Job summary
Aqua seeks an exceptional leader to be our new Chief Executive.
We have successfully operated as a NHS provider of expert improvement support for 14 years, expanding our footprint from the NW to be UK-wide.
You will work in a complex stakeholder environment, building strong relationships with the Board and establishing profitable partnerships with customer organisations and partner agencies. You will have strong expertise in applying commercial and marketing principles within the NHS, as well as strong business acumen to ensure financial and operational sustainability.
The role is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a well-established leader who can bring new ideas and energy to position Aqua as the 'go-to' NHS consultancy for quality improvement and change management.
If you have the skills, experience and passion to lead Aqua, we would love to hear from you.
Assessment days will take place on 27th & 28th of March 2024. Only candidates deemed to be a good fit for the role will be invited to interview on 28th March.
Main duties of the job
You will provide executive leadership of Aqua so that it continues to fulfil its mission to support its members and customers to transform health and the quality of care.
The main duties and responsibilities of the role include:
- Leading Aqua as an NHS consultancy organisation in a complex and changing landscape
- Leveraging your current Chief Officer / Executive experience and regional / national peer networks to drive the business forward, establish new commercial relationships and secure income streams
- Evolve the internal Aqua architecture and culture to serve this ambition
- Ensure delivery of annual operational plans/internal corporate improvement programmes
- Apply strong business acumen- understanding of business, commercial and financial concepts, market analysis data, customer feedback and evaluation.
- Customer and wider stakeholder engagement, strategic relationship management.
- Direct delivery portfolio based on individual area of knowledge and experience.
About us
Aqua (Advancing Quality Alliance) is a quality improvement organisation, working with the NHS, care providers and local authorities to identify, refine and embed sustainable strategies for high-quality care and regulatory excellence. Aqua positions work increasingly to add value at Place, Integrated Care Partnership and System levels.
Established in 2010, we operate as a membership and consultancy organisation within the NHS, providing quality improvement expertise, specialist learning and development across the UK.
We develop tailored, efficient solutions, informed by data and co-designed with service users to deliver maximum impact.
At Aqua we seek to ensure we reflect the world in which we live in through understanding and supporting equality and diversity in all that we do. Our values of excellence, respect, integrity, and collaboration are at the heart of our work in support of our colleagues and customers.
Please note that this vacancy is for Advancing Quality Alliance (Aqua) and is not based at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent
- Masters degree or equivalent in leadership or management
- Evidence of on-going CPD, relevant to this post
- Relevant professional qualification
Desirable
- Evidence in relation to leading continuous improvement and transformational change.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to articulate a vision with compelling clarity and to switch between the significan detail and the big picture
- Articulate and credible commanding attention from the membership Aqua and its customer and partners
- Strong leadership and management skills with high credibility as a transformational leader
- Evidence of strong analytic and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure to deliver outcomes to fixed deadlines
- Ability to broker effective system wide relationships developing effective alliances and networks across boundaries
- Understand and/or experience of leading a consultancy-based organisation in a commercially orientated context.
- Ability to lead effectively in a virtual organisation
- Confidence in operating effectively using digital tools on virtual platforms
Desirable
- National and international presence
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of effective application of financial and business acumen
- Experience as a CEO or at Director level in a complex health and care environment
- A proven track record of successful transformative and innovative working within health or health related settings
- Evidence of strategic planning and successful implementation into operational outcomes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent
- Masters degree or equivalent in leadership or management
- Evidence of on-going CPD, relevant to this post
- Relevant professional qualification
Desirable
- Evidence in relation to leading continuous improvement and transformational change.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to articulate a vision with compelling clarity and to switch between the significan detail and the big picture
- Articulate and credible commanding attention from the membership Aqua and its customer and partners
- Strong leadership and management skills with high credibility as a transformational leader
- Evidence of strong analytic and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure to deliver outcomes to fixed deadlines
- Ability to broker effective system wide relationships developing effective alliances and networks across boundaries
- Understand and/or experience of leading a consultancy-based organisation in a commercially orientated context.
- Ability to lead effectively in a virtual organisation
- Confidence in operating effectively using digital tools on virtual platforms
Desirable
- National and international presence
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of effective application of financial and business acumen
- Experience as a CEO or at Director level in a complex health and care environment
- A proven track record of successful transformative and innovative working within health or health related settings
- Evidence of strategic planning and successful implementation into operational outcomes
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).