Associate Director Health Sector Talent Board and Hub Programme

Chelwest; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust seeks an Associate Director to lead the Health Sector Talent Board and Hub Programme across London. You will translate strategy into deliverable programmes with strong governance and performance oversight.

You will work across NHS systems, education providers and employers to align priorities, shape delivery and foster an employer-led approach to workforce development. This role offers hybrid working and significant autonomy.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent with leadership experience in workforce, skills, education or programme management.
• Continuing professional development relevant to leadership and programme management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for pan-London workforce programmes across NHS ICS, education providers and employers.
• Design, mobilise and deliver complex, employer-led programmes with clear workplans and milestones.
• Establish robust governance, assurance and performance management with risk and benefit realisation oversight.
• Coordinate activities across organisations to maximise impact and value for stakeholders and funders.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on programme performance using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead and support programme teams and partners to foster collaboration and accountability.

Skills

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Programme management

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree

Professional development

Job description

We are an award winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.

With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.

Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support .

Associate Director Health Sector Talent Board and Hub Programme

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Main area Programme Management Grade NHS AfC: Band 8c Contract 3 years (fixed-term) Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week Job ref 289-CR-188

Site Harbour Yard / Hybrid Town London Salary £79,504 - £91,609 per annum plus HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 21/10/2026

Job overview

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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

• 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.

Experience

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

Skills and Knowledge

• 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.

Important

• There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date, this will be due to a high volume of applications. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly (and your junk folder) as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.
• We operate a joint recruitment hub across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative Group. As part of this, your application and personal data may be shared with partner trusts within the group for recruitment and workforce purposes, in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Natalie Ibrahim Job title Deputy Director of Workforce Programmes WNL ICB Email address [e-mail]

The recruitment team are available to provide support from 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri. To contact the team please call the Trust switchboard and ask for ‘Recruitment team, Human Resources Department’.