Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Director of North West Skills Development

The closing date is 15 April 2026

Job summary

We are excited to be recruiting a new Director of North West Skills Development Network following the imminent retirement of the current post holder. The network is hosted by WHH (soon to be North Cheshire and Merseyside Healthcare Partnership)

The North West Skills Development Network is an innovative learning and development infrastructure, enabling and supporting the continuing development of all finance, digital, procurement and associated staff in the NHS across the North West.

We work across the North West to ensure that colleagues in the relevant professions have the skills they need to support the continued delivery of high-quality patient care.

Main duties of the job

As Director of the Network, you'll guide the team of nine to ensure that they are well placed to work with people and organisations to develop the necessary skills and competencies.

You will work with directors and other leaders across all three professions in North West NHS organisations to shape the Network's strategy. Working with the Network team you will then deliver on that strategy, reporting progress to the North West Skills Development Board on a quarterly basis.

You will deliver regular updates to region-wide director groups on the Network's progress.

You will play a key role in shaping the development of Skills Development Networks across the country as part of the national SDN Managers group and by liaising with colleagues in other relevant professional and trade bodies.

You will be a key part of a supportive network of professionals, helping them to be the best that they can be to support patient care across the North West.

About us

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn.

Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.

Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.

A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.

We employ nearly 5,000 people from over 80 nationalities, striving to be a diverse, inclusive employer and recognised leader in equality. We support flexible working, welcoming flexible applications. Proud of our many accreditations, we are embedding an anti-racist approach in all we do.

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £100,140 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

370-ADM8dFCD-1178

Job locations

Home based

Warrington Hospital (Home-based working)

Warrington

WA5 1QG


Job description

Job responsibilities

** Please see Job Description and Person Specification attached to the vacancy information for full details about the role**

Job description

Job responsibilities

** Please see Job Description and Person Specification attached to the vacancy information for full details about the role**

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in a senior role e.g. Deputy Director level / Associate Director or equivalent
  • Demonstrable record of leadership by example through continuous self development
  • Demonstrate success in organisational change
  • Demonstrate success in the development of a number of leadership programmes for multidisciplinary staff ensuring these programs are reflective of up to date practices

Desirable

  • Experience in the development of the NHS finance, digital & procurement functions at both local and national level

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to master's degree level qualification (or equivalent) with specialist knowledge obtained through further specialist training to Doctorate, or equivalent level

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the learning & development requirements for corporate functions within the NHS

Skills, Knowledge & Competencies

Essential

  • Significant personal and professional profile
  • Ability to work collaboratively at all levels across Finance Digital & Procurement
  • Excellent leadership and influencing skills
  • Experience of working with wider networks i.e. One NHS Finance, Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply, FedIP and other national groups to develop the functions
  • Able to manage a broad work programme incorporating the finance, digital and procurement workforce
  • Able to work flexibly within a team environment
  • Excellent communication skills, liaising on a local and national platform. Ability to receive and communicate highly complex or highly contentious information, where there may be significant barriers to acceptance
  • Motivational approach to training and development
  • Empathy with the NHS finance, digital & procurement functions
  • Experience of presenting locally and nationally to large audiences
  • Expert knowledge in the development of competency frameworks and personal portfolios
  • Advanced keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Mentoring and / or coaching experience
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in a senior role e.g. Deputy Director level / Associate Director or equivalent
  • Demonstrable record of leadership by example through continuous self development
  • Demonstrate success in organisational change
  • Demonstrate success in the development of a number of leadership programmes for multidisciplinary staff ensuring these programs are reflective of up to date practices

Desirable

  • Experience in the development of the NHS finance, digital & procurement functions at both local and national level

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to master's degree level qualification (or equivalent) with specialist knowledge obtained through further specialist training to Doctorate, or equivalent level

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the learning & development requirements for corporate functions within the NHS

Skills, Knowledge & Competencies

Essential

  • Significant personal and professional profile
  • Ability to work collaboratively at all levels across Finance Digital & Procurement
  • Excellent leadership and influencing skills
  • Experience of working with wider networks i.e. One NHS Finance, Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply, FedIP and other national groups to develop the functions
  • Able to manage a broad work programme incorporating the finance, digital and procurement workforce
  • Able to work flexibly within a team environment
  • Excellent communication skills, liaising on a local and national platform. Ability to receive and communicate highly complex or highly contentious information, where there may be significant barriers to acceptance
  • Motivational approach to training and development
  • Empathy with the NHS finance, digital & procurement functions
  • Experience of presenting locally and nationally to large audiences
  • Expert knowledge in the development of competency frameworks and personal portfolios
  • Advanced keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Mentoring and / or coaching experience

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Address

Home based

Warrington Hospital (Home-based working)

Warrington

WA5 1QG


Employer's website

https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Address

Home based

Warrington Hospital (Home-based working)

Warrington

WA5 1QG


Employer's website

https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Finance Officer

Jane Hurst

jane@hurst1.co.uk

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £100,140 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

370-ADM8dFCD-1178

Job locations

Home based

Warrington Hospital (Home-based working)

Warrington

WA5 1QG


Supporting documents

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