Deputy Director - Governance, Risk and Assurance

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and credible senior leader to take on the role of Deputy Director - Governance, Risk and Assurance on a fixed-term, interim basis, providing immediate leadership during a period of significant organisational change.

This is a pivotal role at the centre of how the organisation is governed, how risk is understood and managed, and how assurance is provided to Executive and Board. The postholder will be responsible for leading and strengthening governance, risk and compliance arrangements in practice, ensuring they are effective, coordinated and consistently applied across a large and complex NHS Group.

Working closely with the Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, the role will focus on maintaining organisational grip, supporting high-quality decision-making, and ensuring clear, coherent assurance. This includes oversight of the Board Assurance Framework, corporate risk processes, governance structures and compliance arrangements, and bringing together insight from across governance, risk, audit and related functions.

This is a time-limited appointment (6 months) to provide stability and continuity pending permanent recruitment. We are particularly interested in candidates who are able to start at short notice and who are seeking an interim-style leadership opportunity within an NHS setting.

This role offers a unique opportunity to operate at senior level in a complex organisation during a period of merger and transformation.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Director – Governance, Risk & Assurance is responsible for leading the effective delivery and continuous improvement of the organisation’s governance, risk and assurance arrangements.

The postholder will oversee the development and operation of a robust governance framework, ensuring that decision-making processes are clear, well-structured and support effective oversight at Executive and Board level. This includes ensuring the effective functioning of Board and Committee arrangements and the delivery of key governance outputs.

The role is accountable for the organisation’s approach to risk management, including oversight of the Board Assurance Framework and Corporate Risk Register. The postholder will ensure that risk management processes are embedded across the organisation, supporting the identification, escalation and management of risk in a consistent and effective way.

The postholder will also lead compliance and transparency arrangements, including Freedom of Information, Declarations of Interest, Fit and Proper Persons requirements and governance of organisational policies, promoting openness and accountability.

Working closely with the Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, the postholder will support the coordination of assurance across governance, risk, audit, legal and related functions, ensuring that information is brought together into clear, coherent and actionable reporting for senior leaders.

Working for our organisation

The St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) is one of the largest and most complex hospital groups in the NHS, bringing together St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, alongside Sutton Health and Care Partnership and Surrey Downs Health and Care Partnership.

With around 17,000 staff, a combined annual turnover of approximately £1.9 billion and serving a population of 3.5 million people, we provide a full range of acute, community and specialist services across multiple sites. Our scale and diversity create both challenge and opportunity, requiring strong leadership and effective organisational systems to support high-quality care.

We are entering a significant new phase, with plans to pursue a merger of our two Trusts and the delivery of an ambitious Group-wide transformation programme. This programme is focused on improving quality, strengthening performance and ensuring our services are sustainable for the future.

Working within our organisation offers the opportunity to operate at scale and pace in a complex and evolving environment. We are committed to creating a culture of openness, collaboration and continuous improvement, where staff are supported to contribute, innovate and make a meaningful impact.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a full outline of the role, including detailed responsibilities and person requirements, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review these documents carefully before applying to ensure they meet the essential criteria and understand the expectations of the post.

Given the immediate nature of this role, the ability to start at short notice would be highly advantageous.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Educated to Master’s level or equivalent level of experience in a relevant discipline (e.g. governance, risk, law, public administration, healthcare management)
• Evidence of ongoing professional development relevant to governance, risk and/or assurance

• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. governance, risk, audit, legal or equivalent)

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in governance, risk, assurance or a related function within a large and complex organisation
• Experience of leading and managing teams, including: performance management; service development; and workforce planning

Skills and Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of corporate governance frameworks and best practice, risk management and assurance systems (including Board Assurance Frameworks), and statutory and regulatory requirements within a complex organisation

Personal Qualities

• Credibility and confidence to work effectively with Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors, senior clinical and operational leaders