Head of Governance

Royal College of Radiologists

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is the leading professional membership body for clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists, and a registered charity that educates and supports doctors throughout their careers. With over 14,000 members in the UK and internationally, together we’re contributing to advancing each new generation of doctors and helping improve patients’ lives.

We require a broad range of skills and experience to deliver our strategic goal of increasing the clinical radiology and clinical oncology workforce, which will ultimately lead to improving imaging and cancer care services for all. If our strategy and values inspire you, and you are passionate about helping us meet our ambitious goals in an environment that celebrates differences, values diversity, and recognises that everyone here plays a role in the success of the College, then we encourage you to consider a career at the RCR.

About the role

The Head of Governance leads on all governance work across the College, managing the Governance team to ensure their work supports the organisation's strategic priorities. The post-holder delivers their responsibilities by working closely with the CEO, President and Trustee Board to establish and maintain appropriate standards of good practice in governance.

The Head of Governance also has responsibility for all data protection matters and coordinates external legal advice where appropriate to ensure the efficient and effective resolution of issues. In addition to this, the post-holder supports the work of the EDI Committee in the creation and implementation of the College’s external EDI plan.

Responsibilities

Governance:

• Ensure that the governance structure of the RCR meets the requirements of the new constitution, with continued revision where needed.
• Ensure that the RCR meets the highest standards in compliance and external accountability in relation to:
  • Commission (and any equivalent bodies in the devolved nations as required)
  • Privy Council
  • Information Commissioner's Office
• This includes ensuring that statutory accountability is maintained through reporting to external bodies, ensuring that appropriate records are kept, including of Board decisions, and that decisions are made in an appropriate way:
  • To make necessary changes to governance as appropriate to meet the highest standards.
  • To provide legal and other professional advice for the RCR where necessary to ensure effective outcomes.
  • Advise on external standards of best practice in governance, the actions necessary to improve, and how to adjust the workings and structure of RCR to meet them.
  • Undertake and manage Board reviews, using external tools and benchmarks, to improve the functioning and effectiveness of the Board. Provide advice to the Board and Executive on skills criteria for Board membership, identifying any gaps and supporting the recruitment, selection, and induction of Board members. Advice on the retention and refreshment of skills.
• Develop, review and maintain all internal governance systems and structures, including:
  • Advice on Board/Committee design and schemes of delegation or terms of reference.
  • Lead the authoring and updating of a suite of corporate governance tools (internal governance codes and frameworks) that assist with embedding and driving forward good governance at all times across the organisation.
  • Be the cross-College expert for advice on propriety and maintaining appropriate standards of probity and good governance.
  • Lead the cyclical review of extant policies and processes and the development of new policies and processes. This includes providing advice and guidance as required and ensuring that all policy documents are reviewed and updated regularly, and that all processes and policies are adhered to consistently.
• Establish, run and review internal processes as regards policies and procedures for risk management, ensuring that such policies and processes are implemented consistently.
• Manage the processes for RCR elections, including those in respect of Officers, the main boards and committees, and the standing committees for the devolved nations.
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the RCR’s constitutional requirements and ensure that they are understood and followed as necessary, with accurate records being maintained.
• Plan, advise on and carry out such drafting, and seek legal advice as necessary, in respect of any changes to the constitutional documents, processes or governance generally.

Committee Business Management:

• Strategically plan and manage the business flow through the Trustee Board, Finance Committee, Faculty Leadership teams and other subsidiary committees to enable timely and appropriate decision-making. Working with the CEO and President to ensure that the plan fits with business timescales and RCR priorities.
• Ensure that consistent committee servicing arrangements are developed and maintained across the RCR in accordance with best practice, the RCR’s governing documents and internal requirements.
• Manage the committee servicing delivery within the Governance team, ensuring all committees are serviced effectively, efficiently and consistently and that accurate records are maintained.

Data Protection Officer:

• Ensure regulatory compliance, including monitoring changes in data protection regulations and assessing the impact on RCR, as well as ensuring that data protection activities are in alignment with the principles and requirements of UK GDPR.
• Develop, implement and maintain a data protection strategy that encompasses policies, procedures and controls to safeguard personal data. Working across the RCR to integrate data protection considerations into business processes.
• Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments for new projects, systems or processes involving the processing of personal data; identifying potential risks, recommending mitigations and ensuring that protection risks are minimised.
• Manage and facilitate data subject access requests, rectifications, erasure and other rights as outlined in UK GDPR, ensuring timely and accurate responses and actions.
• Maintain oversight of staff and Board-level training on GDPR and data. Raising awareness about data protection best practices and the importance of compliance.
• Develop and maintain an incident response plan for data breaches and coordinating notifications, and working with the Information Commissioner's Office and affected data subjects when required.
• Ensure that data protection considerations are included in contracts where necessary.
• Ensure that data protection policies and documentation are maintained and regularly reviewed so that changes to regulations or organisational processes are reflected.
• Report to the Board and Senior management on data matters as necessary.
• Be the primary point of contact for data protection inquiries from internal and external stakeholders.

