NHS England

Deputy Director Service Delivery & Operations

The closing date is 21 July 2025

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 post is responsible for:

Driving integration across the Delivery Directorate to support the NHP Delivery strategy, using a programmatic approach.
Ensuring full integration across the programme whilst maintaining a focus on appropriate support for individual scheme requirements.
Lead the Delivery Integration team to support the development and delivery of the strategy, promoting innovation and supporting operational excellence in the function and team.
Work with a range of data, facts and situations often requiring detailed analysis and interpretation, making decisions on the most appropriate approach.
Drive quality assurance and progress of deliverables to NHS England that often require adjustments specifically in relation to the complex corporate business agenda, strategic objectives and the business planning process.
Develop business plans and provide expert strategic and policy advice and guidance on all areas of the National Director's portfolio.

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.

Alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful national impact, we offer a range of excellent benefits to support your health, wellbeing, and work-life balance:

A health and wellbeing support package
Discounted gym memberships to help you stay active
Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme
Generous flexible working options, including hybrid working arrangements
A supportive and inclusive working environment, where your expertise is valued

Date posted

07 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£105,385 to £121,271 a year (Excluding HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-NHP-15786-E

Job locations

Any NHSE base

London

SE1 8UG

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 4th 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

For more information on the NHP programme

Interview will be held:Week commencing 4th 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 Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area

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

Understanding of strategic and operational/business planning processes in the NHS
Understanding of the NHSE ecosystem
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
Proven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment
Experience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment
Significant experience of managing and prioritising a large budget with solid knowledge of financial process requirements
Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environments

Desirable

Demonstrated expertise in a Healthcare environment
Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry
Significant experience and understanding of proven implementation of project management methodologies or a Prince 2 or managing successful projects practitioner

Skills, Capabilities and 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
Skills in budgetary management with strong numerical proficiency
Able to make decisions autonomously, sometimes with incomplete information, on difficult issues
Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment with knowledge of and experience in handling media relations
Ability to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources (verbal, written and numerical).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area

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

Understanding of strategic and operational/business planning processes in the NHS
Understanding of the NHSE ecosystem
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
Proven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment
Experience of successfully operating in and delivering priorities in a partnership environment
Significant experience of managing and prioritising a large budget with solid knowledge of financial process requirements
Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environments

Desirable

Demonstrated expertise in a Healthcare environment
Significant management experience at senior level in the NHS or other public healthcare related industry
Significant experience and understanding of proven implementation of project management methodologies or a Prince 2 or managing successful projects practitioner

Skills, Capabilities and 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
Skills in budgetary management with strong numerical proficiency
Able to make decisions autonomously, sometimes with incomplete information, on difficult issues
Strong external communications skills in a politically sensitive environment with knowledge of and experience in handling media relations
Ability to analyse highly complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources (verbal, written and numerical).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE base

London

SE1 8UG

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE base

London

SE1 8UG

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)