Deputy Chief Executive Officer

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; North East; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in the UK seeks an inspiring Deputy Chief Executive Officer to lead strategic transformation and improve patient care across the organization. This role requires substantial NHS senior executive experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to drive cultural change. You will work closely with the Chief Executive to support governance and performance improvements. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of healthcare for the communities we serve.

Qualifications

• Substantial NHS senior executive experience at Board level is essential.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Experience in leading transformation or major service redesign.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of major cultural and strategic transformation.
• Provide visible leadership across the Trust.
• Strengthen system partnerships within the Integrated Care System.

Skills

Strong understanding of NHS governance

Advanced planning and analytical capability

Excellent communication skills

Digital literacy

Ability to build high-performing teams

Education

Masters qualification in leadership or management related subject

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

The closing date is 04 January 2026

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is one of the UK’s largest integrated care providers, serving a population of over 650,000 people across County Durham and Darlington, and providing some specific services to patients further afield from North Yorkshire, the Tees Valley, Wearside, and South Tyneside. Our dedicated workforce of over 8,000 colleagues deliver a comprehensive range of acute and community services across multiple hospital and community sites, as well as in patients’ homes. Each member of our team plays a vital role in ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care, and we are committed to placing people and our communities at the heart of all we do.

Following the recent appointment of our Chief Executive Officer, Steve Russell, we are seeking an inspirational and forward‑thinking leader to join us as our new Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

This is an exciting opportunity for a values‑driven and progressive leader who will implement our vision and strategy, drive change and innovation, and deliver financial sustainability. You will also play a significant leadership role across our local partnerships and our regional system, quickly establishing credibility with our staff, patients, and our partners to ensure that CDDFT continues to meet the evolving needs of our communities.

Interviews will take place week commencing 19 January 2026.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be an aspiring or existing Deputy Chief Executive in a complex healthcare organisation, with a strong track record of driving major transformational and cultural change, service transformation, and of delivering operational excellence.

You will be an inspiring communicator with a high degree of political acumen, and a focus on patient experience and a passion for reducing inequalities. A visible and influential leader, you will bring an ability to build and maintain effective networks across the system, advocating for innovation to drive improvements in patient care.

We are committed to ensuring that our board represents the diversity of our local communities. We warmly welcome and encourage expressions of interest from the widest range of backgrounds who can bring diverse perspectives.

This is an exceptional opportunity to define your career and help lead CDDFT as we strive to provide safe, compassionate, and joined‑up care. If you share our vision and values, and want to know more, then we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Steve Russell, our Chief Executive Officer, on 07345746832 or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Barb Crozier, Executive Assistant to CEO, on 01325 743565.

Job responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Executive (DCEO) will be a senior strategic leader and a core member of the Trust Board and Executive Team, responsible for strengthening governance, improving performance, and providing visible and coherent leadership across the Executive Team as well as supporting the Chief Executive to drive improvement across the Trust’s key risks.

The role will:

• Support the delivery of major cultural and strategic transformation across the Trust.
• Act as first among equals within the Executive Team to improve collective leadership, break down siloed working, and ensure integrated corporate support to clinical services.
• Provide additional resilience and capacity at Board level by deputising fully for the Chief Executive and taking on significant executive functions.
• Strengthen system partnerships and ensure CDDFT plays a full and constructive role within the Integrated Care System and the Central Alliance.
• The postholder will hold substantial accountability across governance, strategy, digital, and performance reporting.

Be a voting member of the Trust Board.

Please see Job Description attachment for full details.

Qualifications

• Masters qualification in leadership or management related subject or equivalent significant experience of executive/board level leadership in a complex care environment.
• Evidence of continuous professional and personal development.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of NHS governance, risk, and regulatory frameworks.
• Advanced planning, performance and analytical capability.
• Ability to build high‑performing teams and lead collective leadership.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and political awareness.
• Strong digital literacy and understanding of technology‑enabled transformation.
• Ability to deliver results at pace while maintaining focus on safety and culture.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships and effective working relationships.
• Ability to deal with multiple competing demands under time pressure.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.

Experience

• Substantial NHS senior executive experience working at Board level. Regional or national leadership experience is an advantage.
• Proven leadership of complex organisational change, cultural transformation and strategic development.
• Experience leading governance or assurance functions within a regulated environment.
• Successful track record in performance improvement, planning and delivery.
• Experience leading transformation or major service redesign.
• Demonstrated ability to work with system partners and influence across organisational boundaries.

Attributes, Values & Behaviours

• Compassionate, inclusive and confident leadership aligned to NHS values.
• Highly visible, credible and approachable.
• High integrity, sound judgement and commitment to accountability.
• Cognitive and interpersonal flexibility, able to balance strategic and operational issues.
• Commitment to learning, continuous improvement and staff wellbeing.
• Commitment to delivering the actions in the Trust’s Behaviours Framework (Appendix 1).

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Depending on experience up to £165,000 per annum.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

All certificates stated as essential in the person specification must be produced; you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks without them.