About this role
Job summary
We're looking for an exceptional Head of Corporate Governance to join our Executive team.
The Head of Corporate Governance provides strategic leadership and expert oversight of the organisations governance, risk, assurance, and statutory compliance frameworks. The postholder ensures that the Board, its committees, and the wider organisation operate with high standards of transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance. This role leads the development and delivery of corporate governance systems, the Board Assurance Framework, risk management, internal audit, and company secretariat functions, and plays a pivotal role in supporting effective Board decisionmaking and organisational strategic delivery.
The postholder will also provide a liaison function with external legal services, supporting the CEO with advice and guidance around matters requiring a legal view. In addition, the role will also support the development of commercial and partnership strategies.
Closing date: Sunday 28th June 2026
Interview date: Monday 20th July 2026
Interested? For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please arrange a call with Renee Padfield, by contacting [email protected].
Main duties of the job
This is a broad and senior role spanning corporate governance, risk management, internal audit, company secretariat, and Board support. For a full breakdown of duties, please refer to the attached Job Description.
About us
CSH Surrey are part of the NHS and are Surreys longest established NHS community services provider, so our employees get NHS pay and pensions, and also receive the Fringe High-Cost Allowance of 5%.
Our staff enjoy excellent training and development opportunities, including the care certificate, apprenticeships, numeracy and literacy courses, access to the Nursing Associate programme, and a wide variety of management and leadership courses and programmes.
We CARE about our staff though through our values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. Our active employee council called The Voice, elect employee representatives to ensure colleagues' voices are heard at Board level. CSH is a diverse organisation, if you are a passionate, person-focused individual then apply to join CSH Surrey today!
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who meet the essential criteria of the job you are applying for and if you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact the named individual for this advert, or our recruitment team.
Job description Job responsibilities
Corporate Governance Leadership
Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the organisations corporate governance framework, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and constitutional requirements. Act as the organisations expert advisor on governance, providing authoritative guidance to the Chair, Chief Executive, Board members, and senior leaders. Ensure governance policies, Standing Orders, Scheme of Delegation, and Standing Financial Instructions are current, compliant, and effectively embedded.
Board & Committee Governance
Lead the planning, organisation, and administration of all Board and committee meetings, ensuring highquality governance support. Oversee the development of annual cycles of business, agendas, forward plans, and meeting documentation. Ensure strong discipline around the quality, clarity, and timeliness of Board and committee papers, providing challenge and coaching to senior authors. Oversee minutetaking, action tracking, and assurance followup to ensure effective governance and accountability. Management of delegated budgets for area of responsibility. Board Development, Evaluation and Support
Work with the Chair to design, deliver, and evaluate the annual Board Development Programme.
Oversee annual Board and committee effectiveness reviews.
Maintain a Board skills and competency matrix, advising on gaps and development needs.
Support the Chair and CEO with NED appraisal processes.
Risk Management
Provide strategic leadership for the organisations risk management framework, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, escalated, and mitigated effectively. Lead the design and delivery of risk management training for senior leaders and ensure consistent risk capability across the organisation. Oversee corporate and departmental risk registers, thematic analysis, and risk reporting to the Board and committees. Promote a culture of openness, learning, and proactive risk management. Board Assurance Framework (BAF)
Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the BAF, ensuring it reflects strategic risks, controls, and assurance sources. Provide expert advice to the Board and Executive Team on assurance gaps, control effectiveness, and required actions. Ensure the BAF is used as a live tool to support strategic planning, performance oversight, and decisionmaking. Company Secretary Duties
Act as Company Secretary, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations. Oversee the preparation and submission of annual accounts, statutory returns, and governance statements. Maintain statutory registers and ensure appropriate documentation for Board and shareholder meetings. Provide governance assurance to external regulators and auditors.
