We are in the process of establishing long-term capability to deliver the New Hospital Programme (NHP), the third largest programme on the Government's Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), enabling the delivery of NHS's Health Infrastructure Plan. The Programme is committed to changing the way hospitals are built and achieving significant savings through repeatable design, modern methods of construction, new approaches to clinical planning and the implementation of innovation in sustainability, digital technology and new care methods.
To achieve this, NHP requires a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to act as the formal deputy for the NHP Chief Programme Officer (CPO). Accountable for leading as the Proxy Operator, representing hospital requirements and interests on behalf of Trusts, the COO will require significant experience operating at NHS CEO level or equivalent. Recognising that NHP activity will have significant impact across national NHS systems, the COO will utilise their NHS experience to lead strategic engagement and support across NHS CEOs, NHSE Board, Regional Teams, ICBs, NHP Programme Board, and NHS Improvement Teams. This strategic NHS systems integration should facilitate the proactive and successful implementation of NHP outcomes and benefits.
Main duties of the job
The COO role provides exposure to the DHSC Sponsor Team, NHS Executives, Trust CEOs, ICBs, Government Leaders (IPA, Cabinet Office, Treasury), and will report directly to and deputise for the NHP Chief Programme Officer (CPO).
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
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit
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.
NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the Government website.
Job responsibilities
Leadership:
Lead the application of NHP values across NHP: Working Together as One Team; Acting with Integrity; Inclusivity and Respect; Delivering On Promises.
Lead the development of NHP organisation, including knowledge transfer.
Lead and direct Delivery Partner(s) in-line with the NHP Delivery Model.
Lead as part of the wider NHSE Chief Finance Officer Directorate team.
Act as the formal deputy for the CPO.
NHS Integration:
Lead as the Proxy Operator, representing hospital requirements and interests on behalf of Trusts.
Lead on strategic engagement, integration, and support provision with NHS CEOs, NHSE Board, Regional Teams, ICBs, NHP Programme Board, and NHS Improvement Teams to ensure successful NHP outcomes and benefits.
Lead on operational integration between NHP and wider NHSE teams/systems.
People:
Lead complex strategic people planning with NHSE & DHSC (sponsor delivery model), delivery partners and Trusts, ensuring alignment with the NHPs strategic integrated plan and NHPs strategic objective to build enduring capability across wider government and private sector
Identify critical people priorities by engaging with senior leaders across the NHS, the rest of the public sector, as well as the private sector
Social Value & Sustainability:
Lead NHPs approach to social value: oversee the development and implementation of a programme-wide social value strategy that positively impacts individuals and communities across the NHS (employing 1.5m people)
Organisational Development and Change:
Lead the evolution of NHPs operating model.
Provide change and systems leadership throughout periods of organisational transformation, which will be major and frequent.
Ensure NHP always acts as an intelligent client to its delivery partners.
Identify and mitigate any cross-cutting issues to ensure NHP continues to operate in an effective Sponsor-Delivery Model.
Governance, Assurance, Standards and Reporting:
Lead the development of a robust Programme Governance Framework for NHP.
Lead programme assurance gateways, and interface with the Sponsor Team.
Attend Executive Committees including chairing Delivery Committee, attending Programme Board, and providing oversight for Policy and Standards Committee.
Ensure delivery against all Sponsor Requirements.
Lead NHPs enterprise programme management approach, responsive to recommendations from the Sponsor Team and External Assurance bodies.
Participate actively in technical NED committee(s).
Ensure timely and accurate reporting across all programme activity.
Monitor and assure overall programme performance.
Lead configuration management, document control and reporting of all relevant assurance-related Management Information (MI).
Ensure the Programme is compliant at all times.
Communications and Engagement:
Lead on strategy and quality assurance for all communications and engagement across NHPs diverse stakeholder groups to meet the CPOs priorities. (e.g., DHSC Sponsor Team, NHS Executives, Trust CEOs, Scheme Project Teams, IPA, Cabinet Office, Treasury, NHP Senior Leadership, and the Public).
Develop sensitive briefings and commission responses for submission to the SRO and NHSE CFO.
Operations:
Lead the integration of effective business management and planning across NHP, and as part of the wider NHSE CFO Directorate.
Ensure NHP is compliant with all corporate requirements including business planning, corporate performance reporting, risk management, health and safety, information governance and compliance with organisational policies.
Oversee the spend of the Programme Office, as delegated by the CPO.
Programme IT and Systems:
Lead the identification and implementation of NHP systems, technology and processes, liaising closely with the NHP Digital Team, NHP Digital Partner, NHSE and Trusts to ensure maximum systems integration and compliance.
Person Specification Qualifications
- Educated to Masters level in a relevant area of academic practice, or equivalent experience.
- Membership of a relevant professional body, or equivalent experience.
Experience & Knowledge
- Significant proven experience as an NHS CEO or equivalent.
- Knowledge of NHS legal and governance framework.
- 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.
Skills
- 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 environment.
- 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.
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.
