Senior Project Lead

FHFT Education Academy; Camberley; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Project Lead to drive large-scale transformation within the Berkshire and Surrey pathology network. You will lead complex service improvement projects, champion digital and operational change, and work across clinical, technical and corporate teams to deliver benefits on time and to budget.

Reporting through the Transformation PMO, you will ensure strong governance, stakeholder engagement and robust risk management, providing expert

Qualifications

• Masters level or equivalent required.
• Qualification in service improvement tools and techniques (Lean, Six Sigma).
• Qualification in business process reengineering/redesign.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex service improvement projects within BSPS Transformation.
• Drive digital and operational transformation and governance across clinical, technical and corporate teams.
• Support engagement, programme reporting, planning and delivery across partner Trusts.

Education

Masters level or equivalent

Service improvement tools & techniques (Lean, Six Sigma)

Business process reengineering/redesign

Job description

Main area Project Management Grade NHS AfC: Band 8b Contract Fixed term: 2 years (3 Posts in total) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (4 days per week) Job ref 151-AS-07-A

Site Frimley Park Hospital Town Frimley, Camberley Salary £68,852 - £79,638 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 06/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) is entering an exciting period of transformation as we modernise our network, strengthen digital capability, and redesign services to meet the growing needs of our partner Trusts and the patients we serve. This is not simply an improvement programme — it is a major step forward in delivering sustainable, innovative and clinically excellent pathology services across the region.

We are developing a future‑ready, digitally enabled pathology network that supports high‑quality diagnostics, modern laboratory operations and seamless connectivity across all BSPS sites. Our aim is to create services that are more efficient, resilient and responsive to clinicians and patients, underpinned by cutting‑edge technology and collaborative working.

We are looking for a dynamic Senior Project Lead to play a pivotal role in delivering this large‑scale change. You will lead complex service improvement projects, drive digital and operational transformation, and support engagement across clinical, technical and corporate teams. Working as part of the BSPS Transformation and Digital Programme PMO team you will champion innovation, ensure strong governance, and deliver impactful change aligned with our strategic objectives.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will play a key role within the BSPS PMO Transformation team, working across all partner Trusts and the wider system to drive timely, well‑governed change aligned with network values and strategic objectives. They will support a designated transformation programme and act as deputy to the Programme Lead when required.

The post holder will work collaboratively with clinical, operational, corporate and digital teams to deliver complex transformation projects to time, cost and quality standards, ensuring clear benefits, robust risk management and measurable improvements. They will lead on stakeholder engagement, programme reporting, planning and delivery, supporting service redesign and configuration across a wide range of operational areas.

Working closely with teams, the post holder will support the development, quantification, implementation and embedding of agreed changes, ensuring improvements are sustainable and aligned to broader BSPS priorities. They will build strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders at all levels to ensure successful delivery of the programme portfolio.

The post holder will also provide professional leadership and expert guidance on project and programme management across the network, promoting best practice, supporting colleagues, and critically analysing information, risks and dependencies to inform wider decision‑making.

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will work closely with the BSPS leadership team and will at times support junior PMO staff, supporting consistent delivery across multiple partner Trusts. This is an opportunity to shape the future of pathology services across a major network — and to leave a lasting, positive legacy for staff, clinicians and patients.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
• Qualification in service improvement tools and techniques, Lean,Six Sigma
• Qualification in business process reengineering/redesign.

Experience

• Programme and project management experience and delivery in an acute NHS setting of significant transformation or improvement
• Experience of managing risk and reporting by exception.
• Budgetary management and financial analysis to model projected benefits.

Skills and knowledge

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state‑of‑the‑art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future‑proofed, featuring on‑site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Th rough our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Name Julie Sunkwa-Mills Job title Head of Digital Services and Transformation Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07392288726