Transformation Project Lead | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Manchester is seeking a Transformation Project Lead to manage large-scale service improvement projects. The candidate should excel in project management and stakeholder relations, demonstrating creativity and effective problem-solving. This role offers a chance to enhance patient experience through innovative transformations. The position is full-time with a closing date for applications on November 27, 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated application of project management methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead service improvement and transformation projects.
• Manage project documentation and stakeholder engagement.
• Support team members with project challenges.

Skills

End-to-end project management

Stakeholder management

Creative problem-solving

Team collaboration

Job description

Transformation Project Lead – Networked Services Division

We are recruiting for a Transformation Project Lead within the Networked Services division of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The role will lead and manage large‑scale service improvement and transformation projects, with the patient experience being at the heart of everything we do.

The successful candidate will have solid end‑to‑end project management experience leading large scale projects, be able to demonstrate practical application of project or change management methodologies, and possess excellent stakeholder management skills. If you are a creative problem solver, with a curious outlook and the ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously, you could be a great fit for the Transformation Team.

We strongly advise against the use of extensive AI in your application - we want to hear about you, from you.

Main Duties

• Lead large scale projects, and some smaller projects, from initiation to execution and evaluation.
• Scope requirements, produce and maintain project documentation, lead meetings, ensure stakeholder engagement, manage conflicting viewpoints, and report to various stakeholder groups to deliver projects on time.
• Support other members of the Transformation Team (direct reports or others) with challenges they are facing on their own projects.

Who are we looking for?

• A proactive team player with experience in leading projects end‑to‑end with little supervision.
• Strong relationship‑building skills due to the level of daily interactions across the Trust.
• Evidence of managing expectations and addressing conflict in projects.
• Confidence in reporting progress and risks/issues, and presenting in various formats to a high‑standard to all stakeholder groups including executives.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, with approximately 15 % of patients referred from other parts of the country.

We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world‑first breakthroughs for over 100 years.

Duties and Responsibilities

General

• Lead large, complex and high‑value projects/programmes from initiation to execution, under strict timelines and with budget and resource constraints.
• Manage the entire project lifecycle; from scoping requirements and defining objectives through to evaluation and end‑of‑project report writing, ensuring excellent stakeholder management and communication throughout.
• Attend, chair and present at meetings including senior clinical and executive meetings.
• Lead and facilitate meetings and manage conflicting viewpoints appropriately.
• Prioritise a challenging workload of multiple programmes and projects, exercising sound judgement in an extremely complex environment.
• Analyse key problems and issues within complex services, identify areas for improvement and deliver appropriate solutions which are efficient and effective, including audits, process mapping and root‑cause analysis to establish the root cause of problems.
• Proactively identify and manage risks and issues, escalating as required.
• Contribute to the delivery of the Trust’s VIP (Value Improvement Programme) targets through key programmes and projects.
• Proactively incorporate sustainability into service improvement & transformation programmes.
• Support the production of business cases when required, in partnership with clinical & operational teams.
• Manage inter‑dependencies (e.g. political or legislative changes, structural or organisational plans) across projects, incorporating any changes/mitigations into delivery plans.
• Deputise for the Divisional Transformation Manager as required.

Relationships

• Work as part of a team to cover absences/annual leave whilst managing own workload.
• Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with clinical and non‑clinical staff at all levels across the Trust.

Reporting

• Produce and maintain regular reporting and provide progress updates to your line manager.
• Write formal portfolio, programme and project reports to be shared at executive level, monitoring and escalating risks and issues that impact delivery.
• Use Trust reporting documentation, templates and systems as required.

Human Resources

• Day‑to‑day management of direct reports in line with appropriate policies, procedures, working practices and guidelines.
• Regular performance reporting; progress, status, achievements to management as required.
• Support the development of direct reports in line with Appraisals, Investor in People, learning and development opportunities.

Policy/Service Development/Governance

• Ensure that policies or proposed changes to policies are in line with legislation and Trust and NHS policies and guidelines.
• Ensure mandatory training is up to date.
• Work to local and national policies and procedures.

Freedom to Act

• Work autonomously prioritising own workload.
• Encourage self and others to make firm and well‑considered decisions to move things forward.
• Proactively engage with the wider organisational context (beyond the Transformation Team and allocated programmes) and identify opportunities to make improvements.

Risk Management

• Proactively manage risk in all actions, including risk assessment of all situations, taking appropriate actions and reporting incidents, near misses and hazards.

The above is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as reasonably required by their line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on‑going basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Department and the Organisation.

This advert closes on Thursday 27 Nov 2025.