Deputy Chief Executive Officer

NHS; North East; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Deputy Chief Executive Officer to drive change and ensure quality care. The successful candidate will have a strong track record in leadership and experience in strategic governance within the NHS. This permanent, full-time role offers a salary of up to £165,000 based on experience, with responsibilities including cultural transformation and enhancing partnerships in a complex healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Masters qualification in leadership or management-related subject or significant executive experience.
• Strong understanding of NHS governance and operational excellence.
• Evidence of continuous professional and personal development.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of major cultural and strategic transformation across the Trust.
• Act as first among equals within the Executive Team.
• Deputise fully for the Chief Executive.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Political awareness

Digital literacy

Team building

Analytical capability

Education

Masters in leadership or management

Job description

Job summary

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.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and BAME candidates.

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 07345 746832 or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Barb Crozier, Executive Assistant to CEO on 01325 743565.

Job description

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 drive improvement across the Trust’s key risks.

• 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• 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 (Essential)

• 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 (Essential)

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

Experience (Essential)

• 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 (Essential)

• 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 Trusts 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website ("Opens in a new tab").

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants ("Opens in a new tab").

Employer details

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/

Pay scheme: Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary: Depending on experience up to £165,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: C9439-2526-DCEO

Job locations: University Hospital Of North Durham

Posted on: 04 December 2025