Job summary
Please note applications for the post should be submitted with a CV and personal statement as detailed in 'How to apply' on page 23 of the recruitment pack.
We are seeking to appoint an Associate Non-Executive Director (NED) with financial management experience. To facilitative effective succession planning, it is intended that when the current finance NED concludes their term of office in July 2026, the successful candidate will move into the role. This will be subject to a satisfactory appraisal outcome at month 6 and a recommendation from the Chair to the Nominations Committee, and in turn to the Council of Governors, for appointment as finance NED.
It is an important time for our Trust as we are increasingly working together with Northumbria Healthcare, Gateshead Health and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trusts as the Great North Healthcare Alliance ('the Alliance') to deliver excellence in healthcare.We have over 2 million patient contacts each year in our main hospitals, making us one of the biggest providers of specialist care in the UK, and we serve people from across the North East, North Cumbria and beyond.
We are continuing our journey towards greater collaboration to develop, enhance, and improve clinical pathways resulting in better patient experience and outcomes.
Main duties of the job
We are part of one of Europe's leading centres for research and innovation in partnership with Newcastle University and the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, and through our work with the National Institute of Health and Care Research. We are a core member of Health Innovation Northeast and North Cumbria (HI NENC), and the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA), and we continue to attract major awards and commercial opportunities to the Northeast.
We acknowledge that these are very challenging times for the NHS both locally and nationally. We are on an improvement journey, and have made good progress since our most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection and are focussed on re-establishing the Trust as one of the highest performing in the country.
This is an exceptional opportunity to share your talents and expertise to make a positive difference to the lives of people in the North East.
About us
Essential criteria for the role includes:
- Board or senior level financial leadership experience gained in a large and complex public facing organisation with experience as a member of a Board Committee.
- Financial management expertise
- qualified financial accountant with current professional registration
- Able to demonstrate through experience to be able to:
- - work alongside other Non-executives and Executive colleagues and add value.- have an ongoing dialogue with Council of Governors on progress in delivery of the Trusts performance.- work in conjunction with the Council of Governors to promote public sector values and the interests of Foundation Trust members through good corporate governance.- bring independence, external perspectives, skills and challenge to strategy development.- hold the Executive Team to account by providing purposeful, constructive scrutiny and challenge.- demonstrate a genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of excellent health care services.- balance organisational governance priorities with system collaboration.- uphold the highest standards of conduct and display the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership through demonstrating the Trusts values and the NHS values and principles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role of the NEDs is to support the Board of Directors in providing an independent view on the Trusts strategy and performance, and to oversee implementation of national strategies and regulatory compliance. In addition, NEDs chair our Board Committees, therefore if successfully appointed into the finance NED role, the individual will be required to chair the Trust Finance and Performance Committee.
The Associate NED role supports the Board succession strategy and helps us to achieving a balance of skills. Whilst the Associate NEDs cannot participate in any formal vote at Board, they are very much an equal voice in discussion.
Specifically for this post you will need to be a qualified financial accountant with current professional registration. You will also have Board or senior level financial leadership experience gained in a large and complex public facing organisation with experience as a member of a Board Committee.
The remuneration is £13,000 per annum with a time commitment of around 4-5 days per month.
For an informal discussion with the Chair, a NED/Associate NED or the Chief Executive then please contact Kelly Jupp, Trust Secretary on 0191 223 1702 or k.jupp@nhs.net.
For further information on the role please see the recruitment pack attached to this vacancy.
This post is subject to the rehabilitation of 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 Services (formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Due to the seniority of post, appropriate checks relevant to the Fit and Proper Persons Requirement will also be undertaken.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Closing Date Sunday 16 November 2025 at midnight
Interview Date Thursday 11 December 2025
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role of the NEDs is to support the Board of Directors in providing an independent view on the Trusts strategy and performance, and to oversee implementation of national strategies and regulatory compliance. In addition, NEDs chair our Board Committees, therefore if successfully appointed into the finance NED role, the individual will be required to chair the Trust Finance and Performance Committee.
