Programme Director – Startwell Programme

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Leadership & Management:

Provide senior leadership for programme projects, maintaining the programme plan to ensure delivery.

Develop a comprehensive programme plan with delivery timetables and workstream approaches.

Chair project meetings, providing robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.

Line manage project staff, including an 8b manager, a band 6, and other temporary or seconded staff.

Oversee programme budget and ensure financial management aligns with Trust policies.

Monitor programme risks and implement mitigation strategies, escalating where necessary.

Report programme status to Trust committees, boards, and the ICB Board.

Coordinate programme functions and provide assurance on projects, managing dependencies both within and outside NCL.

Support directors and teams with strategic deliverables and identify organisational development needs.

Leadership

Act as a visible, credible senior leader with Trust teams, commissioners, and NHS England.

Build and maintain strong working relationships across Trusts, ICB, and external stakeholders.

Ensure staff contributions are valued and incorporated into decision-making.

Oversee engagement with external stakeholders, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams.

Deliver presentations and training on programme progress and changes to practice.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Lead the communications and stakeholder strategy in collaboration with ICB and Trust communications teams.

Organise and facilitate programme meetings, ensuring information is effectively disseminated.

Raise the profile of the Startwell Programme internally and externally.

Employ diplomacy and negotiation skills to align projects with strategic objectives.

Information Management

Produce accurate information for boards, committees, and forums.

Develop and implement information-sharing systems to ensure effective decision-making and analysis.

Financial & Capital Management

Ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets.

Escalate and manage financial risks in collaboration with finance leads.

Ensure procurement is value-for-money and compliant with Trust policies.

Other Responsibilities

Promote cross-organisational learning and sector-wide initiatives.

Act as an ambassador for Trust and programme vision and values.

Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as directed.

Key Relationships:

Internal:

Whittington Health CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Directors

Divisional Clinical Directors, operational managers, strategy and finance teams

Startwell Programme team (project staff, secondees, consultants)

External:

Senior leaders across NCL Trusts (UCLH, Royal Free London)

NCL Integrated Care Board (ICB) leaders and NHS England representatives

Place-based partnerships and other external stakeholders

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential

• Masters Degree or equivalent experience
• High standard of written and spoken English
• Project management qualification or relevant project experience
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of issues across the NHS and NHS patient agenda

Work Experience

Essential

• Experience of working at a management level within the NHS or similar environment.
• Demonstrable NHS/ public sector experience and knowledge
• Experience of managing complex projects that cross multiple teams and stakeholders
• Experience of service redesign and development
• A proven record in successful leadership of complex operational change while also developing and maintaining high standards of quality

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of effective budgetary management and control, including achieving targets on a regular basis.
• A proven success in business planning and in the development and effective implementation of complex strategic plans
• Experience of leadership of clinical services.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of multidisciplinary issues and commitment to multidisciplinary working
• Highly developed communication skills ranging from informal 1:1 discussions, formal presentations covering both oral and written skills.
• Ability to work with and through others
• Commitment to self-development with ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting the health and public sector.
• Demonstrable record of successful line management of staff and proven team leadership and motivational skills
• Evidence of political awareness and sensitivity to the high profile of the Directorate and the Trust

Desirable

• A clear understanding of the components of Clinical Governance and how these contribute to an integrated and quality driven service

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 entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Health NHS Trust

Magdala Avenue Archway London

Archway, London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)