Head of Service Development

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Blood and Transplant seeks a leader for the Quality Directorate based in Bristol. In this senior role, you will promote innovation, spearhead strategic plans, and ensure compliance while leading a dedicated team. The position demands extensive experience in business change and a background in healthcare management. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication and analytical skills, along with a commitment to professional growth. This fixed-term contract offers a competitive salary and significant professional development opportunities.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

NHS pension scheme

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Qualified to Masters level or equivalent.
• Experience in producing detailed business cases for large projects.
• Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in delivering service development and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and develop key performance metrics.
• Collaborate with senior colleagues to prioritize performance improvement areas.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Presentation skills

Education

Masters level qualification or equivalent experience

Qualification in Business or Programme Management

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Job summary

You will help save lives as you lead the ongoing development of our Quality Directorate. This senior, high profile role will see you promote and deliver innovation while playing an integral part in directorate problem solving and strategic planning. You will be responsible for leading change and modernisation across the Directorate and implement systems that support the whole of NHSBT. Its an opportunity to use your skills and experience to influence strategy and use your imagination to innovate and translate your ideas into practice.

You will have the opportunity to work with people of all levels across the whole of the Quality directorate and the wider NHS Blood and Transplant, and as such this role suits a confident person with strong communication skills.

You will have the opportunity to apply your strong communication, presentation, analytical and questioning skills, applying attention to detail and accuracy at all times. You will work as part of the Quality Team, working with colleagues and often autonomously to lead service developments.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be responsible for supporting the Director of Quality and Governance. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading a team responsible for identifying and delivering service development and improvement initiatives within Quality and Governance, developing these with relevant internal and external stakeholders and then delivering them, ensuring controlled processes and regulatory compliance.
• Leading the development of strategy and managing stakeholder engagement to ensure strategies meets the needs of both the directorate and wider organisation.
• Developing key reporting metrics and KPIs across Quality & Governance to support business performance. All metrics will be monitored regularly and reported to members of the SMT.
• Ensuring that suitable performance frameworks are in place which clearly monitor and measure all levels of operational activity and supports business planning.
• Collaborating with senior colleagues from every department, to identify and prioritise areas for performance improvements, and ensure improvement plans are created and delivered.
• Ensuring there is a robust programme management approach in place to support the delivery of all innovation and change.
• Demand Planning activity within the Directorate and lead prioritisation of resource.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too.

Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Details Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

006968

Job locations

NHSBT

500 North Bristol Park

Filton, Bristol

United Kingdom

BS34 7QH

NHSBT - Tooting

75 Cranmer Terrace

London

SW17 0RB

NHSBT

Vincent Drive

Birmingham

B15 2SG

NHSBT - Colindale

Charcot Road

London

NW9 5BG

NHSBT

Holland Drive

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE2 4NQ

NHSBT

14 Estuary Banks

Speke, Liverpool

L24 8RB

NHSBT

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL

NHSBT

Capitol Way

Dodworth, Barnsley

S75 3FG

Job description Job responsibilities

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

What we offer:

• A full time, 12 months fixed term or secondment opportunity to join NHSBT as a Band 8b.
• Opportunity to work with a national organisation and be based in any of our major centres such as Barnsley, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester or London.
• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions.
• Weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Thursday 30th July 2025.

Further Assessment will be carried out between 4th 12th August 2025.

Interviews are anticipated to be held on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August subject to confirmation

For informal enquiries please contact: Victoria Peake, Executive Assistant to Director of Quality, [e-mail].

Job description Job responsibilities

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

What we offer:

• A full time, 12 months fixed term or secondment opportunity to join NHSBT as a Band 8b.
• Opportunity to work with a national organisation and be based in any of our major centres such as Barnsley, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester or London.
• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions.
• Weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Thursday 30th July 2025.

Further Assessment will be carried out between 4th 12th August 2025.

Interviews are anticipated to be held on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August subject to confirmation

For informal enquiries please contact: Victoria Peake, Executive Assistant to Director of Quality, [e-mail].

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters level qualification. OR Equivalent relevant professional qualifications or demonstrable knowledge and experience to Masters level.
• Qualification in Business or Programme Management related subject.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
• Evidence of Post Graduate study in Management.

Experience Essential

• Experience of producing detailed business cases for large business change projects, and of planning for contingency and business continuity.
• Experience of working with quality standards in an environment governed by range of policies, and legislation.
• Evidence of effective interactions with NHS bodies e.g. NHSE/I to shape policy and strategy.
• Experience of setting objectives for direct reports and undertaking performance reviews.
• Experience with working with Commissioners in setting and monitoring policy and contracts.
• Experienced in managing projects and delivering change.
• Knowledge of strategic development and deployment.
• Knowledge of change management and service redesign.
• Experience of budget management and budget build.
• Experience of working with information technology such as MS Office Suite.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Masters level qualification. OR Equivalent relevant professional qualifications or demonstrable knowledge and experience to Masters level.
• Qualification in Business or Programme Management related subject.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).
• Evidence of Post Graduate study in Management.

Experience Essential

• Experience of producing detailed business cases for large business change projects, and of planning for contingency and business continuity.
• Experience of working with quality standards in an environment governed by range of policies, and legislation.
• Evidence of effective interactions with NHS bodies e.g. NHSE/I to shape policy and strategy.
• Experience of setting objectives for direct reports and undertaking performance reviews.
• Experience with working with Commissioners in setting and monitoring policy and contracts.
• Experienced in managing projects and delivering change.
• Knowledge of strategic development and deployment.
• Knowledge of change management and service redesign.
• Experience of budget management and budget build.
• Experience of working with information technology such as MS Office Suite.

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.

Employer details Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT

500 North Bristol Park

Filton, Bristol

United Kingdom

BS34 7QH

Employer's website

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT

500 North Bristol Park

Filton, Bristol

United Kingdom

BS34 7QH

Employer's website

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)