The Governance Team is the central component of the NMC’s approach to ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective oversight. We maintain the integrity of our decision-making, uphold our statutory and regulatory obligations, and provide support to the Executive, Council, and its committees.
We are essential in guaranteeing that the NMC fulfills its public interest mission with clarity and credibility, from organizing Executive Board and Council business to supervising statutory reporting and member recruitment.
Details:
Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Location: London or Edinburgh
- Salary:
- London: £72,135 – £80,150
- Edinburgh: £67,087 – £74,451
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About the NMC:
At the NMC, our vision is safe, effective and kind nursing and midwifery practice that improves everyone’s health and wellbeing. We’re the independent regulator for over 853,000 nurses, midwives, and nursing associates across the UK.
Our core role is to regulate:
- We set high standards for education and practice.
- We maintain the professional register of those eligible to practise.
- We investigate concerns when practice falls short — ensuring the public can trust the professions.
Beyond regulation, we support professionals throughout their careers, produce resources and guidance, and use our insights to influence the wider health and social care system.
Find out more about our work on our LinkedIn page or our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) page.
Our Commitment to Inclusion:
The NMC is committed to being an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups.
We’re an equal opportunity employer and make decisions without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, maternity, disability, or gender identity.
Examples of adjustments we’ve provided include extra time during assessments, advance interview questions, and accessible interview venues.
Governance Team:
Our Governance Team sits at the centre of how we ensure transparency, accountability, and effective oversight at the NMC. We:
- Support the Executive, Council, and committees
- Manage statutory reporting and records
- Oversee governance processes like member recruitment and induction
- Help uphold public trust in the NMC’s mission
From coordinating Council meetings to safeguarding constitutional compliance, we play a vital role in keeping our decision-making robust, credible, and efficient.
Duties:
We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Governance to lead this essential function. In this senior role, you’ll provide expert support to the Council, committee chairs, partner members and the NMC’s leadership team.
Here Are some duties of Head of Governence:
- Lead board, council, and committee meetings
- Oversee governance frameworks and compliance
- Ensure statutory and regulatory reporting
- Advise senior leaders on governance best practice
- Manage recruitment and induction of board members
- Produce key documents like annual reports
- Act as secretary for audit and governance committees
- Lead and develop governance teams
Skills Required:
- Strong knowledge of governance and regulatory standards
- Excellent communication and stakeholder skills
- Leadership and team management experience
- Attention to detail and commitment to public service
This is a chance to shape governance practices at every level of a national regulator, ensuring high standards, strong public service values, and best practice in how we operate.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of Council and committee business, ensuring it’s timely, high-quality and aligned with our strategic priorities.
- Oversee recruitment, induction, development and appraisal of Council, committee, and partner members.
- Produce and coordinate statutory outputs, including the Annual Report and Accounts and the Annual Fitness to Practise report.
- Serve as secretary to the Audit Committee and other committees as required.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation (e.g. charity law, Professional Standards Authority (PSA) standards) and maintain accurate records of interests.
- Lead and develop a team of nine colleagues, fostering a high-performing and proactive culture.
- Deputise for the Assistant Director of Governance when needed.
Requirements:
- Significant experience working in governance, ideally within a regulatory, public, or charitable organisation.
- Strong understanding of statutory and constitutional frameworks, with the ability to interpret and apply complex governance requirements.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience advising senior leaders and boards.
- Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop teams and manage complex priorities.
- A collaborative, confident, and detail-focused approach, driven by high standards and public service values.
- A professional governance qualification, such as Chartered Governance Professional (CGP) or membership of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland.
Characteristics:
This role might be perfect if:
- You’re passionate about governance’s role in safeguarding public trust.
- You enjoy translating complex legal frameworks into practical, clear processes.
- You’re confident advising senior boards and managing high-level stakeholders.
- You thrive in a dynamic environment where priorities can change rapidly.
While this is a rewarding and impactful role, it can also be demanding — requiring balance between compliance, stakeholder expectations, and continuous improvement.
Benefits:
Attractive Salaries
- London salaries for Heads of Governance are typically high, often ranging from £80,000 to £150,000 or more, depending on the sector and size of the organisation. In financial services, compensation can be even higher, especially with bonuses.
Professional Influence
- You’ll have significant influence, advising boards, executives, and committees. It’s a role that shapes how an organisation is run and ensures high standards of accountability, compliance, and risk management.
Career Security and Demand
- Governance is increasingly critical across all sectors—corporate, financial services, public sector, charities, and regulated industries. Organisations face growing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and the public, so governance expertise remains in strong demand.
Diverse Sectors and Employers
- Opportunities exist across:
- Financial services
- Listed and private companies
- Public sector bodies
- Charities and not-for-profits
- Membership organisations and professional bodies
London hosts many headquarters and global offices, providing a wide variety of employers.
Global Career Potential
- Governance experience in London, as a global business hub, is highly transferrable internationally, opening doors to roles in other financial centres or multinational corporations.
Intellectually Stimulating
- The role often covers:
- Board governance and secretariat functions
- Corporate compliance
- ESG and sustainability governance
- Risk and regulatory frameworks
- Stakeholder management
This makes for varied and challenging work.
Networking and Professional Development
- London offers strong professional networks (for example, The Chartered Governance Institute), conferences, and events that help you build connections and stay current with regulatory and governance trends.
Positive Impact and Purpose
- You play a crucial role in ensuring ethical conduct, good decision-making, and organisational integrity, which is especially meaningful in charities, public bodies, and ESG-focused organisations.
Working Environment and Flexibility:
We’re currently working to a hybrid policy of attending the office two days per week. If you’re applying for a part-time role, this will be pro-rata. We’ll discuss flexibility with you during the process.
Application Process of Head of Governance Jobs in London 2025:
We want you to feel confident and supported. Here’s what you can expect:
- Application review
- Panel interview — may include a short presentation
- Outcome feedback — typically within 2 weeks
We’re happy to accommodate reasonable adjustments at any stage.
Additional Information:
- This role is subject to pre-employment checks. In future, it may be subject to DBS and further vetting under our developing vetting policy.
- If we receive a high number of applications, we may close this advert early — we encourage you to apply as soon as possible!
Other Sources:
Explore governance as a career:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a professional qualification for this role?
It’s highly beneficial. Many Heads of Governance hold qualifications such as Chartered Governance Professional (CGP) status or are members of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. However, significant relevant experience may also be acceptable.
Do Head of Governance roles offer hybrid working?
Yes, many employers in London now offer hybrid or flexible working arrangements for senior governance roles. For example, some require two days per week in the office and the rest remote.
What does a Head of Governance do?
A Head of Governance leads and manages governance frameworks in an organisation. They ensure board and committee meetings run smoothly, oversee compliance with laws and regulations, produce statutory reports, advise senior leaders, and manage governance teams.
