Associate Programme Director (12 month contract)

UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust); Greater London; On-site; GBP 103,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) seeks an exceptional Associate Programme Director to lead a major redevelopment programme creating a new national neuroscience campus. This partnership with UCL will shape the future of neuroscience care, research and education in the UK.

The post is a 12-month fixed-term contract. You will chair SOC development, establish programme infrastructure, and work with senior leaders to appraise options and secure robust evidence for

Qualifications

• Masters or Bachelor degree with proven delivery.
• Knowledge of NHS capital business case development.
• Experience delivering large-scale transformation programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and establish programme infrastructure.
• Evaluate and appraise redevelopment options with senior leaders, ensuring a robust evidence base for decision-making.
• Influence and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across UCLH and UCL.

Skills

Project management

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Education

Masters or Bachelors degree or equivalent

Job description

NHS AfC: Band 8d

Main area Strategic Development Grade NHS AfC: Band 8d Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Limited funding) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 309-UCLH-8261728

Site University College London Hospitals Town London Salary £103,102 - £117,560 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 13/09/2026 23:59

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University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is seeking an exceptional Associate Programme Director to lead a major redevelopment programme that will create a new national neuroscience campus.

This exciting partnership between UCLH and University College London (UCL) represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of neuroscience care, research and education in the UK. The programme will deliver a world-leading facility that brings together the clinical, research and educational services currently based at Queen Square into a modern, integrated campus.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Trust's Strategy Team, the Associate Programme Director will lead the development of the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and establish the programme infrastructure required to support this nationally significant initiative. The successful candidate will work closely with senior leaders across UCLH and UCL to evaluate and appraise redevelopment options, ensuring a robust evidence base for future decision-making.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced programme leader with a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale transformation programmes within healthcare, higher education, infrastructure or a comparable environment. The successful candidate will have knowledge of NHS capital business case development, be able to demonstrate excellent strategic thinking, relationship-building and organisational skills, alongside the ability to influence and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.

This post is offered as a 12-month fixed-term contract. Applications from candidates seeking a secondment opportunity are also welcome.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working .

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

• Masters or Bachelors degree or equivalent, or previous experience in project management or operational delivery, with proven successful delivery.
• Masters or Bachelors degree or equivalent, or previous experience in project management or operational delivery, with proven successful delivery.
• Knowledge of financial management and risk management.
• Understanding of procurement processes within the NHS.

Experience

• Proven project management experience preferably within the healthcare industry.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and resources to achieve project objectives.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to develop and execute complex project plans.

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Communication

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with both internal and external stakeholders and partners at all levels

Personal and People Development

• Experience in managing staff, delivering training and developing a performance focused culture

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

Specific Requirements

• Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist technical advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales Interpreting national and local policies for implementation

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.