As Secretariat Manager, you will play a key role within a high-performing Corporate Governance Secretariat team, supporting the effective operation of NHS England’s Board, board committees, and executive groups.
This is a fixed-term opportunity, aligned to the ongoing organisational integration programme, offering the chance to contribute to governance at a critical point of change for NHS England.
You will contribute to the delivery and continuous improvement of robust corporate governance arrangements, ensuring that Board, committees and executive groups are well-supported to operate effectively and discharge their statutory duties. This includes maintaining high-quality governance processes, systems, and documentation aligned to the organisation’s strategic priorities.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced governance professional who can operate confidently at Board level and bring immediate impact within a complex, high-profile environment.
The post holder will support the Assistant Director of Secretariat in the effective running of the Secretariat function, including the administration and coordination of the board committees and executive groups, ensuring they are supported to operate effectively within the corporate governance framework.
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
The Secretariat Manager supports the delivery of a high-quality corporate governance service across a portfolio of NHS England board committees and executive groups. Working closely with the Assistant Director of Secretariat, the post holder ensures that these forums are effectively managed and supported to operate in line with the organisation’s governance framework.
Key responsibilities
Provide a professional secretariat service to assigned board committees and executive groups, ensuring effective end-to-end meeting management
Coordinate the development of agendas and papers, ensuring quality and timely submission in line with governance requirements
Produce clear, accurate, and concise minutes, capturing key discussions, decisions, and actions
Manage action logs and follow up on progress, ensuring accountability and timely reporting
Support the quality assurance of papers and ensure alignment with corporate governance standards
Act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, drafting correspondence and ensuring clear communication of decisions and outcomes
Support the Assistant Director of Secretariat in maintaining effective governance arrangements, ensuring committees and groups are properly constituted and operate in line with the Governance Manual and regulatory requirements
Maintain governance documentation, including statutory duties and core frameworks
Contribute to transparency and accountability requirements, including publication and Annual Report inputs
Support forward planning and work programmes for committees and groups, working closely with chairs and senior stakeholders
Coordinate meeting logistics and ensure smooth delivery of governance processes
Contribute to continuous improvement of Secretariat systems and ways of working
Support induction, development activity, and effectiveness reviews for committees and their members
Work flexibly across the Corporate Governance function, contributing to wider projects and priorities as required
Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is due to the ongoing NHSE-DHSC Transformation Programme and planned disestablishment of NHS England.
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
