About this role
Job summary
The NHS Race and Health Observatory is an independent organisation, set up to explore ethnic inequalities in access to healthcare, experiences of healthcare, health outcomes, and inequalities experienced by black and minority ethnic members of the health and care workforce. It is a proactive investigator, providing strong recommendations that inform policymaking and facilitate change. It is evidence-driven and solution-focused.
The Observatory is hosted by NHS Alliance. Its board and team are independent, and it dictates its own direction and areas of focus. The Observatory has three main functions:
facilitating new, high-quality, and innovative research and evidencemaking strategic policy recommendations for changesupporting the practical implementation of those recommendations.The Senior Implementation Programme Manager will be at the heart of the Observatory's implementation work. You will lead the operational delivery of the Perinatal Equity and Anti-Discrimination Programme (PEADP), a national NHS England-commissioned programme operating across all 158 maternity and neonatal sites in England, and contribute to shaping the Observatory's wider implementation offer
Main duties of the job
Lead the operational delivery of PEADP across 158 maternity sites, working in partnership with co-delivery organisations to meet time, cost, quality, and impact targets.Provide senior oversight of programme governance, planning, risk, and assurance -- making decisions at pace and escalating strategic issues where required.Build and maintain inclusive relationships with NHS England commissioners, NHS senior leaders, site teams, and community stakeholders as a credible programme management lead.Hold delegated responsibility for the programme budget, including financial management, forecasting, procurement oversight, and value for money.Lead and develop designated team members, providing matrix leadership across programme delivery and fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and improvement-focused culture.Deputise for the Head of Implementation as required and represent the Observatory at senior internal and external forums and meetings.
About us
The NHS Alliance is the independent membership body that represents and supports the health and care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We represent, strengthen and support providers and commissioners of NHS care so that the NHS performs at its best and improves patient care across the UK representing frontline reality to government, shaping policy and building capability. We work across the whole NHS as well as within its individual sectors.
The NHS Alliance is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff. A place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of inclusive employment policies including family friendly policies and flexible working and we have range of channels to support staff from different backgrounds including our fantastic staff EDI networks and trade unions.
The NHS Alliance is committed to being a flexible employer. We understand the value and benefit to our employees being able to work flexibly and our agile working principles are designed to empower our people to work with optimal flexibility and minimal constraints to enable them to fulfil their potential at work whilst balancing home life and health and wellbeing.
Job description Job responsibilities
Lead operational delivery of PEADP across 158 maternity sites in partnership with co-delivery partners, ensuring time, cost, quality and impact targets are met.Provide senior oversight of programme governance, planning, risk, and assurance processes, making informed decisions and escalating strategic issues where required.Translate strategic priorities into programme delivery, shaping programme design, delivery methodology, and evaluation frameworks.Build and maintain inclusive relationships with the NHS England Commissioning team, NHS senior leaders, site teams, and community stakeholders as a credible programme management lead.Hold delegated responsibility for programme budget, ensuring strong financial management, forecasting, procurement oversight and value for money.Lead and develop designated member of the Implementation team, fostering a high-performing, inclusive and improvement-focused culture, and providing matrix leadership across programme delivery.Deputise for the Head of Implementation as required and represent the Observatory at senior internal and external forums, contributing to national discussions on implementation and health equity.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Demonstrable experience leading operational delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes in the health or NHS sector, with clear evidence of achieving time, cost, quality and impact targets, and proven ability to operate with substantial operational autonomy. Strong knowledge of programme management disciplines (planning, scheduling, risk, issue, change, dependency management) and proven ability to configure and use project management tools and systems (e.g., RAID logs, Gantt charts). Good knowledge of contemporary health, race, and equality policy, service delivery challenges, and the healthcare structure in England, evidenced through previous project work. Robust data analysis skills, including the ability to identify patterns from emerging evidence from the programme, and translate insights into clear, concise reports to support decision makers. Experience managing budgets with delegated financial authority, including procurement, forecasting and financial reporting. Demonstrated skill in influencing and negotiating to achieve outcomes, building credible working relationships with senior stakeholders (e.g., NHS executives, public sector leaders) without direct authority. Demonstrated experience line managing direct reports, including performance management and capability development. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, evidenced by producing high-quality reports, presentations and stakeholder briefings. Highly organised, responsive, and able to work independently in a senior capacity in complex, politically sensitive environments, balancing competing priorities under pressure. Understanding of anti-racism and commitment to furthering equity in healthcare. Evidence of continued professional development in programme management.
Desirable
Direct experience delivering health equity or anti-racism initiatives within NHS or public health settings. Evidence of continued professional development in programme management.
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.
Employer details Employer name The NHS Alliance
Address Floor 2, 18 Smith Square,
London,
SW1P 3HZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://thenhsalliance.org/ (Opens in a new tab)