Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Executive Director of Corporate Governance

The closing date is 15 February 2026

Job summary

As a key member of the executive team and Trust Board, the Executive Director of Corporate Governance will assume overall executive accountability for corporate governance, corporate support, health and safety and sustainability.

As an executive, non-voting, member of the Board of Directors, all of the associated responsibilities apply, including promoting the success of the organisation, setting strategic direction, delivering objectives, fostering a positive and open culture and ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance and risk management.

Main duties of the job

As Company Secretary, the postholder will be the principal advisor to the Chair, Chief Executive, Board of Directors and Council of Governors on highly sensitive, complex matters, ensuring they meet their legal and fiduciary obligations. They will advise on all matters of corporate governance and establish a strategic framework to ensure the Trust's business is undertaken to the highest standards of probity in accordance with statutory requirements enforced by NHS regulators.

The postholder will promote a professional culture that supports, recruits, nurtures, develops and retains a compassionate, skilled and flexible workforce. This includes promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms, role modelling our Leadership and Management Behaviour Framework and promoting continuous improvement through actively leading and embodying our Improvement System.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Details

Date posted

30 January 2026

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year Per annum pro rata to hours worked

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9390-26-0263

Job locations

Basildon

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Contribute fully as a Director to the Trusts overall strategy and direction, values And priorities, risk mitigation, the effective functioning of the Board and the promotion of strong partnerships across the systems we serve.
  • Assume joint responsibility with other directors for the delivery of corporate performance and the achievement of the Trusts strategic objectives.
  • Actively contribute to the successful team working of the Trust Board and executive team, promoting collaboration and joined up working at all times.
  • Deliver year-on-year efficiency improvements within own area of responsibility and actively support Trust-wide approaches relating to efficiency and cost-savings.
  • Promote a culture of openness and transparency across the organisation, promoting diversity and inclusion, in line with our Leadership and Management Behaviour Framework.
  • Promote the involvement of stakeholders (staff, patients, and the wider community and partner organisations) in our development of services and decision making.
  • Manage Trust budgets effectively; setting and agreeing budgets, allocating resources effectively and ensuring value for money.
  • Regularly review the individual performance of direct reports against set objectives and ensure that their development needs are met through training, coaching and development.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Contribute fully as a Director to the Trusts overall strategy and direction, values And priorities, risk mitigation, the effective functioning of the Board and the promotion of strong partnerships across the systems we serve.
  • Assume joint responsibility with other directors for the delivery of corporate performance and the achievement of the Trusts strategic objectives.
  • Actively contribute to the successful team working of the Trust Board and executive team, promoting collaboration and joined up working at all times.
  • Deliver year-on-year efficiency improvements within own area of responsibility and actively support Trust-wide approaches relating to efficiency and cost-savings.
  • Promote a culture of openness and transparency across the organisation, promoting diversity and inclusion, in line with our Leadership and Management Behaviour Framework.
  • Promote the involvement of stakeholders (staff, patients, and the wider community and partner organisations) in our development of services and decision making.
  • Manage Trust budgets effectively; setting and agreeing budgets, allocating resources effectively and ensuring value for money.
  • Regularly review the individual performance of direct reports against set objectives and ensure that their development needs are met through training, coaching and development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional and personal development

Experience

Essential

  • Significant senior management experience in an NHS Acute Trust, operating at board level
  • Substantial experience of managing complex governance and/or legal matters at Trust and/or System level
  • Substantial experience of managing change in a complex multi-professional, unionised environment
  • Understanding of the regulatory framework and experience of working closely with regulators particularly CQC
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters level or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional and personal development

Experience

Essential

  • Significant senior management experience in an NHS Acute Trust, operating at board level
  • Substantial experience of managing complex governance and/or legal matters at Trust and/or System level
  • Substantial experience of managing change in a complex multi-professional, unionised environment
  • Understanding of the regulatory framework and experience of working closely with regulators particularly CQC

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Basildon

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Employer's website

https://www.mse.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Basildon

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Employer's website

https://www.mse.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Executive Director

Lauren Barnard

lauren.barnard2@nhs.net

01268596000

Details

Date posted

30 January 2026

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year Per annum pro rata to hours worked

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9390-26-0263

Job locations

Basildon

Basildon

SS16 5NL


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