Head of Compliance and Business

Job responsibilities

In this influential role, you'll:

Lead organisational compliance strategy and assurance within UEL Drive risk management, governance, and statutory compliance programmes Oversee property, business support, and service improvement functions Lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams Influence Board-level decision-making through data, insight, and strategic reporting Deliver transformational change, including digital and CAFM system development Ensure safe, effective, and compliant services that support outstanding patient care

We're looking for a proven senior leader with significant experience in compliance, estates, health & safety, risk management, or facilities management within a large, complex organisation. Experience within healthcare or NHS environments is highly desirable, but not essential.

The role is currently an 8C grade with scope for development

If you're passionate about governance, innovation, operational excellence, and making a real impact on healthcare services, we'd love to hear from you.

If you would like a confidential chat in the meantime, drop me a message to arrange a discussion.

We are seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking leader who can provide strategic direction across compliance, business support, property management, and service improvement functions. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to think beyond operational delivery, translating organisational priorities into clear plans and measurable outcomes. They will be confident operating at a senior level, influencing stakeholders, leading through change, and driving continuous improvement across a complex service environment.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in compliance, governance, and risk management within a complex organisation. They will have a strong understanding of statutory and regulatory requirements and be able to provide assurance that risks are effectively identified, managed, and reported. With excellent analytical and decision-making skills, they will be capable of leading investigations, interpreting complex information, and ensuring robust governance arrangements that support safe, compliant, and high-quality services.

This role requires an inspirational leader with a proven track record of managing and developing multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will be skilled in creating a positive and high-performing culture, empowering others to achieve their full potential while maintaining accountability and performance. They will demonstrate strong communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills, enabling them to lead through change and foster effective collaboration across teams and stakeholders.

We are looking for someone who has a passion for service improvement and a proven ability to deliver sustainable change. The successful candidate will be able to use data, performance information, and digital solutions to identify opportunities for improvement, enhance efficiency, and strengthen organisational performance. They will bring experience of leading improvement initiatives, implementing new systems and processes, and delivering tangible benefits that support both operational excellence and strategic objectives.

Person Specification

Qualifications / training required

Essential

• Educated to masters level in a relevant subject or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of professional knowledge skills and experience
• Specialist knowledge gained through extensive relevant experience in Hospital / Estates environment.
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
• NEBOSH Diploma, Post Grad Diploma or equivalent
• Provide evidence of CPD
• Fire management training

Desirable

• Qualification in root cause analysis
• Project Management qualification
• Membership of a professional organisation

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential

• Experience of working at a Senior level in a large organisation
• Significant post qualified experience of H&S / Risk Management gained in a large complex multidisciplinary organisation with previous experience at senior level
• Significant line management experience of professional level staff across several disciplines
• Have the ability to manage delegated budgets, expenditure & cost control on delegated projects
• Ability to assess the efficiency of training programmes
• Experience of effective change management
• Experience of developing strategies, systems and processes that impact across an organisation
• Significant experience carrying out broad range of professional duties to include policy development, training field investigations, monitoring and audit.
• Practical experience of facilitating change in practice and service delivery
• Proven ability to manage and prioritise own workload effectively against a background of change and uncertainty
• Experience gained of working independently at a professional level.
• Expert understanding of the principles of risk assessments
• Ability to interpret complex data for construction drawings in terms of them meetings legal compliance

Desirable

• Working within the NHS

Aptitudes and skills required

Essential

• Development and implementation of major policies aimed at improving quality and reducing risk
• Proven ability in policy analysis
• Designing Compliance Management Systems and procedures
• Effective influencing, negotiation and persuading skills
• Designing Compliance Management Systems and procedures
• Excellent communication skills; ability to communicate with staff at all levels and external bodies.
• Training - training groups of managers and employees
• Able to influence and negotiate realistically with colleagues at all levels
• Able to articulate a strong sense of direction and to carry this through to delivery with supporting systems
• Health and Safety Management Systems

Values and behaviours

Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for ...