The Associate NED role supports the Board succession strategy and helps us to achieving a balance of skills. Whilst the Associate NEDs cannot participate in any formal vote at Board, they are very much an equal voice in discussion.
Specifically for this post you will need to be a qualified financial accountant with current professional registration. You will also have Board or senior level financial leadership experience gained in a large and complex public facing organisation with experience as a member of a Board Committee.
The remuneration is £13,000 per annum with a time commitment of around 4-5 days per month.
For an informal discussion with the Chair, a NED/Associate NED or the Chief Executive then please contact Kelly Jupp, Trust Secretary on 0191 223 1702 or k.jupp@nhs.net.
For further information on the role please see the recruitment pack attached to this vacancy.
This post is subject to the rehabilitation of 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 Services (formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Due to the seniority of post, appropriate checks relevant to the Fit and Proper Persons Requirement will also be undertaken.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Closing Date Sunday 16 November 2025 at midnight
Interview Date Thursday 11 December 2025
Person Specification
Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- Board or senior level financial leadership experience gained in a large and complex public facing organisation with experience as a member of a Board Committee.
- Financial management expertise.
- A qualified financial accountant with current professional registration.
- Able to demonstrate through experience to be able to: - work alongside other Non-executives and Executive colleagues and add value. - have an ongoing dialogue with Council of Governors on progress in delivery of the Trusts performance. - work in conjunction with the Council of Governors to promote public sector values and the interests of Foundation Trust members through good corporate governance. - bring independence, external perspectives, skills and challenge to strategy development. - hold the Executive Team to account by providing purposeful, constructive scrutiny and challenge. - demonstrate a genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of excellent health care services. - balance organisational governance priorities with system collaboration. - uphold the highest standards of conduct and display the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership through demonstrating the Trusts values and the NHS values and principles.
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Effective communication and listening skills displaying curiosity and an interest in learning and personal development.
- Effective communication and listening skills displaying curiosity and an interest in learning and personal development.
- Creative and diverse thinker.
- The ability to develop knowledge and understanding to learn about the Trust and the wider health and care sector at pace.
- Clear understanding of the communities we serve.
- An understanding of and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Sincere interest in and ability to gain credibility with patients, staff, senior leaders, stakeholders across the healthcare economy, clinicians and local communities.
- Robust understanding of the principles and practice of good governance.
- A clear commitment to the NHS and the Trusts values and principles and to role model them at all times.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Has the necessary time and flexibility to be able to fully commit to the role.
NHS Leadership Competency Framework
Essential
- NHS Leadership Competency Framework
Person Specification
Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- Board or senior level financial leadership experience gained in a large and complex public facing organisation with experience as a member of a Board Committee.
- Financial management expertise.
- A qualified financial accountant with current professional registration.
- Able to demonstrate through experience to be able to: - work alongside other Non-executives and Executive colleagues and add value. - have an ongoing dialogue with Council of Governors on progress in delivery of the Trusts performance. - work in conjunction with the Council of Governors to promote public sector values and the interests of Foundation Trust members through good corporate governance. - bring independence, external perspectives, skills and challenge to strategy development. - hold the Executive Team to account by providing purposeful, constructive scrutiny and challenge. - demonstrate a genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of excellent health care services. - balance organisational governance priorities with system collaboration. - uphold the highest standards of conduct and display the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership through demonstrating the Trusts values and the NHS values and principles.
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Effective communication and listening skills displaying curiosity and an interest in learning and personal development.
- Effective communication and listening skills displaying curiosity and an interest in learning and personal development.
- Creative and diverse thinker.
- The ability to develop knowledge and understanding to learn about the Trust and the wider health and care sector at pace.
- Clear understanding of the communities we serve.
- An understanding of and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Sincere interest in and ability to gain credibility with patients, staff, senior leaders, stakeholders across the healthcare economy, clinicians and local communities.
- Robust understanding of the principles and practice of good governance.
- A clear commitment to the NHS and the Trusts values and principles and to role model them at all times.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Has the necessary time and flexibility to be able to fully commit to the role.
NHS Leadership Competency Framework
Essential
- NHS Leadership Competency Framework
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).
