Job Summary

The Programme Director will lead the Startwell Programme hosted by Whittington Health on behalf of North Central London (NCL). This role is responsible for delivering a major reconfiguration of maternity, neonatal, and paediatric surgical services across NCL, following the decision to close the Royal Free Hospital maternity and neonatal units and the Edgware Birth Centre. The post holder will provide senior leadership, programme management, and strategic oversight to ensure successful implementation, including capital works, workforce planning, governance, and stakeholder engagement. They will work closely with executive leaders across Whittington Health, UCLH, Royal Free London, and the NCL ICB, managing complex stakeholder relationships and ensuring delivery of agreed outcomes. The Programme Director will also lead the programme team, manage budgets, monitor risks, and report to Trust and ICB boards. The role requires a visible, credible leader with extensive NHS experience, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and a proven record of delivering complex change programmes.

Main duties of the job

• Provide senior programme leadership and management to deliver the Startwell Programme successfully.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive programme plan with clear milestones and deliverables.
• Chair project meetings and provide robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.
• Line manage programme team members (including an 8b manager and band 6 project officer) and oversee additional secondees or consultants as required.
• Manage the programme budget, ensuring projects are delivered within agreed financial envelopes.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate programme risks and issues, escalating where necessary.
• Ensure effective reporting through Trust and ICB governance structures.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with executive leaders, clinical directors, managers, and external partners across NCL.
• Lead the development and implementation of an effective communications and stakeholder strategy.
• Represent Whittington Health and the Startwell Programme externally, promoting collaboration and raising the profile of the programme.
• Support clinical and managerial teams across NCL to ensure smooth transition and service redesign.

About Us

At Whittington Health, you will join a dynamic and collaborative team committed to providing safe, personal, and coordinated care to the local community. Our staff work across both hospital and community settings, serving over 500,000 people in Islington, Haringey, and surrounding boroughs. The Startwell Programme team operates in a fast-paced, high-profile environment where innovation, flexibility, and problem-solving are essential. Team members are supported to develop professionally and are encouraged to contribute ideas and solutions, with a strong culture of mutual respect, trust, and open communication. Our organisation values leadership, teamwork, and the wellbeing of staff, promoting equality and personal development. Staff benefit from structured appraisals, opportunities to work on complex, high-impact projects, and the chance to make a real difference in transforming healthcare services across North Central London.

Details

Date posted: 11 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change | Band 9 | Salary £117,645 to £134,103 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract: Fixed term | Duration: 3 years

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Location: Whittington Health NHS Trust, Magdala Avenue Archway London, Archway, London, N19 5NF

Job Responsibilities and Main Duties

• Programme Leadership & Management: Provide senior leadership for programme projects, maintain the programme plan to ensure delivery, develop a comprehensive plan with timetables and workstream approaches, chair meetings, line manage project staff, oversee the budget, monitor risks, and report status to Trust committees, boards, and the ICB Board.
• Leadership: Act as a visible, credible senior leader; build and maintain relationships with Trusts, the ICB, and external stakeholders; ensure staff contributions are valued; oversee engagement with external stakeholders, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams; deliver presentations and training on programme progress.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Lead the communications and stakeholder strategy; organise and facilitate programme meetings; raise the profile of the Startwell Programme.
• Information Management: Produce accurate information for boards and committees; develop information-sharing systems to support decision-making and analysis.
• Financial & Capital Management: Ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets; escalate financial risks; ensure value-for-money procurement in line with Trust policies.
• Other Responsibilities: Promote cross-organisational learning and sector-wide initiatives; act as an ambassador for Trust and programme vision and values; undertake other duties as directed.

Person Specification

Essential

• Masters Degree or equivalent experience
• High standard of written and spoken English
• Project management qualification or relevant project experience
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS issues and patient agenda
• Experience of working at a management level within the NHS or similar environment
• Demonstrable NHS/public sector experience and knowledge
• Experience of managing complex projects across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Experience of service redesign and development
• A proven record in successful leadership of complex operational change while maintaining high standards

• Demonstrable experience of budgetary management and control, including achieving targets
• Experience in business planning and implementing complex strategic plans
• Experience in leadership of clinical services

• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary issues and commitment to multidisciplinary working
• Highly developed communication skills for informal discussions and formal presentations
• Ability to work with and through others
• Commitment to self-development and knowledge of current health policy
• Proven line management and leadership skills
• Political awareness and sensitivity to the high profile of the Directorate and Trust

• Understanding of Clinical Governance and its contribution to quality-driven service

Note on Compliance

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a Disclosure to the DBS will be required. Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered. See UK Visas and Immigration guidance for details.

Employer details

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, Magdala Avenue, Archway, London, N19 5NF