About this role
Job summary
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is looking for an exceptional Programme Director to lead the delivery of major digital transformation programmes that will shape how we deliver care, support our people and make best use of technology across one of the largest ambulance services in the country.
This is a high-profile senior leadership role, working directly with the Chief Information Officer, the Digital Senior Management Team and senior clinical, operational and corporate leaders. You will turn strategic ambition into clear programme plans, strong governance, confident delivery and measurable benefits for patients, staff and communities.
We are looking for a confident, compassionate and values-led senior leader with significant experience of delivering complex digital, technology or transformation programmes in a large and complexorganisation. You will be comfortable operating in ambiguity, working across organisational boundaries and influencing at executive and Board level.
You will bring strong programme governance, financial awareness, analytical judgement and stakeholder management skills. Just as importantly, you will be able to build trust, create clarity, support teamsthrough change and keep benefits, quality, safety, usability and sustainability at the centre of delivery.
Main duties of the job
As Programme Director, you will provide visible and inclusive leadership across complex, organisation wide digital programmes. You will bring together clinical, operational, corporate, digital, supplier and partner teams to create the conditions for successful delivery, ensuring work is planned, assured and adopted safely across the Trust. You will lead programme control, assurance, risk and dependency management across multiple workstreams, making sure delivery remains aligned to Trust priorities, national and regional policy, clinical and operational requirements, financial controls and the needs of service users.
What you will lead:
Delivery of complex digital transformation programmes that support safe, effective and high quality patient care. Clear programme vision, delivery strategy, roadmap, governance and assurance arrangements. Senior stakeholder engagement across clinical, operational, corporate, digital and external partner groups. Management of strategic risks, issues, assumptions, constraints and dependencies across multiple workstreams. Development of business cases, investment proposals, delivery plans and benefits-led decision making. Strong supplier and partner management to support successful delivery and sustainable outcomes. A collaborative delivery culture where people work together, challenge constructively and remain focused on outcomes.
About us
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport.
Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.
Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident.
We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Job description Job responsibilities
Digital services are central to how NWAS delivers the right care, at the right time and in the right place. This role offers the opportunity to lead work that has real impact: improving services for patients, supporting frontline and corporate colleagues, strengthening digital capability and helping the Trust respond to future challenges with confidence.
At NWAS, how we lead is as important as what we deliver. We are looking for someone who will role model our values of Working Together, Being at our Best and Making a Difference, and who will demonstrate the Be Think Do leadership philosophy through compassionate, inclusive and resilient leadership.If you are a senior digital or transformation leader who wants to make a meaningful difference in a complex, fast-paced and purpose-led NHS organisation, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the requirements set out in the job description and person specification. We encourage candidates to use their own voice and provide clear examples of their achievements, leadership approach and experience.
Visa sponsorship is not possible for this role for either candidates or existing employees. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker/ Health and Care Worker visas as set out at gov.uk. Graduate visa holders should have no expectation of long-term employment through sponsorship. Additionally, your visa conditions and validity period must allow you to work in the role question and for a suitable period to allow training and execution without requiring sponsorship.
Please ensure that you have read and understood the job description and person specification before applying.
Person Specification
Skills / Competencies Essential
Excellent senior leadership skills, with the ability to create a shared vision, set clear direction and lead complex programmes through ambiguity, uncertainty and change. Ability to lead and matrix manage multi-disciplinary teams across digital, clinical, operational, corporate, supplier and partner boundaries. Highly developed interpersonal, influencing, negotiation and constructive challenge skills, including the ability to secure commitment where there are competing priorities or divergent views. Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex programme information clearly to Board, executive, senior management, frontline, supplier and partner audiences. Strong analytical and judgement skills, with the ability to interpret complex programme information, identify trends, assess options and present evidence-based recommendations. Strong programme governance, assurance and control skills, including risk, issue, dependency, milestone, resource and benefits management. Ability to develop, analyse and maintain dependency maps, critical paths and delivery controls across multiple workstreams, suppliers and stakeholder groups. Ability to work well under pressure, prioritise competing demands, delegate effectively and meet challenging deadlines in a complex programme environment. Ability to lead benefits-led delivery, ensuring programme activity remains focused on outcomes, value, quality, safety, adoption and sustainability. Ability to develop clear business cases, decision papers, delivery plans and assurance reports that support effective scrutiny and senior decision-making. Competent user of information and programme management systems, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project and other tools required to support planning, reporting and delivery control. Strong supplier and partner management skills, with the ability to manage expectations, performance, risks, dependencies and contractual delivery requirements. Ability to support organisational change and adoption, engaging stakeholders and helping teams to understand, prepare for and embed new ways of working. Demonstrable compassionate and inclusive leadership. Experience in the application of HR processes. Demonstrable experience of line management responsibilities.
Qualification and Knowledge Essential
Master's degree in a relevant subject or equivalent extensive senior-level experience in large-scale programme delivery, digital transformation, business change, technology, information systems or a related discipline. Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner, PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile, change management or equivalent programme/project delivery qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience. Specialist knowledge of programme governance, assurance, risk management, dependency management, benefits realisation and programme controls in a complex organisational setting. Knowledge of business case development, investment planning, options appraisal, benefits management and evidence-based decision-making within an NHS, public sector or similarly complex environment. Knowledge of digital, data and technology-enabled transformation, including the delivery of complex services across clinical, operational, corporate and technical environments. Knowledge of a range of programme, project and change delivery approaches, including waterfall, agile and hybrid methods, and their appropriate use in complex transformation environments. Understanding of supplier, commercial and contractual considerations relevant to the delivery of major digital transformation programmes. Understanding of information governance, data protection, cyber security, accessibility, safety, equality and inclusion considerations relevant to digital programme delivery. Evidence of ongoing personal and professional development relevant to senior leadership, programme delivery and digital transformation.
Experience Essential
Evidenced experience in delivering digital solutions to achieve transformational outcomes. Strong project management skills, in a variety of project methodologies, with the ability to prioritise tasks and deliver projects within specified timelines. Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to extract meaningful insights from end users, technical high-level designs, user requirements. Experience of building relationships and managing difficult partnership to achieve goals. Knowledge of a variety of design documentation, user requirement documentation, delivery methodology. Experience of managing complex projects using a proven Project Methodology. Experience of working in an environment with high levels of uncertainty and continual change whilst making decisions and setting direction without having the full information. Experience of managing an extensive workload in complex environments. Understanding of Information Governance. A sound understanding of business process and requirements gathering. Understanding of Performance Management. Experience of supplier management in delivery of a digital solution.
Values and Behaviours Essential
Working together - demonstrate collaborative and inclusive working and challenge behaviour that is not inclusive or acceptable.
Values and Behaviours Essential
Being at our best - professional and adaptable and takes pride in work. Making a difference - act with compassion, kindness and integrity towards everyone.
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 North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Address Digital Innovation SMT
Manchester
M14 7LU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)