Job summary
The New Hospital Programme is more than building hospitals, it's a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in England. We're delivering over 40 new hospitals that will be modern, sustainable and built around the needs of patients and staff. We're looking for people who care about purpose, who thrive in complex environments and who want to help deliver change at scale for future generations.
Main duties of the job
The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is at the forefront of one of the most ambitious healthcare infrastructure programmes in a generation. As Head of Service Delivery, you will act as the client representative, responsible for overseeing, managing relationships and performance with the Health Delivery Partnership (HDP). You'll be accountable for the day-to-day operational delivery of services, ensuring robust oversight, proactive issue resolution and strong collaboration across the programme and our partners.
We are looking for someone who has experience in:
- Performance management of contracts or services
- Cost and financial management, including reporting
- Performance and risk management
- Audit processes and quality assurance
About us
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
For more information on the NHP programme
Interview will be held:Week commencing 18th August 2025
Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
For more information on the NHP programme
Interview will be held:Week commencing 18th August 2025
Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level
Desirable
- Additional management qualification or specialist qualification at post graduate level, or equivalent experience
- Membership of a relevant professional body, or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in the performance management of contracts or services, and risk management
- Understanding of the NHSE ecosystem
- Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environments
- Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry
- Experience in audit and quality monitoring
- Experience in cost and financial management and financial reporting
Desirable
- Understanding of NEC4 PSC contract terms and conditions and experience of use
- Experience with NEC contract management software such as CEMAR
- Experience working with senior NHS and government stakeholders (e.g., NHS CEOs, NHSE Board Members and ICBs), providing expert plans and analysis to support reporting and decision-making
- Experience and/or understanding of the UK Health Economy
Skills, Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Significant influencing skills to gain acceptance and implementation of NHP strategic priorities, including the ability to articulate complex and/ or controversial arguments in a compelling manner on major public platforms
- Ability to analyse complex problems and translate strategy into delivery - developing and implementing plans and processes across multiple teams
- Inclusive leader who sets high standards, motivates, collaborates, and promotes personal, organisational and cultural development in-line with NHP values
- Resilient leader comfortable working with a significant level of ambiguity in a complex and high-pressure change enviro
- Skills in budgetary management with strong numerical proficiency
Desirable
- Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment with knowledge of and experience in handling media relations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to master's level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level
Desirable
- Additional management qualification or specialist qualification at post graduate level, or equivalent experience
- Membership of a relevant professional body, or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in the performance management of contracts or services, and risk management
- Understanding of the NHSE ecosystem
- Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environments
- Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry
- Experience in audit and quality monitoring
- Experience in cost and financial management and financial reporting
Desirable
- Understanding of NEC4 PSC contract terms and conditions and experience of use
- Experience with NEC contract management software such as CEMAR
- Experience working with senior NHS and government stakeholders (e.g., NHS CEOs, NHSE Board Members and ICBs), providing expert plans and analysis to support reporting and decision-making
- Experience and/or understanding of the UK Health Economy
Skills, Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Significant influencing skills to gain acceptance and implementation of NHP strategic priorities, including the ability to articulate complex and/ or controversial arguments in a compelling manner on major public platforms
- Ability to analyse complex problems and translate strategy into delivery - developing and implementing plans and processes across multiple teams
- Inclusive leader who sets high standards, motivates, collaborates, and promotes personal, organisational and cultural development in-line with NHP values
- Resilient leader comfortable working with a significant level of ambiguity in a complex and high-pressure change enviro
- Skills in budgetary management with strong numerical proficiency
Desirable
- Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment with knowledge of and experience in handling media relations.
