Chief Executive

NHS; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Chief Executive to lead NHS Employers in driving strategic initiatives and enhancing workforce management across the NHS. The successful candidate will provide strong leadership, ensuring effective delivery of programs and fostering partnerships with stakeholders. This role offers flexibility in working arrangements, aimed at promoting the well-being of NHS staff while maintaining high operational standards.

Benefits

Flexible working

Home or remote working

Qualifications

• Proven leadership at executive or equivalent level in a complex environment.
• Track record of effective financial stewardship.
• Good understanding of people management and employment issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the people working in NHS Employers aligning with NHS values.
• Ensure accountability for effective contract delivery.
• Manage complexity while maintaining NHS Employers' independent voice.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

People Management

Financial Stewardship

Effective Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Job description

The postholder will lead the people working in NHS Employers in line with the values and policies of the NHS Confederation. They will support the Group Chief Executive (and the Board) in the renewal of the organisation following the coming together of NHS Confederation and NHS Providers from 2026.

Main duties of the job

The NHS Employers Chief Executive acts as a key representative for NHS organisations in relation to people policy, liaising with colleagues across government, the NHS and trade unions.They are accountable for the effective delivery of the NHS Employers contract and work programmes commissioned by the DHSC, and for enhancing the services available to members beyond those commissioned by DHSC.

About us

NHS Employers is the employers organisation for the NHS in England and is part of theNHS Confederation. NHS Employers supports workforce leaders and represents employersto develop a sustainable workforce and be the best employers they can be.It is a key part of the NHS Confederation which formally merged with NHS Providers as of 12January 2026. The merged organisation will have a new name, identity and strategy that willbe launched at the start of April 2026. Its core purpose will be to improve the NHS and thehealth of the UK as the independent membership body providing an influential, trusted voicefor NHS leaders and supporting its members to drive improvement.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: the development and effective implementation of strategic plans andgoals, aligning operations with mission and vision to represent and support NHS organisations.Lead the senior leadership team and wider leadership team to set clear direction, high qualitydelivery and service improvement.
• Leading People: ensuring a fair, productive and high impact culture across NHS Employersteams in line with the values of the organisation, supporting individual development andcollaboration across teams
• Improvement & Thought Leadership: Act as a thought leader influencing health andemployment policy, fostering strategic partnerships and supporting members in improving thesourcing, management and development of their people, in the service of more equitable andhealthier communities
• Policy Oversight : ensure the effectiveness of the NHS Employers Policy Board, supportingits chair, seeking its advice and maximising its impact on the work of NHS Employers andDHSC/NHS England.
• Strategic Communications: ensure the provision of effective strategic communicationsactivity and advice across NHS Employers
• Manage complexity : meet the obligations to the DHSC whilst also maintaining theindependent voice of NHS Employers; ensure the strong identity and brand of NHS Employerswhilst also supporting the collective success of the NHS Confederation
• Social Partnership: lead effective partnership working with trade unions; undertake the roleas the management side Chair for the national Social Partnership Forum (SPF) workingcollaboratively with the staff-side Chair and advising the Ministerial Chair and officials in theproper functioning of the SPF
• Operational Management: hold Directors to account for ensuring programs and teamsfunction efficiently and that contracts and programmes are delivered. Delegate responsibilitieswhile providing clear guidance and expectations and ensuring prioritisation, review andlearning.
• Financial Accountability: With the support of the SLT and Director of Finance, lead effectivefinancial planning and resource allocation processes to ensure the financial health and growthof NHS Employers. Ensure compliance with applicable policies and transparency in reporting,reporting performance to the Board of Trustees and relevant sub-committees.
• Business Development: Provide leadership in fundraising and investment efforts, cultivatingrelationships with stakeholders to secure contract income, generating margin to supportindependent policy work that benefits members
• Governance: Support the Group Chief Executive and Board of Trustees in the effectivemanagement and governance of the charity. Ensure effective liaison between the Group Executive Team and SLT, facilitating communication and ensuring that decisions and policiesare effectively, consistently and fairly implemented
• Risk Management: Manage potential risks to the organization, developing strategies tomitigate them ensuring that NHS Employers (and the wider group) remain financially,reputationally and operationally sound
• Communication and Advocacy: advocate for employers in the NHS, representing theirinterests to government, regulators, trade unions, parliament, other stakeholders, the media,and the public.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with members, theDHSC, external partners, regulators, media, and other stakeholders to enhance impact of, andsupport for, NHS Employers and the needs of our members.
• Continuous Improvement and Evaluation: Ensure all programs and teams deliver andreport against agreed quality standards, seeking out improvements in ways of working anddelivery, maximising their impact and efficiency

Person Specification

Experience

• Proven leadership at executive or equivalent level in a complex environment.
• Able to define and articulate a clear direction, translating mission and vision into clearly
• Demonstrates values of inclusive leadership, committed to delivery with people,
• focused on their development and resolute in ensuring fairness, equity, diversity and
• inclusion
• A track record of effective financial stewardship
• Good understanding of people management and employment issues, including in the
• NHS, as well as key policy for the wider health and care system.
• Committed to the value and benefits of social partnership and collective bargaining
• with trade unions; able to evidence a principled and skilled approach to employment
• relations
• Ability to credibly engage with a broad range of stakeholders, skilled in balancing
• competing interests and building coalitions to improve outcomes
• Demonstrable experience of developing leadership capacity within others
• Effective communicator, advocate and ambassador, with the potential to be credible

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.

Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working