Job summary
- Main area
- Organisational Development
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8b
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 363-CP7524068
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Robert Dolan House
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £72,921 - £83,362 per annum inc HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 07/11/2025
Employer heading
Deputy Company Secretary
NHS AfC: Band 8b
ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job overview
Deputy Company Secretary:
Band 8b | Full Time | Based at Trust Headquarters
Are you someone who believes that good governance is about more than policies and procedures—it’s about supporting people to do their best work, together?
We are looking for a Deputy Company Secretary who will help make governance part of the way we do things - naturally, confidently and collaboratively. Working closely with and supporting the Joint Director of Corporate Governance, you will play a key role in making sure our governance supports high-quality, compassionate care for the communities we serve.
This is a central role where you will help shape how governance is understood and practiced across the Trust. You’ll build strong relationships, offer expert advice and lead by example making governance something that everyone feels part of and that helps us learn, improve and stay accountable.
Main duties of the job
About the role
As Deputy Company Secretary, you will:
- Support the Trust Board, Council of Governors and committees with expert guidance and practical support
- Lead the Executive Office and Corporate Governance Support Team to deliver high-quality services
- Help to embed governance into everyday decision-making not as a separate function but as something that strengthens everything we do
- Build trust and confidence across the organisation through clear communication, collaboration and visible leadership.
You will be instrumental in embedding a culture where governance is understood, valued and actively contributes to our mission of improving the lives of the populations we serve.
Working for our organisation
Why ELFT?
At ELFT governance is not just about compliance and ticking boxes, it is about culture and the way we do things; it is about creating the conditions for great care and great teamwork; it is a way to build stronger relationships, better services and a more open, inclusive culture. You’ll be joining a Trust that values innovation, kindness and continuous improvement and where your leadership will help make a real difference.
Who we’re looking for
We’re seeking someone who:
- Has significant experience in corporate governance, ideally within the NHS or a similar complex regulated environment
- Enjoys working with people and building strong, respectful relationships
- Is politically astute, thoughtful, proactive and committed to making things better and continuous learning
- Understands the importance of values, culture and inclusion in everything we do
- Brings a collaborative, people-centric approach to leadership
- Can confidently advise senior leaders and Board members and lead governance initiatives that support transparency and accountability.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Interested?
If you’re ready to help shape how governance supports care, learning and trust across our organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
Stakeholder session date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Interview date: Friday 7 November 2025
Contact for informal enquiries: Cathy Lilley [email protected] or Marie Price [email protected]
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to masters/degree level or equivalent experience in corporate governance
- Chartered Secretary qualification (ICSA/CGI) or significant governance experience within a regulated organisation
- Extensive experience in corporate governance, NHS regulatory compliance and Board-level support
- Proven experience advising senior leaders and Board members on governance matters
- Experience of managing Board and committee processes
- Experience in developing and implementing governance frameworks and policies
Experience
Essential criteria
- Corporate governance expertise: Corporate governance subject matter expert, with significant experience as a Company/Trust Secretary or similar senior governance role within the NHS or similar complex organisations
- Strategic leadership: Proven track record in strategic thinking and decision-making at a senior level, with extensive experience engaging Board members and senior leadership teams
- Implementation: Takes a proactive hands-on approach to embedding governance and compliance into operational processes ensuring seamless integration
- Influence and negotiation: Well-developed political awareness, with strong influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to manage complex stakeholder relationships
- Governance and compliance: In-depth understanding of corporate governance principles, risk management frameworks, national legislation, and NHS policies, with experience in managing statutory compliance and annual reporting requirements
- Discretion and diplomacy: Skilled in handling sensitive issues with discretion, tact, and diplomacy, ensuring effective communication and trust in high-stakes situations
- Board and committee support: Extensive experience preparing Board papers, high-level briefings, and managing Board and committee processes to support effective decision-making and governance.
- Team leadership and development: Experienced in leading and managing teams, developing staff development plans, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration
- Training and development: Expertise in developing and delivering tailored governance training for Board members, senior leaders, and other stakeholders to enhance governance capabilities
- Digital governance tools: Familiarity with digital tools and systems to support Board and committee functions, ensuring efficient governance operations
- Risk management: Significant experience in applying risk management frameworks and governance best practices to ensure compliance and mitigate risks across NHS organisations
- Stakeholder engagement: Proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and drive large, complex governance programmes, promoting inclusivity and collaboration
Skills
Essential criteria
- In-depth NHS and policy knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the NHS, including emerging national policies, Integrated Care Systems (ICS), NHS governance structures, regulatory requirements, and NHS provider licence conditions
- Governance expertise: Strong knowledge of corporate governance principles, legislation, and regulatory frameworks, with the ability to apply these to NHS governance and strategy effectively
- Legislative and regulatory interpretation: Skilled in interpreting and applying national policies, legislation, and regulations to corporate governance, ensuring compliance and informed decision-making
- Analytical and data interpretation: Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret both quantitative and qualitative data to inform strategic decisions, while maintaining discretion when handling sensitive, confidential information
- Project management and organisation: Strong organisational skills, with proven experience managing multiple priorities and delivering complex projects within tight deadlines
- Communication and presentation: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare and present detailed reports and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders, including Boards and external partners
- Stakeholder engagement and influence: Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, adept at building relationships and driving collaboration at all levels within and outside the Trust
- Problem-solving and decision-making: Proactive and solution-focused, with the ability to make informed decisions within a governance framework and provide strategic guidance in challenging situations
- Leadership and team management: Proven leadership abilities with experience in leading, managing and developing teams, fostering a culture of high performance and accountability. Ability to
- Risk management expertise: Extensive knowledge of risk management frameworks, business impact analysis, and resilience strategies, ensuring effective controls and contingency arrangements for service continuity during disruptions
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Cathy Lilley
- Job title
- Director of Corporate Governance
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 020 7655 4000
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