Chief of staff (governance, risk and partnerships)

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Chief of Staff (Governance, Risk and Partnerships)

The closing date is 01 July 2026

Are you an experienced, credible and values‑driven senior leader with expertise in governance, risk and system partnership working? Are you ready to operate at the heart of a complex NHS organisation and influence at scale?

We are seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff to work alongside our Chief Executive, providing strategic leadership, organisational grip and coordination across our most critical priorities.

This is a pivotal, high‑profile role operating at Board and system level, with a unique opportunity to shape how the Trust delivers its strategy, strengthens governance and plays a leading role within the wider health and care system.

Please note the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to work for this role; to apply you must have current right to work in the UK status. Employment on a time‑limited visa does not guarantee sponsorship at point of expiry.

Main duties of the job

As Chief of Staff, you will be a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, bringing clarity to complex issues, enabling informed decisions and maintaining focus on strategic priorities.

You will strengthen governance and assurance, ensuring Board processes, risk management and reporting support high‑quality decision‑making and accountability.

Working across organisational and system boundaries, you will build credible relationships with partners, supporting integrated care and system transformation. An early priority is leading the Trust’s strategic positioning in neighbourhood health, shaping our role and influencing emerging care models within place‑based delivery.

This role offers a rare opportunity to operate at the centre of the Trust, influencing at Board and system level. Working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive team, you will shape priorities, drive alignment and deliver lasting improvement.

About us

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust delivers outstanding care through community hospitals, community health services, mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4,500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing a wide range of physical and/or mental health conditions across over 100 sites.

We support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work‑life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.

What we offer

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data – As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trust’s understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job responsibilities

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex health or public sector environment
• Strong expertise in policy, governance, risk and organisational assurance
• A proven ability to operate with credibility at Board level, building trusted relationships with senior leaders and partners
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries, with a strong track record in system partnership working
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and bring clarity and focus
• A proactive, resilient and highly organised approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver at pace

Most importantly, you will be a collaborative and values‑driven leader, motivated to make a difference for the communities we serve.

For full details of the duties and criteria please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in the NHS or a similarly complex environment
• Strong expertise in governance, risk management and Board‑level working
• Demonstrable experience operating credibly at Board and system level
• Exceptional judgement, discretion and emotional intelligence
• Highly developed communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills
• Experience of system partnership working (ICS/place‑based care)

Qualifications

• Masters or equivalent relevant experience gained from an alternative route
• Significant experience of governance and risk management
• Understanding that you will be asked to provide original certificates to verify your qualifications at point of offer
• Evidence of continued professional development at senior level

Skills & Abilities

• Highly developed communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Ability to analyse complex information and provide strategic advice
• Ability to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders
• Ability to meet the travel requirements for this role

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of governance, risk and assurance frameworks
• Knowledge of working across organisational boundaries

Additional Criteria

• High level of discretion and professionalism
• Ability to work at pace and manage competing priorities
• Understanding that the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship and employment on a time‑limited visa does not guarantee sponsorship at expiry

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust