Senior RAAC Programme Lead

NHS; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health service organization in the East of England seeks a Programme Lead for the RAAC initiative. The successful candidate will oversee reporting, manage communications, and support various national workstreams. This role requires strong skills in executive briefing and finance experience. Applicants must currently be NHS employees on secondment. The position demands office attendance for 40% of the time.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading a high-profile regional team in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage communications and media relations.
• Proven track record in finance and CSR.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage internal and external reporting processes.
• Support bespoke work programmes for NHS and government offices.
• Coordinate communications and deliver media briefings.
• Manage finance, CSR, and New Hospital Programme support.
• Ensure high standards in programme management.

Skills

Executive briefing and report writing

Communications and media oversight

Finance and CSR experience

Education

PRINCE2 or equivalent high-level programme management experience

Job description

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks were hailed as a lightweight and effective building material used within the UK from the late 1950s to the early‑1990s. The national NHS England team has indicated that RAAC should be removed from all NHS estates by 2035, following a school part‑roof collapse in 2018. Consequently, RAAC is regarded as the highest known estate risk in the NHS, with the East of England having one of the highest aggregate risks nationally, due to the quantity of RAAC across its estate. In response, the region launched a regional RAAC coordination programme in 2020, managed by a dedicated team to bring enhanced focus and structure. The team’s role is to lead key elements of the regional response, through a specialist interface with RAAC‑impacted trusts and systems, coordinating multi‑disciplinary support from core areas including Finance, Operational Performance, Strategic Estates, EPRR, Clinical and Communications.

Main Duties of the Job

• Executive Briefing & Reporting lead: manage the team’s internal and external reporting processes and provide programme updates, ensuring high‑quality detailed RET/RLT reporting to keep the programme inquiry‑ready.
• National RAAC programmes of work: lead and support bespoke work programmes for NHS, DHSC and the Cabinet Office in conjunction with the Head of Programme.
• Communications and Media lead: manage the team’s interface with the regional communications team, delivering briefings and media briefings for key stakeholders.
• Finance, CSR and New Hospital Programme (NHP) support: assist the capital, CSR and NHP workstreams alongside the RAAC programme officer and specialist regional colleagues.
• Programme management of the regional RAAC work‑stream: manage the assurance and governance to maintain a high standard.
• Information flow management: coordinate returns from Trusts and systems in the region and seek assurance from regional colleagues.
• Team Lead for programme assurance: maintain oversight and delivery of recommendations, including programme plans, to prepare for any inquiry.
• Line management of RAAC programme officers.
• Co‑lead and secretariat for the RAAC SRO meetings, working with the Head of Programme to provide assurance to the regional RAAC SRO and lead Director.

About Us

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

We lead the NHS in England by enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients, reducing health inequalities; making the NHS a great place to work and helping people reach their potential; working collaboratively to ensure the workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours; and optimising the use of digital technology, research and innovation.

Key Details

The role is open to NHS employees on a secondment basis only; agreement with their employer must be obtained before applying. Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only.

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.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge, understanding and/or has had interface with a RAAC programme.
• Demonstrates knowledge, experience and enthusiasm of leading (or deputising) a high‑profile regional team, working in fast‑paced roles, with assurance skills background and experience of leading/supporting bespoke national programmes of work and key partners.

Experience & Skills

• Strong track record in high‑quality executive briefing and report writing.
• Experience of communications and media oversight.
• Demonstrated high‑quality skills and experience of finance, CSR and/or the NHP.

Qualifications

• PRINCE2 or other programme management qualification, or equivalent high‑level programme management experience.

Employer

NHS England

Location

Any NHS England office in the East of England region. You will be expected to attend the office for 40 % of your time.