NHS Blood and Transplant

Programme Director

The closing date is 04 March 2026

Job summary

NHSBT has a vision to ensure that every patient gets the donation that they need. Having a resilient donor base is a crucial enabler for that and we are seeking a Programme Director with a track record of leading customer centric supply chain improvement programmes to sustainably increase the size of the donor base.

You will join the organisation at a time of great opportunity, taking decisions and implementing major changes that will further improve the life-saving services we provide.

You will be responsible for leading the delivery of a number of initiatives to increase the size of the donor base, addressing targeted acquisition, retention and operational aspects. Working with operational leads, you will ensure that the benefits from existing projects are delivered whilst using a programmatic agile approach to modify approaches so that the overall programme objectives are delivered.

You will be accountable to the programme senior responsible owner who is a Director and sits on the Executive Team and Board.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will be responsible for leading a large-scale change programme, to improve the resilience of our Blood Donor Bases. Key responsibilities include:

  • Reviewing and delivering programme outcomes and benefits.
  • Overseeing the design and implementation of change impact plans to minimise disruption, ensure high adoption, and sustain changes.
  • Ensuring timely and on-budget delivery in line with the business case and programme plans.
  • Managing programme governance, addressing risks and issues, maintaining change controls, and identifying broader impacts.
  • Supporting the SRO by guiding programme development and resolving any issues within the Programme.
  • Building a high-performing, accountable team focused on delivery.
  • Continuously aligning resource capacity and capability to programme needs, managing competing demands for shared resources.
  • Leading stakeholder relationships to gain buy-in for programme objectives and outcomes and communicating these effectively.
  • Maintaining relationships with all levels of stakeholders, including the Board.
  • Identifying opportunities for quality and service improvements.
  • Collaborating with external organisations, including suppliers, to create a conducive environment for meeting programme requirements.
  • Managing the programme budget while seeking opportunities for efficiency and value for money.
  • You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too.

Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Details

Date posted

19 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

008353

Job locations

NHSBT - Filton

500 North Bristol Park

Northway

Filton, Bristol

BS34 7QH


NHSBT - Barnsley

Unit D, Capitol Way

Dodworth, Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 3FG


NHSBT - Plymouth

Ground and First Floor, Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


NHSBT - Birmingham

Vincent Drive

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2SG


NHSBT - Colindale

Charcot Road

Colindale

London

NW9 5BG


NHSBT - Manchester

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL


NHSBT - Tooting

75 Cranmer Terrace

Tooting

London

SW17 0RB


NHSBT - Liverpool

14 Estuary Banks

The Estuary Commerce Park, Speke

Liverpool

L24 8RB


NHSBT - Newcastle

Holland Drive off Barrack Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 4NQ


NHSBT - Southampton

Coxford Road

Southampton

SO16 5AF


Job description

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

  • NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
  • 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
  • NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
  • We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

The assessment process for this role will likely be multi stage, with the panel interview being in person in Birmingham on or around 16th March- subject to confirmation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

What we offer:

  • NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
  • 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
  • NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
  • We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

The assessment process for this role will likely be multi stage, with the panel interview being in person in Birmingham on or around 16th March- subject to confirmation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a masters degree Level or equivalent qualification.
  • Postgraduate study in leadership and management or equivalent experience at a senior level.
  • Recognised qualifications in project and programme management methodology e.g., Agile, PRINCE2, MSP.
  • Post-graduate study in Finance management or equivalent knowledge and experience.
  • Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of designing and leading the implementation of large-scale complex, estates and culture change programmes from inception to completion, including benefits.
  • Extensive experience of leading, influencing and motivating multiple diverse specialists across a number of teams to work together to successfully deliver programme outcomes.
  • Experience providing escalation and resolution points for programme risks and issue and monitoring risks and issues across large complex programmes and portfolios.
  • Experience of leading supplier negotiation and discussions to ensure value from service/assets.
  • Extensive experience of creating outline and detailed mandates, business cases and programme / project briefs for Board / Executive level scrutiny and approval.
  • Proven knowledge and experience of planning and implementing major business process change, service reconfiguration and/or new applications.
  • Proven knowledge and experience of working across a supply chain and awareness of
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to a masters degree Level or equivalent qualification.
  • Postgraduate study in leadership and management or equivalent experience at a senior level.
  • Recognised qualifications in project and programme management methodology e.g., Agile, PRINCE2, MSP.
  • Post-graduate study in Finance management or equivalent knowledge and experience.
  • Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD)

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of designing and leading the implementation of large-scale complex, estates and culture change programmes from inception to completion, including benefits.
  • Extensive experience of leading, influencing and motivating multiple diverse specialists across a number of teams to work together to successfully deliver programme outcomes.
  • Experience providing escalation and resolution points for programme risks and issue and monitoring risks and issues across large complex programmes and portfolios.
  • Experience of leading supplier negotiation and discussions to ensure value from service/assets.
  • Extensive experience of creating outline and detailed mandates, business cases and programme / project briefs for Board / Executive level scrutiny and approval.
  • Proven knowledge and experience of planning and implementing major business process change, service reconfiguration and/or new applications.
  • Proven knowledge and experience of working across a supply chain and awareness of

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT - Filton

500 North Bristol Park

Northway

Filton, Bristol

BS34 7QH


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Blood and Transplant

Address

NHSBT - Filton

500 North Bristol Park

Northway

Filton, Bristol

BS34 7QH


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Business Partner

Tara Dunn

Tara.Dunn@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

19 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

008353

Job locations

NHSBT - Filton

500 North Bristol Park

Northway

Filton, Bristol

BS34 7QH


NHSBT - Barnsley

Unit D, Capitol Way

Dodworth, Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 3FG


NHSBT - Plymouth

Ground and First Floor, Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


NHSBT - Birmingham

Vincent Drive

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2SG


NHSBT - Colindale

Charcot Road

Colindale

London

NW9 5BG


NHSBT - Manchester

Plymouth Grove

Manchester

M13 9LL


NHSBT - Tooting

75 Cranmer Terrace

Tooting

London

SW17 0RB


NHSBT - Liverpool

14 Estuary Banks

The Estuary Commerce Park, Speke

Liverpool

L24 8RB


NHSBT - Newcastle

Holland Drive off Barrack Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE2 4NQ


NHSBT - Southampton

Coxford Road

Southampton

SO16 5AF


Supporting documents

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