Associate Director of Performance and Service @ North West London Pathology

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional Associate Director of Performance and Service to join our NWLP team and continue to shape the future of pathology services.

Driven by visionary leadership, strategic investment and transformative initiatives, NWLP has grown into one of the UK's most forward-thinking diagnostic service providers. We are recognised as pioneers in England for establishing one of the first fully integrated NHS pathology network.

The Associate Director of Performance and Service is a senior leadership post within the Portfolio and Strategic Delivery division, reporting directly to and deputising for the Director of Portfolio and Strategic Delivery. The postholder provides expert leadership across all of North West London Pathology services focusing on Performance and Improvement capability, with a particular focus on operational service improvement, business case development and assurance, benefits realisation and the embedding of a sustainable continuous improvement culture across NWLP.

The postholder brings deep, hands-on operational experience of pathology services, enabling them to provide credible challenge, expert guidance and practical leadership to service redesign and improvement activity. They act as a key stakeholder in performance intelligence, strategic investment decisions and the delivery of sustained operational improvement, ensuring that all improvement activity is proportionate, evidence-based and aligned to NWLP's strategic objectives.

Main duties of the job

• Provide expert operational and strategic leadership of the Performance andImprovement capability area within the Portfolio and Strategic Delivery division and across all areas of NWLP.
• Lead and quality-assure the development, challenge and approval of business cases across the NWLP investment pipeline, ensuring proposals are evidence-based, aligned to strategy and supported by robust benefit definition and realisation planning.
• Lead complex, cross-divisional improvement programmes aligned to NWLP's strategic priorities, working alongside clinical and operational leads.
• Be responsible for the development and ongoing maturity of structured Continuous Improvement capability across NWLP operational teams.
• Develop and maintain a robust organisational wide performance framework that enables effective planning, monitoring, diagnosis and proactive intervention across all services.

About us

Benefits include career development, flexible working, staff wellbeing programmes, staff awards and recognition scheme. We also have available benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan

NWLP Induction

The NWLP induction will run on the first Monday of each month (provided it does not fall on a bank holiday) and includes laboratory training (for relevant laboratory roles). All new staff must attend the NWLP induction during their first week with NWLP.

2026-2027 start dates which you will be able to book once you have completed all your pre-employment checks.

Monday 7 December 2026

Monday 4 January2027

Monday 1 February 2027

Monday 1 March 2027

Monday 5 April 2027

Candidates are advised to consider these start dates before agreeing end of service date with their current employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• First Degree or equivalent
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent level of skill/experience of working at a senior level in operational and strategic service development; involving demonstrable critical and strategic thinking relevant to pathology and/or relevant NHS clinical services.
• Evidence of relevant continuous professional development

Desirable

• Other leadership management Qualification (e.g ILM, CMI, MBA)
• Continuous improvement qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience in a NHS director / senior management position in a complex pathology operational environment implementing change and redesign across organisational boundaries and sectors.
• Experienced people champion with the ability to readily identify and develop talent, promote and advocate for professional development where appropriate and manage personal and professional wellbeing through setting and maintaining direction, clear requirements and performance standards, building and maintaining a culture of diversity and inclusion and continuous learning and improvement.
• Proven ability to deliver sustainable transformational change rather than just undertaking incremental change.
• Financial acumen including experience of managing significant budgets with effective budget management and control, coupled with a detailed understanding of cost improvement methodology.

Desirable

• Experience of operating in a partnership/joint role across NHS organisational boundaries.
• Knowledge and understanding of pathology services delivery, development, redesign, and best practice.
• Broad knowledge of clinical diagnostics current landscape, regulatory context and future trends

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• Effective and adaptable influencing and negotiation skills with senior stakeholders on difficult, detailed, complex and controversial issues.
• Strength of character to constructively challenge Executive Sponsors where areas are not delivering against key milestones and project deadlines.
• Credibility with senior stakeholders within function, Trust and with third parties, with the ability to influence and build positive and productive relationships at all levels.
• Managing conflict, displaying high levels of emotional intelligence, and remaining calm and resilient under pressure.

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

North West London Pathology

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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