Internal Audit
Establish and lead the internal audit function, commissioning external providers where required. Develop and oversee the annual internal audit plan, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and risk profile. Ensure timely delivery of audit reviews, highquality reporting, and effective followup of recommendations. Provide assurance to the Audit and Risk Committee and Board on internal control effectiveness. Organisational Form
Lead the governance workstream for reviewing the organisational form and setting out options for the future and assist the CEO and Board in robust decision making. Develop and implement the relevant governance structures, including Articles of Association, membership arrangements, and reporting frameworks. Provide ongoing governance leadership posttransition, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Strategic Planning & Organisational Effectiveness
Support the Executive Team in developing and delivering the organisations strategic plan. Ensure governance, risk, and assurance processes are integrated into strategic and operational planning. Facilitate crossdepartmental collaboration to support effective decisionmaking and organisational performance. Legal Services & Dispute Resolution
Lead the commissioning and oversight of external legal services, ensuring value for money and appropriate use of specialist advice. Manage earlystage disputes internally, providing pragmatic, riskbased advice to senior leaders. Ensure effective management of legal risks and compliance with statutory duties. Commercial & Partnerships Governance (where required)
Provide governance oversight for commercial partnerships and collaborative ventures. Support the development of commercial and partnership strategies, ensuring risks are identified and managed. Leadership and Communication
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information and present it in a way that is accessible to large groups and individuals across the company. This may include presenting information in a hospital or agnostic environment.
Communicate with internal staff and external agencies to ensure compliance with performance targets, strategic objectives.
Undertake presentations to staff groups and external stakeholders, including, at times, the need to convey highly contentious information.
Lead and develop the corporate governance function, ensuring highquality governance support across the organisation. Provide coaching, supervision, and performance management to ensure a highperforming governance function. Provide line management to the corporate administration team, including executive assistants and person al assistants. Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional excellence.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant experience in the role of Company or Deputy Company Secretary or senior governance leader in a large, complex or regulated organisation. Senior level experience in corporate governance, risk, or assurance. Expert understanding of corporate governance, risk, assurance, and regulatory frameworks. Highly developed analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Ability to synthesise complex information into clear recommendations. Significant experience supporting Board level decision making Significant experience developing governance frameworks and policies. Significant experience managing complex, sensitive, and confidential information. Significant experience leading organisational risk management. Significant experience of managing individuals and teams, including supporting development and succession planning.
Desirable
Experience in NHS, public sector, or regulated environments. Experience of working in a social enterprise. Experience of employee-owned organisational governance. Experience in commissioning or managing internal audit. Knowledge of CQC well-led requirements.
Personal Attributes Essential
Demonstrates the organisations values. Exhibits discretion and professional judgement. Acts with integrity and impartiality. Promotes diversity and inclusive governance. Able to challenge constructively and supportively. Demonstrates political awareness and diplomacy. Able to remain calm under pressure. Demonstrates attention to detail with a strategic mindset. Exhibits resilience and persistence. Commitment to continuous improvement.
Skills Essential
Exceptional communication and influencing skills Strong analytical judgement and ability to interpret complex information Ability to lead and develop a strong governance function. Skilled in delegation, supervision, coaching and performance management. Exceptional written communication with the ability to produce clear, concise and authoritative Board papers. Excellent verbal communication, able to convey complex governance concepts to senior leaders, managers, and NEDs. Highly developed diplomacy and negotiation skills Ability to convey contentious/sensitive information in environments that are hostile or agnostic High emotional intelligence and political awareness. Strong relationship-building skills with both internal and external stakeholders. Deep understanding of corporate governance, NHS legislation and regulation. Ability to interpret complex legal, regulatory, and policy changes and advise the Board accordingly. Highly developed organisational skills. Ability to meet strict statutory deadlines. Skilled in prioritising and managing competing demands under pressure. Ability to identify emerging risks and provide strategic advice on mitigation. Political acumen and ability to navigate complex interpersonal and organisational dynamics. Strong IT literacy and competence in paperless meeting systems. Ability to manage delegated budgets effectively
Other Essential
Ability to travel and work flexibly.
Qualifications Essential
Degree level education or equivalent experience Evidence of continued professional development Expert knowledge of corporate governance and statutory requirements.
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification in governance, law, risk, or leadership
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.
Employer details Employer name CSH Surrey
Address 4th Floor, Dukes Court
Dukes Street
Woking
Surrey
GU21 5BH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cshsurrey.co.uk/about-us/about-csh-surrey (Opens in a new tab)