Deputy Director of Quality Improvement and Safety

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS quality improvement organisation in Manchester is seeking a Deputy Director to manage consultancy operations. This role involves client engagement, team leadership, and ensuring high-quality delivery across a diverse portfolio of quality improvement projects. The ideal candidate will have a background in consultancy and a passion for enhancing patient care. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact within the healthcare sector.

Qualifications

• Dynamic and experienced professional in consultancy operations.
• Ability to lead teams and engage clients effectively.
• Strong understanding of quality improvement and safety.

Responsibilities

• Drive change across quality and safety outcomes for clients.
• Empower internal teams to deliver a varied portfolio of work.
• Balance strategic leadership with hands-on delivery to customers.

Job description

Role

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Deputy Director to lead and manage our consultancy operations working collaboratively with two Deputy Director colleagues. This pivotal role supports the Director in overseeing strategic advisory projects, ensuring high-quality delivery, and driving business growth.

The Deputy Director will play a key role in client engagement, team leadership, and operational excellence across a diverse portfolio of consultancy assignments with a specific focus on quality improvement and safety. You will expand your skill‑set, experience a range of different opportunities supporting organisations and make a big difference to staff, patients and their families.

Responsibilities

• Driving measurable, lasting change across people, quality, and safety outcomes for Aqua customers.
• Leading and empowering the internal team to deliver an ambitious portfolio of work while continuously elevating internal capabilities, knowledge, and performance, responsive to evolving national priorities and customer needs.
• Blending high‑level management with deep technical expertise and a passion for delivering exceptional development and improvement services and thrive within the unique context of a commercially driven NHS organisation.
• Drive commercial growth by leveraging the excellence of your team’s work to unlock new income streams and deepen relationships with existing customers.
• Being a trusted face within Aqua, balancing strategic leadership with hands‑on delivery to our customers, ensuring that every interaction reflects our commitment to excellence and quality improvement.

About Aqua

Aqua (Advancing Quality Alliance) is an NHS quality improvement organisation working with the NHS, care providers, and local authorities to identify, refine and embed sustainable strategies for high‑quality care and regulatory excellence. Established in 2010, we operate as a membership and consultancy organisation providing quality improvement expertise, specialist learning and development across the UK.

We develop tailored, efficient solutions across three areas, informed by data and co‑designed with service users to deliver maximum impact:

• Improvement, Productivity, Innovation and Learning
• Governance, Regulatory Support and Well‑Led
• Leadership and Organisational Development

At Aqua we seek to ensure we reflect the world in which we live in through understanding and supporting equality and diversity in all that we do. Our values of excellence, respect, integrity and collaboration are at the heart of our work in support of our staff and members.

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading.

You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk