Chief Executive Officer, NHS Confederation and NHS Providers

NHS Confederation and NHS Providers; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 225,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

A national healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead its transformation. The role demands a proven leader with strategic insight, financial acumen, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. The successful candidate will shape the organization’s vision and operate at a national level, impacting healthcare across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This pivotal role offers a salary range of £225,000 - £245,000.

Qualifications

• Proven, inclusive leadership at CEO or equivalent level in complex environments.
• Experience in service improvement and innovation.
• Strong financial stewardship and strategic thinking.

Responsibilities

• Embed the new vision, culture, and operating model.
• Deliver value to members and stakeholders.
• Lead the organisation through integration and change.
• Drive financial sustainability and innovation.

Skills

Inclusive leadership

Strategic insight

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Proven track record at CEO or equivalent level

Job description

Chief Executive Officer, NHS Confederation and NHS Providers

Chief Executive Officer

United Kingdom

About the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers

The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers are merging to create a single, renewed organisation that will serve as the independent, trusted voice for NHS leaders across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive role is a unique opportunity to be part of a transformation that will shape the future of healthcare on behalf of our members.

Our Vision

“To improve the NHS and the health of the people of the UK as the independent membership body providing an influential, trusted voice for NHS leaders and supporting its members to drive improvement.”

Our Strategic Priorities

• Representation: Championing the diverse views and interests of NHS leaders and organisations.
• Improvement & Added Value: Helping members learn, innovate, and improve together.
• Cross-sector Relationships: Building partnerships beyond the NHS to create the best environment for health and care.

Welcome from Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation and Sir Terence Stephenson, Chair of NHS Providers

Dear Candidate

We are delighted to invite you to consider the role of Chief Executive for the new organisation formed by the merger of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers.

This is a pivotal moment for the NHS. Our two organisations are coming together in response to clear calls from members and stakeholders for a unified, influential voice and a renewed approach to supporting NHS leaders. The new organisation will build on the strengths of both legacy bodies, delivering greater value, driving improvement, and championing the interests of our diverse membership across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

As Chief Executive, you will have the unique opportunity to shape the vision, culture, and operating model of this new organisation. You will lead the organisation through a period of transformation, ensuring we deliver on our strategic priorities: strong representation, added value for members, and building cross-sector relationships to improve health and care outcomes.

We are seeking an inclusive, visionary leader with a proven track record at CEO or equivalent level in complex environments. You will bring strategic insight, financial acumen, and a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

If you share our ambition to make a lasting impact on the NHS and the health of the UK, I encourage you to apply.

Thank you for your interest in this important role.

Yours sincerely

Lord Victor Adebowale
Chair, NHS Confederation

Sir Terence Stephenson
Chair, NHS Providers

Chief Executive Responsibilities

• Embed the new vision, culture, and operating model.
• Deliver value to members and stakeholders.
• Lead the organisation through integration and change.
• Drive financial sustainability and innovation.

Key Competencies

• Proven, inclusive leadership at CEO or equivalent level in complex, politically sensitive environments.
• Experience in service improvement, innovation, and change management.
• Strong financial stewardship and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrable strategic agility and political acumen.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Pay and Benefits

Salary in the range of £225,000 - £245,000

• Reference number: A041293
• Covering letter identifying the parts of the job description that attract you (Microsoft Word document)
• Contact details for three referees (referenced to a minimum of six years employment)
• Completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (submitted via link post-application)

Right to Work Checks

If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check.

Monitoring and Diversity

We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. Applicants are encouraged to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” to help us measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.

Confidential Discussion

For a confidential discussion on this role please contact Frank McKenna, Global Managing Director or Michael Earnshaw, Director of Research (contact details available at the bottom of this microsite).

Candidate Adjustment

If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.

Stakeholder Sessions & Final Interviews

• Stakeholder sessions: TBC.
• Final interviews: 13th January 2026.

About the new organisation

The new national organisation formed from the merger of NHS Confederation and NHS Providers will bring together the collective voice of the NHS and care sector across systems, providers, and partners. Its purpose is to strengthen national influence, support the leadership community, and create a single, coherent platform for advocacy, policy, and improvement across the health and care sectors in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Its purpose is to strengthen national influence, support the leadership community, and create a single, coherent platform for advocacy, policy, and improvement across the health and care in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Opportunity

This is a defining moment to lead a new organisation that sits at the centre of the NHS and care landscape. As Chief Executive, you will be responsible for embedding the organisation’s vision, culture, and operating model, and for delivering value to members through transformation, improvement, and influence.

You will work with governments, regulators, national and local systems, and a wide range of partners to advance the three strategic pillars agreed by the Boards of Trustees of the legacy organisations:

• Representation: providing a strong, system-wide voice for the NHS and its members.
• Improvement and added value: helping members, innovate, and deliver improvement.
• Cross sector relationships: working beyond the NHS to maximise its wider contribution to society.

You will also oversee the full breadth of the organisation’s activities, including its membership offer, NHS Employers, hosted networks, and commercial services that support members and partners.

The Chief Executive

We are seeking an inclusive, values driven, and politically astute leader with the strategic capability to operate confidently at national level. You will demonstrate credibility and authenticity with members who lead front line services while engaging effectively across government, devolved administrations, regulators, and partners.

You will bring extensive experience of leading through complexity and change, with the skill to combine national influence and practical support for members. You will show a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, and an ability to integrate two organisations into a single, coherent entity with shared values and direction. You will inspire confidence and connection across teams and create a culture that is inclusive, forward looking, and united in purpose.

Although experience within healthcare would be valuable, we are equally interested in candidates from other sectors who can bring relevant insight and a strong grasp of public value, governance, and system leadership.

The successful candidate will have sound financial stewardship, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire confidence among members, staff, and external stakeholders. You will be a visible ambassador for the organisation and a trusted voice for the NHS and its partners across the UK.

Next Steps

We would be delighted to discuss this important role with prospective candidates who share our purpose and values.

For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advisors at Alumni Global, who are supporting this important appointment.

Reference Number

Reference number: A041293