Job summary
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a forward-thinking, values-driven organisation serving one of the most diverse and economically challenged populations in London. With a clear mission to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities across City and Hackney, the Trust delivers both acute and community services and plays a central role within a highly advanced integrated care system.
We are seeking an exceptional Director of Discovery and Innovation to join the Executive Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this pivotal role will lead the Trust's innovation and transformation agenda across both organisational and system boundaries. The postholder will shape how the Trust identifies, designs, and implements new approaches, technologies, and models of care to improve outcomes and experience for patients and communities.
This is a unique opportunity to embed a culture of continuous improvement and innovation at scale within a dynamic and ambitious organisation. Working in close partnership with system leaders across City and Hackney, the Director will help drive sustainable change and position the Trust at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Main duties of the job
The Director of Discovery and Innovation will provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of the Trust's innovation and improvement agenda. This includes establishing and embedding a culture that supports continuous improvement, creativity, and the effective adoption of new ideas and technologies across all services.
The postholder will lead the identification, design, and implementation of innovative models of care that deliver measurable improvements in clinical outcomes, patient experience, and operational performance. Working collaboratively across organisational and system boundaries, they will build strong partnerships with internal teams, local partners, and wider stakeholders within the integrated care system.
A key aspect of the role is to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that innovation initiatives address health inequalities and meet the needs of diverse communities. The Director will also support the development of staff capability in improvement methodologies and innovation practices, fostering an environment where new ideas can flourish and deliver tangible impact.
Through visionary and inclusive leadership, the postholder will ensure that innovation is embedded as a core driver of sustainable transformation across the Trust and the wider health and care system.
About us
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond.
We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has recently attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.
Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff. This is reflected in our policies, procedures and People Plan. All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.
We are also committed, through our Fair Recruitment Standards, to ensuring all applicants are treated fairly.
Homerton has a proud tradition of supporting and developing its staff, including its well-regarded and valued nursing community, and all staff are able to take advantage of a great range of benefits.
Homerton is proud to have been included on the HSJ & Nursing Times Best Places to Work list.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s on this page
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s on this page
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- oEducated to Master's level or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g. healthcare, business administration, innovation, digital, life sciences, organisational development or related discipline)
- oEvidence of significant post-graduate level knowledge developed through extensive senior leadership experience across innovation, transformation, research, or industry settings
- oDegree level or equivalent qualification
- oContinuous Improvement qualification (e.g. lean, model for improvement, design thinking etc).
- oEvidence of management development through Continuous Professional Development and/or formal management course(s)
Experience
Essential
- oExperience at Board or Sub Board level in an NHS organisation
- oExperience of leading and deploying continuous improvement methodologies across a large organisation
- oExperience of NHS regulatory, data management, governance, and risk management
- oExperience of managing large teams and leading across teams
- oExperience of managing budgets and supplier contracts, and developing business plans
- oExperience of deploying or implementing large projects to successful conclusion
Other Requirements
Essential
- oCompetent at demonstrating a sound understanding of and living by the Trust's values
Knowledge
Essential
- oExcellent understanding of clinical and operational flows within the NHS
- oSignificant knowledge and understanding of the NHS, including the political, strategic, and operational environment in which it operates
- oKnowledge of data and network security management and Data and Security Protection Toolkit submission requirements
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- oEducated to Master's level or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g. healthcare, business administration, innovation, digital, life sciences, organisational development or related discipline)
- oEvidence of significant post-graduate level knowledge developed through extensive senior leadership experience across innovation, transformation, research, or industry settings
- oDegree level or equivalent qualification
- oContinuous Improvement qualification (e.g. lean, model for improvement, design thinking etc).
- oEvidence of management development through Continuous Professional Development and/or formal management course(s)
Experience
Essential
- oExperience at Board or Sub Board level in an NHS organisation
- oExperience of leading and deploying continuous improvement methodologies across a large organisation
- oExperience of NHS regulatory, data management, governance, and risk management
- oExperience of managing large teams and leading across teams
- oExperience of managing budgets and supplier contracts, and developing business plans
- oExperience of deploying or implementing large projects to successful conclusion
Other Requirements
Essential
- oCompetent at demonstrating a sound understanding of and living by the Trust's values
Knowledge
Essential
- oExcellent understanding of clinical and operational flows within the NHS
- oSignificant knowledge and understanding of the NHS, including the political, strategic, and operational environment in which it operates
- oKnowledge of data and network security management and Data and Security Protection Toolkit submission requirements
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
