Job overview
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is on an ambitious transformation journey to become an outstanding, patient-led organisation, supporting 6,800 staff to deliver high-quality, compassionate care.
We are seeking a new Chief Executive Officer, accountable to the Chair and Board for the Trust’s strategic leadership and performance. The postholder will ensure strong governance, meet all statutory requirements, and lead the organisation to clinical excellence, financial sustainability and outstanding patient care.
The role also includes system leadership across the wider health economy, influencing sustainable service delivery at local, regional and national levels.
We are looking for an ambitious and credible leader with significant experience in complex acute or specialist settings, a strong track record of operational delivery, and the ability to inspire and lead across a multi-site organisation.
In return, this is a unique opportunity to shape the future of the Trust and wider health system within a supportive and forward-looking organisation.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities will include:
* Managing the Trust in accordance with its vision and strategic objectives, as a dynamic organisation, having regard to responsibilities’ and appropriate involvement of all key stakeholders externally and internally.
* To ensure patients, staff and the public have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in decision making and the planning of service delivery and improvement.
* Ensuring key standards and measures for the Trust are identified, including those related to performance, quality, service, care, audit, workforce, finance and efficiency and ensuring these are monitored and reported appropriately.
* Ensuring all Board members have the information they need to play a full part in the governance of the Trust and that the Trust Board is regularly appraised of the key risks and mitigating actions necessary to address those risks.
* Ensuring the Trust has an effective management system which has patient safety, quality and patient experience as paramount, ensuring mechanisms are in place to continuously monitor these issues
* Ensuring the Trust meets its legal requirements, statutory duties and responsibilities and those reporting obligations placed by all external regulators and inspectors.
* Provide visible and engaging leadership behaviours and personal integrity that models the Trust’s values.
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further details and the full list of responsibilities.
Working for our organisation
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is on a journey of transformation. It was formed in 2000 following the merger of two former NHS Trusts serving the east and north Hertfordshire areas. It operates across four sites; acute services are offered at the Lister Hospital; specialist cancer services at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC); and non-acute services at Queen Elizabeth II and Hertford County hospital. The Trust underwent an extensive £150m reconfiguration some years ago which centralised all inpatient and complex services at the Lister in Stevenage.
The Trust provides a wide range of acute inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, ambulatory and urgent care services – including an emergency department and maternity care – as well as regional and sub-regional services in renal medicine, urology and plastic surgery.
Proudly, the Trust is ranked as the highest performing acute trust in the East of England and 19th nationally among all acute and specialist trusts, according to the latest NHS performance league tables. It was also shortlisted for the HSJ Trust of the Year Award.
Approximately 6,800 staff are employed by the Trust, dedicated staff to providing high- quality, compassionate care to our patients. We also have an active volunteer network of around 350 people. The Trust’s annual turnover is approximately £610 million.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information.
To arrange an informal discussion or visit, please contact Anita’s Executive Assistant.
The closing date for applications is 24 April 2026, with the selection and interview process scheduled for the week commencing 1 June 2026.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
* A track record of success as a chief executive (or interim) within an acute or specialist care trust.
* Proven ability to ensure robust assurance and compliance across financial, governance, legal, regulatory and clinical areas.
* Significant experience of leading transformational service change
* Experience of managing complex problems
* Experience of increasing staff engagement, particularly through change and adversity
* Demonstrable track record of advancing diversity, representation, equity and inclusion, with evidence of sustained inclusive culture change and reduced workforce inequalities
* A track record of establishing strong quality and safety governance frameworks which deliver excellent outcomes for patients
Desirable criteria
* Evidence of working on national programmes or contributing to national policy
* Evidence of leading or implementing initiatives underpinned by national research and innovation
* Track record of applying a commercial mindset and expertise to all elements of trust leadership
Skills, aptitudes and knowledge
Essential criteria
* Demonstrable track record of sound financial and operational leadership, with proactive oversight of financial drivers
* Demonstrable track record of operational performance improvement drawing on best practice
* High levels of collaborative working with system partners including acute, community, mental health, primary care, local authorities and the voluntary sector.
* Ability to influence, negotiate and persuade regarding complex or sensitive issues demonstrating sound judgment, and a high degree of political awareness
* Inspirational and motivational skills to lead staff with the ability to lead organisational culture change to support transformation and navigate complex change, balancing long term transformation with short term operational pressures
* Ability to identify, assess and manage risk proactively personally and through others.
* Clear understanding of the national and regional strategic and policy landscape, able to appreciate the implications at a trust local level, adjusting organisational plans accordingly
Desirable criteria
* Track record of patient and local community engagement, including in the co-design of patient services to improve access, outcomes and/or experience
* Sound knowledge of problem solving and improvement methodologies (knowledge of the Virginia Mason methodology or similar would be an advantage)
* Experience in leveraging digital technology, data quality and analytics to drive decision‑making, safety and transformation.
Personal qualities and attributes
Essential criteria
* Ability to create, enable and inspire the executive team, empowering courageous decision making and team cohesion, particularly in challenging times.
* An inspiring leader with vision and the ability to communicate ideas and generate action and delivery through others with drive, sound judgement who can deliver change at pace.
* Ability to plan strategically, tactically and creatively
* Ability to take an innovative approach and encourage innovation in others
* The ability to gain the respect of clinicians, managers and academics
* Highly developed emotional intelligence and selfawareness
* Proactive, versatile and problem-solving approach
* Robust and persistent in the pursuit of objectives whilst responding to short term challenges and priorities
* Able to build and maintain personal credibility
* Able to prioritise and work under pressure, keeping calm and instilling calm in others
* A personal commitment to ethical standards expected of public sector leaders in the UK
Education and professional qualifications
Essential criteria
* Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
* Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
* Further professional qualification