Senior Programme Manager- Operational Performance
NHS
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Job summary
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Senior Programme Manager for Operational Performance to lead regional cancer transformation across eight provider organisations and five Integrated Care Boards. The role is based at County Hall, Leicester with hybrid working.
You will drive operational performance, governance, and delivery of national cancer priorities. You will bring a Master's degree and extensive NHS transformation experience, with strong leadership, stakeholder
Qualifications
- Master's degree (or equivalent) with CPD; doctoral level considered desirable.
- Significant experience leading large-scale transformation programmes within NHS or similar.
- Strong knowledge of governance, programme management and operational performance.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation and influencing skills.
Responsibilities
- Provide senior leadership across a portfolio of operational and transformational programmes.
- Oversee programme delivery, governance, and assurance across multiple organisations.
- Lead regional cancer transformation programmes and performance improvement initiatives.
- Manage risks, milestones and strategic partnerships with NHS England and ICS boards.
Skills
Education
Job description
Go back University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
The closing date is 28 September 2026
Senior Programme Manager- Operational Performance - Band 8C
East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA)
Location: County Hall, Leicester (Hybrid Working)
Band: 8C
Lead regional transformation. Improve cancer outcomes. Shape the future of NHS cancer services.
The East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA) is looking for an outstanding Senior Programme Manager to provide strategic leadership for some of the NHS's most ambitious cancer improvement programmes.
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead large-scale transformation across one of England's largest Cancer Alliances, working with NHS England, Integrated Care Boards, provider Trusts, clinical leaders and system partners to deliver sustainable improvements in cancer services.
If you're an experienced strategic leader with a track record of delivering complex transformation programmes across organisational boundaries, we'd love to hear from you.
As a Senior Programme Manager, you will provide leadership across a significant portfolio of operational and transformational programmes, ensuring national priorities are translated into measurable improvements for patients across the East Midlands.
Working directly with senior executives, clinicians and national colleagues, you will oversee programme delivery, governance, operational performance and assurance across eight NHS provider organisations and five Integrated Care Boards.
What you'll do
This is a senior leadership role where you will:
- Lead the delivery of complex regional cancer transformation programmes.
- Develop and implement operational performance improvement strategies.
- Provide executive leadership for cancer performance improvement, including Cancer Waiting Times.
- Oversee governance, assurance, programme risks and delivery milestones.
Key areas of responsibility
You will provide senior leadership across a wide range of strategic programmes, including:
- Cancer operational performance and recovery
- Regional transformation programmes
- Diagnostic and treatment pathway redesign
- Service Development Funding (SDF)
- Strategic planning and business development
- Governance, assurance and risk management
- Expert Clinical Advisory Groups (ECAGs)
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact,
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive,
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
About you
We're looking for an experienced senior leader who can operate confidently across complex healthcare systems.
You'll bring:
- A Master's degree (or equivalent experience) with evidence of continuing professional development. Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to doctoral level are desirable.
- Significant experience leading large-scale transformation programmes within the NHS or similarly complex organisations.
- Extensive knowledge of programme management, governance and operational performance.
- Exceptional leadership, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Experience developing long-term strategic plans and translating policy into delivery.
- Strong financial management skills, including oversight of significant programme budgets.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing organisational change.
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to influence executive and clinical leaders across multiple organisations.
- A collaborative leadership style with a passion for improving patient outcomes.
Why join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance?
At EMCA you'll join a high-performing regional team delivering meaningful improvements in cancer care for more than five million people.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Influence regional and national cancer strategy.
- Lead transformational programmes that improve patient outcomes.
- Work alongside nationally recognised clinical and operational leaders.
- Shape innovative approaches to service redesign and performance improvement.
- Build partnerships that deliver lasting change across the NHS.
We offer:
- Hybrid and flexible working.
- Generous annual leave.
- Excellent learning and leadership development opportunities.
- A supportive, collaborative and ambitious working environment.
Working arrangements
The role is based at County Hall, Leicester, with hybrid working available. Regular travel throughout the East Midlands is required, including attendance at provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and regional meetings. The successful candidate will also work on‑site within provider organisations when required to support operational performance recovery, pathway improvement, diagnostic transformation and service redesign.
This is more than a programme management roleit's an opportunity to influence the future of cancer services across an entire region.
Your leadership will help deliver earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, improved patient experience and better outcomes for thousands of people affected by cancer every year.
Join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and help shape the future of cancer care across the East Midlands.
- Master's degree or equivalent experience
- Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to PHD level Evidence of CPD
- Provide and receive highly complex/sensitive/ contentious information where there maybe barriers to understanding that will need highly developed persuasion, negotiation, reassurance, and empathy skills
- Highly Complex facts or situation that require analysis, interpretation, and comparison to develop strategies, assist strategic objective and ensure team performance/delivery
- Developing long term strategic plans for service improvement in new areas
- Responsible for policy development and implementation across working area and/or organisation where appropriate
- Hold budgets for services, departments, and major areas of activity i.e commissioning services.
- Responsible as line manager for several departments and/or service areas. Responsible for designing and delivering relevant training.
- Develops documents from relevant information
- Undertakes surveys pertaining to own area of work
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.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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