Senior Programme Director

Main area Chief Medical Officers Office Grade Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-F-CVA587

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate Town Cambridge Salary £64,455 - £74,896 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/03/:59 Interview date 16/03/2026

Job overview We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Programme Manager to take on the pivotal role of Programme Director within the Chief Medical Officer's Directorate.

This is a rare opportunity to influence change at executive level and lead a high-impact portfolio of corporate programmes that are critical to quality, safety, governance and organisational performance.

As a core member of the CMO Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic leadership, assurance and oversight across a complex portfolio of high-profile programmes. Hold delegated authority for programme delivery, financial oversight and risk management. Drive initiatives that directly impact patient safety, quality of care and medical workforce effectiveness. Ensure robust governance, planning, reporting and benefits realisation from initiation through to post-implementation assurance. Influence and collaborate with Executive Directors, senior clinicians and divisional leaders.

This role demands a confident, politically astute leader who thrives in complex environments and can operate with a high degree of autonomy.

Main duties of the job We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Programme Manager to provide strategic leadership, assurance and support across a complex portfolio of high impact corporate programmes within the Chief Medical Officer's Directorate.

The post holder will be a core member of the CMO senior leadership team and will have delegated authority for programme delivery, financial oversight and risk management across a large portfolio of complex programmes. This will ensure delivery of programmes that are critical to quality, safety, governance and organisational performance.

This appointment comes at a key moment for transformation at CUH. The Trust has committed to significant organisational change and to delivering improvements at pace. This role requires a senior leader who can operate with high levels of autonomy, influence at executive level and manage delivery in a complex and politically sensitive environment.

In this pivotal role, you will have end to end accountability for programmes from initiation through to benefits realisation and post implementation assurance working with executive directors, senior clinicians and divisional leaders. You will champion change across the organisation, embed sustainable improvements and ensure robust governance that enhance patient care and operational excellence.

Working for our organisation Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
• or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on the 4th March 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on the 16th March 2026.

Benefits to you At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose created colleague only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part time working, job share, term time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience in the field of programme management and improvement, such as Postgraduate Certificate in Management and/or Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance and/or Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Programme Management Qualification.
• Significant experience in project / programme management delivery with relevant qualifications such as PRINCE 2 Foundation & Practitioner qualifications.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of leading complex, multi strand programmes at a corporate or system level within a large complex organisation demonstrating measurable improvements in service delivery or patient outcomes.
• Experience of working with Executive Directors, Clinical Boards and external stakeholders providing assurance and influencing strategic decision making.
• Significant experience of programme and project management, including use of service improvement techniques.
• Proven track record of managing budgets, financial risk and benefits realisation.
• Experience of operating in high risk, ambiguous and sensitive environments.
• Demonstrable evidence of leadership experience / ability to lead and contribute to the wider team Confident and experienced in SOP's.
• Experience and knowledge of regulatory matters, compliance and corporate governance, gained in a variety of NHS or academic organisations.
• Working in Microsoft Office environment - excel, power point, word.
• Evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
• Experience within an NHS Trust or equivalent complex public sector organisation.
• Experience working across organisational or system boundaries (e.g. ICS-level).
• Experience supporting clinical leadership functions.

Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge, practical application and experience in programme management, service redesign, facilitation and successful implementation of projects at a senior level.
• Knowledge of successful risk management within the NHS.
• Demonstrable knowledge of corporate governance including relevant legislation e.g. Freedom of Information Act.

Skills

• Ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information with exceptional verbal and written communication skills to a wide range of audiences; meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse and present complex information in an accessible form.
• Ability to build positive relationships, influence senior colleagues and other stakeholders, including on highly sensitive and complex matters; strong negotiation skills.
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