Job overview
The Cancer Division is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, skilled, visionary Interim Clinical Director for Oncology, Radiotherapy, SACT and Specialist Palliative Care to lead our cancer clinical care services.
This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for the strategic development, clinical governance, and operational oversight of a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary cancer clinical care services. You will work in close collaboration with colleagues across Oncology, Radiotherapy, SACT, Specialist Palliative Care, nursing, ICB and the Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance to drive innovation, enhance patient pathways and deliver outstanding, patient-centred care.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Provide strategic leadership to Oncology, Radiotherapy, SACT and Specialist Palliative Care clinical care services across multiple Trust sites.
2. Lead service transformation and modernisation in line with national policy and local priorities.
3. Ensure robust clinical governance and maintain high standards of safety and quality.
4. Support workforce development, training and recruitment.
5. Represent the various cancer clinical care services at Trust and system-level forums.
About You:
6. Consultant with at least 2 years of relevant substantive NHS experience
7. Leadership experience in service development or clinical management
8. A strong track record of improving outcomes and patient experience.
9. Excellent communication and team-building skills
Main duties of the job
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Clinical Director will take overall responsibility for overseeing delivery of the service. This oversight comes with the expectation that sizeable parts of the workload outlined below will be delegated to other specialty leads with specified and defined roles and responsibilities.
10. Operational issues
11. Work with the directorate general manager and divisional team to keep medical spend within the departmental budget and highlight and understand any discrepancies therein.
12. Ensuring leave rules are applied and safe medical staffing levels are maintained.
13. Overseeing service developments and delivery changes that flow from job planning changes or other Trust developments during the year.
14. Co-ordinating development projects within the department in conjunction with the Trust and Divisional goals and objectives.
15. Developing a clinical leadership structure within the department that supports the operational goals outlined above.
16. Quality and Safety
17. Engaging with the Trust and Divisional structure for assuring quality and safety within the department.
18. Developing a leadership structure within the department that supports a high quality service.
19. The development and implementation of the Trust’s clinical strategy.
20. Reacting to and resolving satisfactorily, concerns raised internally or externally regarding clinical quality and safety in their area.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. 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 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached document for job description & person specification.
Person specification
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
21. •Previous experience in substantive consultant role.
22. •Significant evidence of success in a Consultant leadership role.
23. •Operational management experience.
24. •Business/service planning in management or educational role.
25. •Evidence of continued professional development.
26. •Understanding of the provision and delivery of health care services, and of the Government’s strategy and plans for modernising health care. •Sound understanding of the principles of clinical governance and clinical quality improvement.
27. •Sound understanding of the principles of clinical governance and clinical quality improvement
28. •Clear understanding of the NHS systems, agenda and strategic issues in healthcare and ability to interpret these in a given setting.
29. •Detailed understanding of current clinical and other issues relating to acute healthcare.
30. •Ability to build effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
31. •Commitment and passion for customer focused service with the ability to embed such an ethos at all levels of the organisation.
Desirable criteria
32. •Postgraduate qualification in leadership or management
33. •On the specialist register.
34. •Postgraduate clinical qualification
35. •Case management or case investigation training.
36. •Lean management system knowledge
37. •Experience as an appraiser to support revalidation
Skills
Essential criteria
38. •High degree of report writing skills.
39. •Demonstrate attitudes and behaviours in support of the Trust’s vision “We Care”.
40. •Willingness to work flexibly.
41. •Environmental and political awareness
42. •Service improvement skills.
People Managementand Development
Essential criteria
43. •Demonstrable leadership and ambassadorial skills with an ability to demonstrate a flexible leadership style.
44. •Performance Management skills
45. •Ability to develop others
Freedom to Act
Essential criteria
46. •Ability to work autonomously, liaise and coordinate the Management Team on a day-to-day basis and to take appropriate action as necessary.
47. •Identify and adhere to best practice.
48. •Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role.
49. •Able to interpret national and local guidance and to develop local policies to reflect these standards.
Desirable criteria
50. Evidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended
Specfic requirement s
Essential criteria
51. •High level of self-awareness, and openness to self-improvement.
Career Progression
Essential criteria
52. Appropriate progression of career to date
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
53. Evidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written
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