Chief Executive Officer

NHS Blood and Transplant; England; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an inspirational Chief Executive to lead NHS Blood and Transplant through its next phase of transformation. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in complex environments, strong leadership abilities, and a commitment to equity and inclusion. This role offers the potential to influence the lives of millions of people while fostering innovation and quality within the organization.

Qualifications

• Proven success at board level in a large, complex organisation.
• Experience as CEO or in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale transformation.
• Ability to drive commercial growth and strategic innovation.
• Excellent negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead NHS Blood and Transplant through its next transformation phase.
• Work closely with the Chair and Board.
• Influence the lives of millions through leadership.

Skills

Leadership in complex environments

Financial leadership and strategic planning

Cultural change leadership

Negotiation skills

Public representation and stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree-level education or equivalent experience

Job description

As an essential part of the NHS, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) work to make the most of every donation from blood and organs to tissues and stem cells. We are more than a healthcare organisation: we are also a complex supply chain, a biomedical manufacturer, and a trusted partner in research and innovation.At our heart, we enable daily acts of generosity from the thousands of blood donors who give their time every day, to the families who, in moments of profound grief, consent for their loved ones to become organ and tissue donors. It is for these donors, their families, and the patients they help that we strive to be the very best in everything we do.The environment in which we operate is changing. We face increasing demand, evolving technology, and the need to deliver more efficiently and sustainably. This brings significant opportunities for transformation modernising our operations, embracing digital innovation, and strengthening partnerships to ensure we remain resilient and future-ready.Our ambition is clear: to save and improve even more lives by building a world where every patient receives the donation they need. To achieve this, we are focused on five priorities: growing and diversifying our donor base; modernising our operations; driving innovation into practice; collaborating with partners; and investing in our people and culture.

Main duties of the job

The OpportunityAs our new Chief Executive, you will play a pivotal role in delivering this strategy, working closely with the Chair and the Board to lead NHSBT through the next phase of its transformation. We are seeking an inspirational Chief Executive with a track record of leadership in complex operating environments, a proven background in working successfully in partnership across organisational boundaries and who can expand and build on our commitment to being an intentionally inclusive organisation.This is a rare national leadership role with the potential to influence the lives of millions of people while shaping an organisation that combines purpose with innovation.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Job responsibilities

If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your leadership to a purpose-driven organisation at the heart of the NHS, please visit: www.odgers.com/94529 or email your application to [e-mail]

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience, with evidence of ongoing professional
• development.

Experience

• Proven success at board level in a large, complex organisation (e.g., NHS, public, or
• commercial).
• Experience as a CEO or in an equivalent senior leadership role in a medium or large
• organisation.
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale transformation and cultural change.
• Proven financial leadership with expertise in strategic planning, complex budget oversight,
• risk management, and ensuring value for money.
• Proven ability to drive commercial growth through strategic innovation, business
• development, and contract negotiation.
• Experience leading within regulated environments.
• Experience in public/media representation and engaging with high-level stakeholders.
• Track record of delivering measurable performance improvements in complex or matrix
• organisations.
• A resilient and visionary leader, skilled at inspiring senior teams and driving meaningful
• organisational change through coaching, clarity, and strategic focus.
• Politically astute with effective networking skills, particularly in UK healthcare contexts.
• Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to build trust and collaboration.
• Comprehensive understanding of healthcare strategy, legal frameworks, and policy
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Cultural intelligence and the ability to work effectively across diverse communities.

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.