Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital and community services across Cheshire, including planned and emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity and intermediate care. Services are delivered from Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford. Through Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we also provide services from 26 medical centres and schools with local NHS and GP partners.



We are embarking on significant transformation and has been selected for the next wave of the Government's New Hospitals Programme. We are seeking an exceptional Director of Corporate Governance, Risk and Assurance to join our board and ensure governance supports confident decision-making, effective delivery and clear accountability. This is a career-defining opportunity to shape an ambitious NHS organisation at a pivotal point in its development.



Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Chair, Board and Executive Team, you will lead an influential portfolio spanning governance, risk and assurance, corporate affairs, regulatory compliance, Governor engagement, volunteering, non-clinical legal services and Freedom to Speak Up. Beyond providing robust oversight and assurance, you will help simplify complexity, strengthen Board effectiveness and create the conditions for innovation, high performance and transformational change.



We are seeking an agile, enabling and highly collaborative leader with a strong track record of developing and leading effective governance, risk and assurance frameworks within a large, complex and regulated organisation. You will be adept at working with a wide range of stakeholders to shape robust governance structures that underpin transformational change. You will bring outstanding judgement, political awareness and the ability to build trusted relationships, influence at Board and system level, and provide constructive challenge.



This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role in our Trust, with the opportunity to shape and develop the team while helping to shape the future of healthcare for the populations we serve.



To learn more about us and this role, please contact our search partners at GatenbySanderson:

• Carmel Bell: carmel.bell@gatenbysanderson.com


• Emma Pickup: emma.pickup@gatenbysanderson.com


• Emily Smith: emily.smith@gatenbysanderson.com

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.




Documents

Fit and Proper Person Declaration - New.docx

Recruitment Timetable



Closing date

9am Thursday 5th November 2026



Stakeholder Event

Tuesday 17th November 2026



Final Interviews

Thursday 19th November 2026




How to Apply

• Please submit an up to date copy of your CV, along with a Supporting Statement that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements.


• A completed fit and proper person form - the template can be downloaded from the same place as the job description.


• Detail any employment or education gaps.


• You should provide the names, positions, organisations, and contact details for your referees, which must be your line managers and include your current and most recent employer. The referees should cover at least two roles as the minimum. Please note, should you be appointed, you will be required to provide references covering your last 6 years of employment as per the new NHS Fit and Proper Person regulations. Where there have been gaps in employment, this six year period will be extended accordingly. Referees will only be contacted for those proceeding to the final stage - we will always gain your permission before we contact referees.

• Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.


• Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email to confirm that you have applied. If you do not receive this email, please make contact with GatenbySanderson.




Acceptable use of AI



Candidates may use AI tools to support proofreading, editing and presentation. However, all application materials should represent the candidate's own experience, perspectives and leadership thinking. We are seeking original and authentic responses, and applicants should ensure that any submission reflects their own analysis, judgement and vision for the role.