NHS England

Technical Assurance Director

The closing date is 25 September 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

We're seeking a experienced Technical Assurance Director to define and deliver the Hospital 2.0 assurance strategy. You'll be responsible for:

  • Defining priorities for the Technical Assurance strategy and rulebook, setting the standard for excellence across Hospital 2.0
  • Reviewing and accepting Hospital 2.0 technical products and space designs to ensure compliance and innovation
  • Driving integration of Hospital 2.0 components into broader scheme designs, in line with the technical assurance rulebook
  • Implementing mitigating actions in response to risks flagged by Design Delivery--whether in Scheme designs or Statutory Consent
  • Reviewing and approving exemption requests specific to individual schemes, ensuring flexibility without compromising standards

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 visithttps://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

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£100,000 a year (starting from £100,000) -ESM 1

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-NHP-17218-E

Job locations

Any NHS England Office

Nationally

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.

Please note that the grade for this post is ESM 1.

For more information on the NHP programme

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.

Please note that the grade for this post is ESM 1.

For more information on the NHP programme

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

  • A bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field is typically required. A master's degree in a relevant field may be preferred but not always necessary
  • Professional membership in relevant organisations, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience in the design / construction / operation of infrastructure/facilities (ideally healthcare), with a deep understanding of the specific requirements and challenges
  • Expertise in leading and delivering technical assurance, compliance & governance on large scale infrastructure projects
  • Knowledge of the application of system engineering and assurance processes throughout the project lifecycle of complex, multi discipline projects/programmes
  • Experience of designing and implementing major infrastructure projects in line with national design standards and guidelines, and of embedding appropriate processes/procedures to support demonstration of compliance
  • Knowledge of the development of a technical assurance strategy and converting this into workable plans, processes and procedures
  • Experience of risk based assurance and the development and implementation of verification and validation procedures for assuring complex programmes of work
  • Experience of developing new technical assurance tools and guidance and of working with project teams to utilise these throughout all stages of the project
  • A working knowledge of implementing engineering safety management throughout the project lifecycle in a complex programme environment
  • Experience of developing tools and mechanisms to robustly control and manage assurance processes and to monitor their status at both a project and programme level
  • Knowledge of operational standards and assurance processes related to the delivery and operation of healthcare facilities
  • Knowledge and experience of the regulatory environment and statutory obligations relating to design and construction projects

Desirable

  • An understanding of the challenges faced when integrating large scale works with existing infrastructure and the associated technical assurance considerations required to support phased delivery of works

Skills, Attributes & Abilities

Essential

  • Strong leadership and management skills to oversee the development and implementation of assurance processes throughout the project and programme lifecycles
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders at various levels including Trusts, delivery teams, management, sponsors, sub-contractors, regulatory bodies and other major stakeholders.
  • Strategic thinking and planning abilities that will enable the development of assurances processes and procedures that will facilitate the progression of projects from design stage through construction and into handover, operation and maintenance
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Project management skills to effectively coordinate activities, manage resources, and meet deadlines
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to address discrepancies and align standards and guidelines with diverse stakeholder perspectives
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field is typically required. A master's degree in a relevant field may be preferred but not always necessary
  • Professional membership in relevant organisations, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience in the design / construction / operation of infrastructure/facilities (ideally healthcare), with a deep understanding of the specific requirements and challenges
  • Expertise in leading and delivering technical assurance, compliance & governance on large scale infrastructure projects
  • Knowledge of the application of system engineering and assurance processes throughout the project lifecycle of complex, multi discipline projects/programmes
  • Experience of designing and implementing major infrastructure projects in line with national design standards and guidelines, and of embedding appropriate processes/procedures to support demonstration of compliance
  • Knowledge of the development of a technical assurance strategy and converting this into workable plans, processes and procedures
  • Experience of risk based assurance and the development and implementation of verification and validation procedures for assuring complex programmes of work
  • Experience of developing new technical assurance tools and guidance and of working with project teams to utilise these throughout all stages of the project
  • A working knowledge of implementing engineering safety management throughout the project lifecycle in a complex programme environment
  • Experience of developing tools and mechanisms to robustly control and manage assurance processes and to monitor their status at both a project and programme level
  • Knowledge of operational standards and assurance processes related to the delivery and operation of healthcare facilities
  • Knowledge and experience of the regulatory environment and statutory obligations relating to design and construction projects

Desirable

  • An understanding of the challenges faced when integrating large scale works with existing infrastructure and the associated technical assurance considerations required to support phased delivery of works

Skills, Attributes & Abilities

Essential

  • Strong leadership and management skills to oversee the development and implementation of assurance processes throughout the project and programme lifecycles
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders at various levels including Trusts, delivery teams, management, sponsors, sub-contractors, regulatory bodies and other major stakeholders.
  • Strategic thinking and planning abilities that will enable the development of assurances processes and procedures that will facilitate the progression of projects from design stage through construction and into handover, operation and maintenance
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Project management skills to effectively coordinate activities, manage resources, and meet deadlines
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to address discrepancies and align standards and guidelines with diverse stakeholder perspectives

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHS England Office

Nationally

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 NHS England Office

Nationally

SE1 8UG


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Resourcing Business Partner

Ryan Davin

ryan.davin@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£100,000 a year (starting from £100,000) -ESM 1

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

990-NHP-17218-E

Job locations

Any NHS England Office

Nationally

SE1 8UG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS England's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)