Job summary
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation, with significant investment in major new hospital facilities and a shift toward clearly defined centres of excellence across our campuses. The UHD Patient First Programme provides a focal point for our strong commitment to improvement.
As we transform, corporate governance, led by our Board and Council of Governors, is of vital importance, and we are seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Director of Corporate Governance.
The Director of Corporate Governance role is a senior, high-profile role operating at the heart of UHD. If you bring deep corporate governance expertise, can influence at the highest level, and are motivated by the positive impact good governance has on patient care, we want to hear from you.
This is a rare opportunity to join an organisation that has an ambitious strategic agenda and to help us ensure that our governance keeps pace with our ambition.
Our closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 14th January 2026.
Shortlisting will take place on Friday 16th January 2026.
We will be contacting applicants from Monday 19th January 2026.
The selection process will take place on Thursday 22nd January 2026. Please ensure you are available on that date.
Main duties of the job
About the Role
Acting on behalf of the Chair and Chief Executive, you will ensure that the systems are in place to evidence that UHD is meeting all statutory, constitutional and regulatory obligations, while supporting and enabling the Board and Council of Governors to fulfil their responsibilities with confidence.
This is a role with significant reach and influence - helping the Chair, Chief Executive, Executive Directors, and Governors to shape how UHD operates, how we partner with our communities, and how we deliver our responsibilities as a major NHS Foundation Trust.
About You
The Director of Corporate Governance must have the credibility and ability to influence that comes with operating at Board level, together with the judgement needed to navigate complex organisational and regulatory environments.
You will bring:
Integrity, resilience, discretion and sound professional judgement
Significant experience as a senior governance professional or Company Secretary in a large, complex organisation
Highly developed leadership, influencing, relationship-building and organisational skills
Extremely well organised and committed to supporting others.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, able to distil complex legislation and provide clear, concise advice
Masters-level qualification or demonstrably equivalent levels of knowledge and capability gained through experience.
Professional membership of the Chartered Governance Institute.
About us
What we offer
UHD is a great place to work; it is a supportive and ambitious organisation committed to being well-led and continuously improving, with a collaborative culture and engaged executive leadership team.
This is a wonderful opportunity to help us as we strive to make UHD even more effective through making a profound impact on governance, assurance and patient experience, all in a beautiful Dorset coastal setting.
If you are motivated by the difference that can be made through excellent governance, and by public service, and you are ready to join us in shaping and delivering a positive future for our major NHS Foundation Trust, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached the job description and person specification for further details.
If you would like to talk to us before submitting your application, please contact Melissa Duncan, UHD Head of Workforce Resourcing, at uhd.recruitment@nhs.uk . Please head up your email FAO Melissa Duncan re UHD Director of Corporate Governance
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached the job description and person specification for further details.
If you would like to talk to us before submitting your application, please contact Melissa Duncan, UHD Head of Workforce Resourcing, at uhd.recruitment@nhs.uk . Please head up your email FAO Melissa Duncan re UHD Director of Corporate Governance
Person Specification
Shortlisting Matrix
Essential
- Evidence of significant experience in working with Boards and Governors and leading successful initiatives to improve governance.
- Evidence of specialist knowledge and expertise in the design, development, implementation, and regular review of governance initiatives/work programmes.
- Evidence of ability to concurrently manage a wide range of activities and prioritise/adjust plans and activities in response to conflicting concurrent requests, ensuring effective personal time management.
- Evidence of knowledge and skills to develop governance systems and policy, underpinned by knowledge of legislation relevant to the NHS context.
- Evidence of people leadership and management skills.
- Master's level qualification OR equivalent senior managerial experience.
- Company Secretary qualification and evidence of regular and up- to-date role-relevant CPD.
- Evidence of working knowledge of financial regime (eg Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions), ideally in NHS context.
- Evidence of skills to prepare high quality reports for both internal and external audiences and of interpretation, using complex data
- Evidence of operating successfully in an independent, autonomous manner, ability to self-direct safely.
Desirable
- Evidence of confidence and skill to represent UHD at any forum
- Evidence of advanced report-writing skills, to an 'expert level' and hence able to teach others.
- Evidence of advanced governance and policy knowledge across all aspects of NHS Foundation Trusts, including the membership model.
Person Specification
Shortlisting Matrix
Essential
- Evidence of significant experience in working with Boards and Governors and leading successful initiatives to improve governance.
- Evidence of specialist knowledge and expertise in the design, development, implementation, and regular review of governance initiatives/work programmes.
- Evidence of ability to concurrently manage a wide range of activities and prioritise/adjust plans and activities in response to conflicting concurrent requests, ensuring effective personal time management.
- Evidence of knowledge and skills to develop governance systems and policy, underpinned by knowledge of legislation relevant to the NHS context.
- Evidence of people leadership and management skills.
- Master's level qualification OR equivalent senior managerial experience.
- Company Secretary qualification and evidence of regular and up- to-date role-relevant CPD.
- Evidence of working knowledge of financial regime (eg Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions), ideally in NHS context.
- Evidence of skills to prepare high quality reports for both internal and external audiences and of interpretation, using complex data
- Evidence of operating successfully in an independent, autonomous manner, ability to self-direct safely.
Desirable
- Evidence of confidence and skill to represent UHD at any forum
- Evidence of advanced report-writing skills, to an 'expert level' and hence able to teach others.
- Evidence of advanced governance and policy knowledge across all aspects of NHS Foundation Trusts, including the membership model.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD)
Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch
BH7 7DW
Employer's website
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)