Complaints Process:

• Manage the complaints procedure for RCR in line with the policy, ensuring appropriate handling and reporting to Trustees on an annual basis.

Leading and Developing a High-Performing Team:

• Train, recruit and retain excellent people with the skills and expertise to develop and deliver an excellent governance service.
• Be an excellent team leader, providing direction, motivation and support to direct reports in achieving functional goals, ensuring outcomes are clear, progress is measurable, and deadlines are met.
• Lead, motivate, performance manage and develop the Governance team in accordance with RCR policies and the scheme of Financial, Contractual and HR Delegation.
• Promote effective communication between members of the Governance team of the wider Executive Office and other relevant members of RCR staff and stakeholders.
• Manage records (attendance and absence) of direct reports using the RCR’s electronic HR system.
• Play an active part in the management of the RCR, taking part in managers' meetings and other meetings as required.

External Equality. Diversity and Inclusion:

• Provide support to the co-Chairs of the RCR’s EDI Committee and Officers on the RCR’s external EDI plan.
• Support the EDI Committee and plan its business to ensure that the Trustee Board receives the assurances it needs to be satisfied that the College is addressing its EDI commitments and requirements.
• Develop RCR’s EDI monitoring in relation to members and Fellows, ensuring that it meets GDPR and RCR’s business needs, as well as establishing a benchmark of data.
• Develop EDI training for the Board and Officers, in consultation with HR.
• Act as the external liaison between RCR and other Medical Royal Colleges/Academies on the cross-College EDI

General:

• Provide across the RCR a service to those drafting contracts, licences and agreements to ensure that they protect the RCR’s interests effectively, are compliant with the law and are consistent. This includes seeking external legal advice where necessary.
• Prepare a budget as required annually, monitor as required and manage actively throughout the year in accordance with the scheme of Financial, Contracting and HR Delegation.
• Maintain documentation on all activities carried out.
• Undertake such duties appropriate to the level of the postholder’s qualifications and experience as may be required by the RCR from time to time.

Internal Working Relationships:

• President and other Officers
• Treasurer
• Members of Council and major boards and committees
• ICS Manager
• Committee staff
• Senior Management Team
• Executive Office team
• Governance team – working collaboratively toward team goals

External Working Relationships:

• Charity Commission and equivalent bodies in the devolved nations
• Privy Council Office
• Information Commissioner
• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Equivalent postholders in other colleges
• Independent ballot scrutineer
• Legal advisors
• Investment managers
• Auditors

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience:

• Significant knowledge and experience of governance in a membership or not-for-profit setting
• Experience of advising senior stakeholders on key strategic decisions and their impact on the governance of the organisation
• Knowledge and experience in the majority of: data protection, information governance, chartered bodies, equality and diversity law and practice, charity law and practice, and the governance of formal meetings
• Excellent knowledge of data protection law and practice, with experience in implementing training to ensure staff understand and comply with the legal requirements
• Understanding of the contribution that commercial development can play in a not-for-profit body and the impacts on appropriate and good governance
• Experience in leading a high-performing team

Skills & Abilities:

• Accurate use and understanding of English.
• Attention to detail in drafting and planning
• Clear, unfussy formal writing style
• Ability to explain Governance topics readily and succinctly, both orally and in writing
• Adaptability, flexibility (ability to deal with unpredictability)
• Ability to influence and make decisions, gaining and maintaining the confidence of senior clinicians, boards and committees
• Ability to work independently, taking the initiative, working under pressure and using judgement and discretion to ensure delivery of all work

Other Requirements:

• Commitment to equality and valuing diversity, and understanding of how this applies to the delivery of own area of work
• Commitment to the aims and charitable objectives of the RCR
• Self awareness
• Enthusiasm for learning and development, and taking on new tasks
• Committed to my own continuing professional development.

Compensation & Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave Allowance
• Excellent Pension Scheme
• Interest-Free Season Ticket loan 
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Conditions of employment

• You must have the right to work in the UK

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Please send an email to [email protected] with your CV and 1 page of a cover letter, your Full Name, Role, and a completed Diversity Monitoring Form.
• If you consider yourself to have a disability and require a hard copy pack or a different format, for example, large print, please contact the HR team at [email protected]

Interviews

• Shortlist interviews are scheduled for 12th December 2025, and selection interviews are scheduled for 17th December 2025.

Policies

Diversity means better ideas, better solutions, and more innovation. That’s why one of our key priorities is ensuring our workforce reflects our communities. We’re committed to creating an inclusive workforce and working environment for us all to enjoy, where everyone can bring their whole self to work to create change and reach new heights of creativity.

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