Programme Director

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 117,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in the UK is seeking a Programme Director to improve vaccination outcomes and reduce health inequalities. The role includes strategic oversight of vaccination commissioning, leading multidisciplinary teams, and managing significant budgets. Candidates should have a master's degree and proven senior leadership experience. This position offers a salary range of £117,645 to £134,103 per annum.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of senior leadership in public health commissioning.
• Strong strategic thinking with complex systems and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience of large-scale programme delivery and financial stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of vaccination commissioning.
• Lead commissioning and contracting strategy for immunisation services.
• Oversee provider performance management and quality improvement.

Skills

Senior leadership in public health commissioning

Strategic thinking

Ability to influence across stakeholders

Large-scale programme delivery

Equity and inclusion commitment

Education

Master's degree or equivalent senior experience

Job description

Are you an experienced and inspiring senior leader with a passion for improving vaccination outcomes and reducing health inequalities?

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Programme Director (Band 9) in the South East until 31st of October 2026 (with an expected extension to April 2027, subject to approvals).

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight & assurance of vaccination commissioning across the SE, ensuring safe, high-quality & effective service delivery.

• Lead the commissioning & contracting strategy for S7A immunisation services, aligning with national policy & local population needs.
• Oversee provider performance management, quality improvement, equity & outcomes - using contractual levers & robust analytics to address variation.
• Implement nationally determined programme changes at pace & scale, with clear governance, risk management & benefits realisation.
• Lead senior multidisciplinary teams (incl S&I Leads/COVID Vac Prog leadership) & managing significant budgets & contract portfolios.
• Build strong partnerships with ICs, LAs, UKHSA, primary care, community providers & voluntary sector to increase coverage & tackle inequalities.
• Use insight, data and rigorous programme management to prioritise, evaluate and evidence impact for patients/public.

Seeking a candidate with:

• A proven track record of senior leadership in public health commissioning and/or immunisation programmes.
• Strong strategic thinking, ability to influence across complex systems & multiple stakeholders.
• Experience of large-scale programme delivery, provider performance management, contracting and financial stewardship.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, co-production & improving outcomes - particularly underserved communities.
• High levels of political acuity, resilience, ability to operate at pace.

About us

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

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

• 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

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Knowledge

• Master's degree or equivalent senior experience
• Leadership of S7A immunisation commissioning at scale Evidence of setting strategy and delivering measurable improvements in coverage/quality/equity.

Skills

• Ability to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources (verbal, written and numerical)

Experience & Knowledge

• Commissioning & contracting with provider performance management; Using contractual levers to recover performance and deliver value for money.
• Programme/change delivery at pace; Implementing nationally determined changes with clear governance, risk and benefits realisation.
• Financial stewardship; Managing large budgets with demonstrable efficiency gains without compromising outcomes.
• System partnership & influence; Proven collaboration across ICs, local authorities, UKHSA and providers; credibility with senior clinical/operational leaders.

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.

£117,645 to £134,103 a yearper annum (inclusive of London Weighting)