Associate Director Health Sector Talent Board and Hub Programme

Rest Less; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Associate Director to lead the Health Sector Talent Board and Hub, providing strategic direction and robust governance for workforce programmes in London.

The postholder will translate priorities into deliverable work plans, ensure high-quality stakeholder engagement, and drive delivery across NHS and partner organisations with a strong emphasis on employer-led workforce development.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to leadership or programme management.
• Experience leading complex multi-stakeholder programmes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for pan-London workforce programmes and align with stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective governance, assurance and performance management.
• Build relationships with senior system leaders, employers and education providers.
• Coordinate across organisations to maximise programme impact and value.
• Monitor and report on performance, driving continuous improvement.

Skills

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree

CPD

Job description

Job summary

The Associate Director will lead the programme, governance and employer engagement function supporting the Health Sector Talent Board and Hub, operating at a pan-London level.

The postholder will be accountable for translating strategic priorities into deliverable programmes, ensuring robust governance, performance oversight and high-quality stakeholder engagement.

They will work across organisational boundaries to align partners, shape delivery and support an employer-led approach to workforce development and skills planning.

The role will operate with a high degree of autonomy across a complex system, influencing senior stakeholders and driving delivery against agreed priorities.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for pan-London workforce programmes, working across NHS Integrated Care Systems, the independent health sector, education providers and wider stakeholders to align delivery with workforce demand, skills priorities and inclusive growth objectives.

• Lead the design, mobilisation and delivery of complex, employer-led programmes, translating strategic priorities into clear workplans, milestones and measurable outcomes that deliver impact at scale.

• Establish and maintain effective programme governance, assurance and performance management arrangements, providing robust oversight of risks, dependencies, benefits realisation and delivery against agreed targets.

• Coordinate activity across multiple organisations and workstreams, ensuring effective system-wide engagement, communication and collaboration to maximise programme impact and value.

• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme performance, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement, inform decision‑making and demonstrate outcomes to stakeholders and funders.

About us

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

Job responsibilities

• Report to and work closely with the Deputy Director of Workforce Programmes for the Health and Social Care Skills Academy, ensuring alignment of programme activity with wider strategic objectives, priorities and delivery plans.
• Establish and maintain effective programme governance, assurance and performance management arrangements, providing robust oversight of risks, dependencies, benefits realisation and delivery against agreed targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior system leaders, employers, education providers and partner organisations, influencing and securing commitment to shared priorities and collaborative delivery.
• Coordinate activity across multiple organisations and workstreams, ensuring effective system-wide engagement, communication and collaboration to maximise programme impact and value.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme performance, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement, inform decision‑making and demonstrate outcomes to stakeholders and funders.
• Provide leadership and support to programme teams and partners, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to master's degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent level of experience working in workforce, skills, education, economic development or programme management.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to leadership, programme management or workforce transformation.

Desirable

• Professional CIPD qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of leading complex, multi-stakeholder programmes or partnerships across organisational boundaries, delivering measurable outcomes at scale.
• Experience of working with senior leaders across the NHS, education, local government, employers and other strategic partners to develop and deliver shared priorities.

Desirable

• Experience of leading regional, pan-London or system-level workforce, skills, employment or economic development programmes.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Strong programme and project management skills, including governance, risk management, assurance, performance monitoring and benefits realisation.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build productive relationships and secure commitment from senior decision-makers.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex priorities into practical delivery plans and measurable 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.

Employer details

Employer name

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Harbour Yard / Hybrid

London

SW10 0XB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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