information to large groups of multi disciplinary staff
• Analytical and IT skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Supportive and able to foster an open and learning culture
• Ability to work under pressure managing competing deadlines.
• High degree of personal resilience to meet mental and emotional requirements of the post.
• Well organised and practical with a logical, analytical approach to work with attention to detail
• Positive and motivated

Other requirements

• Adaptable and flexible according to the demands of the service

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.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust