Deputy Medical Director | NHS England

NHS England; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in the UK is seeking a Deputy Medical Director for System Improvement & Professional Standards. This role involves providing clinical leadership across primary, community, secondary, and specialised care, ensuring high standards of governance and driving system improvement. Ideal candidates will possess substantial medical experience and skills in quality assurance. Excellent leadership, advocacy for patient care, and a collaborative approach are essential. The role is pivotal in supporting the NHS's mission to deliver high-quality healthcare services.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in medical leadership roles.
• Proven track record in service improvement.
• Knowledge of national health policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership across the healthcare system.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties.
• Lead system improvement and quality initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Quality assurance

Patient advocacy

Understanding of clinical governance

Education

Medical degree

Relevant clinical experience

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior medical leader to join NHS England’s North West regional team as Deputy Medical Director for System Improvement & Professional Standards. Working closely with the Regional Medical Director and the Medical Director for System Improvement & Professional Standards, you will provide visible, credible and values‑driven clinical leadership across the region.

The post holder will help ensure high standards of professional performance, clinical governance and system improvement across primary, community, secondary and specialised care. Lead and support statutory and non‑statutory functions relating to professional standards, appraisal and revalidation, primary care performers’ list management, and professional performance. Provide clinical leadership to strengthen quality assurance and oversight, working with providers and systems to improve clinical outcomes, safety and patient experience. Support the Tier 1 Responsible Officer function, ensuring robust clinical governance systems are in place, and deputise where required for Responsible Officer duties. Drive system improvement, supporting transformation programmes, service redesign and quality improvement initiatives across the North West region. Chair or co‑chair regional quality oversight and improvement groups, working collaboratively with providers, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and national teams.

Key responsibilities

• Exhibit clinical leadership and influence across the whole system of care spanning primary, community, secondary, and specialised tertiary services such that improvements in the quality, safety and experience of care are enhanced in all spheres, engaging clinicians at all levels in provision of best value care.
• Manage the delivery of the Statutory Tier 1 Responsible Officer function (under Medical Profession (Responsible Officer) Regulations) to the region ensuring appropriate clinical governance systems and processes are in place to support doctors being fit for purpose and delivering high quality of care for patients. The post holder may be required to deputise for the Responsible Officer in statutory duties related to appraisal, revalidation and management of individual practitioner performance.
• Lead, develop and maintain professional standards across primary care, including use of National Performers List Regulations for doctors, dentists and optometrists.

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.

Our focus

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research and innovation
• Delivering value for money

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD) and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

Supporting the medical director as follows

• Chair or co‑chair any relevant local quality assurance and oversight groups
• Engage, either directly or through delegation, in commissioner and provider quality assurance
• Work with colleagues to provide clinical improvement expertise across the system
• Work with those providers who are facing quality special measures or challenges to improve
• Support the organisation to deliver its statutory duties, particularly in relation to:
  • Equality and diversity
  • The duty of quality
  • The promotion of innovation
  • Patient experience and choice
  • Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Being the patient’s champion
• Involving the public and patients in policy development and decision‑making of the organisation
• Being independent and fair
• Reduce health inequalities
• Ensure value for money
• Secure good governance of NHS providers
• Promote a culture of safety & quality, using a learning culture and improvement methodology
• Support the Medical Director to provide professional leadership, advice and support to other medical leaders
• Support the Director of Workforce and OD and the Medical Director to ensure there is a robust pipeline for medical leadership roles within the region, by supporting national and local initiatives
• Engage with the clinical leadership and engagement infrastructure, namely the Clinical Senate Council & Forum, the established Clinical Networks including Strategic, Operational Delivery, Academic Health & Science Networks (AHSN), Sustainable Transformational Plans (STP), to drive transformation of the system in the interests of quality and value
• To provide clinical leadership to support digital transformation within the Regions

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only; agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

This advert closes on Thursday 1 Jan 2026.