Job overview
UHSussex NHS Trust seeks to employ an 8c Head of Efficiency to support delivery of the Trusts£120m efficiency programme.
The Trust has an ambitious and challenging Efficiency and Improvement Programme that requires continuous development in the way services are delivered to further enhance patient experience, quality of care and outcomes and ensures the Trust becomes financially sustainable. The role will focuson standardisation, eliminating waste, increasing productivity, improving our processes and workforce redesign.
If you are motivated by this agenda and have a proven record for delivering the dual goals of service and cost improvement, we look forward to hearing from you. You will need to be an experienced programme manager with acute hospital operational experience, with exceptional leadership and project management skills and used to influencing and delivering change in a complex environment. You will be highly motivated individual who is personable, credible and be confident in working on different aspects of the efficiency programme. The ability to work autonomously is key attribute to this role and grade. You will be a strong team player and will value the importance of fostering effective relationships and achieving results in partnership with others. You will be ready for a new challenge in a fast-paced organisation and committed to helping the Trust deliver its vision.
Main duties of the job
Leading a team to deliver efficiency savings and projects aligned to the efficiency programme, providing expertise and guidance, reporting into the Director of Efficiency and Productivity.
The Head of Efficiency will work closely with theother Heads of Efficiency within the Efficiency and Productivity team, Efficiency/Finance/HR Business Partners and the Trust’s Executive Directors and Senior leadership teams, utilising project management skills to enable delivery of the divisional workstream outcomes within agreed quality, cost and time parameters.
As well as being able to communicate effectively, this role requires experience and skills in managing difficult conversations and ability to provide challenge to status quo when there are barriers to acceptance of change.
The successful candidate will need to be an expert with data analysis methodology and able to present clear accurate summary and recommendations to Executives, Divisional teams and Directors through a variety of mediums.
Integral to the role is the delivery of both financial and non-financial benefits to a variety of audiences, including front line staff, divisional and senior leaders and Executives.
Travel across hospital sites may be required i.e. RSCH, PRH, SRH, WOR and Southlands.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As one of the Heads of Efficiency, your main duties and responsibilities span across several key areas:
Service Delivery and Improvement: You are tasked with overseeing and delivering the annual efficiency programme across various clinical and corporate divisions. This includes balancing resources, identifying improvement opportunities using data from sources like Model Hospital, and ensuring projects have detailed Project Initiation Documents (PIDs). You will also co-design governance structures, track project benefits, and ensure all projects have approved Equality and Quality Impact Assessments (EIA and QIA).
Communication: A critical part of the role is building strong relationships with multidisciplinary teams, delivering presentations to various audiences, and maintaining clear "floor-to-board" visibility for all projects. You must be comfortable delivering difficult messages that challenge the status quo and participating in Executive-led Steering Groups.
People and Financial Management: You will provide line management for Senior Business Partners and Business Partners, oversee team development and appraisals, and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion. Additionally, you will act as a delegated budget holder for your service area and ensure the financial evaluation and benefits of projects are accurately tracked and verified.
Key Working Relationships: To succeed in these duties, you will need to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders. Your key working relationships will include:
1. The Director and other Heads of Efficiency and Productivity
2. Efficiency Business Partners and Divisional Finance Managers
3. Executive Directors, Managing Directors, and Care Group Triumvirates
4. Corporate Heads, HR Business Partners, the Performance and Information team, and frontline clinical staff
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Person specification
Criteria to Interview
Essential criteria
5. Practical experience of implementing large scale improvement projects, including definition, design, delivery and evaluation
6. Well-developed skills in written and verbal presentation of information and data
7. Experience of direct line management leadership
8. Strong analytic skills and knowledge of how to use data appropriately and correctly.
Desirable criteria
9. Accredited project management qualification, such as Prince II or equivalent
10. Previous extensive experience in either operational or clinical acute hospital settings
11. To be able to review evidence to generate options and take autonomous decisions to facilitate resolution in relation to project scoping and delivery
Interview Criteria
Essential criteria
12. Knowledge of health service management, including change management
13. Practical experience of implementing large scale improvement projects, including definition, design, delivery and evaluation
14. Project management expertise including cost, quality and risk management
15. Experience of efficiency and productivity scheme management
16. Well-developed skills in written and verbal presentation of information and data
Desirable criteria
17. Knowledge of, or training in, lean improvement methodologies
18. Evidence of delivering service re-design and new models of care
19. Use of data in projects that has enabled change
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
20. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
21. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications