Job overview
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
1. Provide senior programme leadership and management to deliver the Startwell Programme successfully.
2. Develop and maintain a comprehensive programme plan with clear milestones and deliverables.
3. Chair project meetings and provide robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.
4. Line manage programme team members (including an 8b manager and band 6 project officer) and oversee additional secondees or consultants as required.
5. Manage the programme budget, ensuring projects are delivered within agreed financial envelopes.
6. Identify, manage, and mitigate programme risks and issues, escalating where necessary.
7. Ensure effective reporting through Trust and ICB governance structures.
8. Build and maintain strong relationships with executive leaders, clinical directors, managers, and external partners across NCL.
9. Lead the development and implementation of an effective communications and stakeholder strategy.
10. Represent Whittington Health and the Startwell Programme externally, promoting collaboration and raising the profile of the programme.
11. Support clinical and managerial teams across NCL to ensure smooth transition and service redesign.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Leadership & Management:
Provide senior leadership for programme projects, maintaining the programme plan to ensure delivery.
Develop a comprehensive programme plan with delivery timetables and workstream approaches.
Chair project meetings, providing robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.
Line manage project staff, including an 8b manager, a band 6, and other temporary or seconded staff.
Oversee programme budget and ensure financial management aligns with Trust policies.
Monitor programme risks and implement mitigation strategies, escalating where necessary.
Report programme status to Trust committees, boards, and the ICB Board.
Coordinate programme functions and provide assurance on projects, managing dependencies both within and outside NCL.
Support directors and teams with strategic deliverables and identify organisational development needs.
Leadership
Act as a visible, credible senior leader with Trust teams, commissioners, and NHS England.
Build and maintain strong working relationships across Trusts, ICB, and external stakeholders.
Ensure staff contributions are valued and incorporated into decision-making.
Oversee engagement with external stakeholders, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams.
Deliver presentations and training on programme progress and changes to practice.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead the communications and stakeholder strategy in collaboration with ICB and Trust communications teams.
Organise and facilitate programme meetings, ensuring information is effectively disseminated.
Raise the profile of the Startwell Programme internally and externally.
Employ diplomacy and negotiation skills to align projects with strategic objectives.
Information Management
Produce accurate information for boards, committees, and forums.
Develop and implement information-sharing systems to ensure effective decision-making and analysis.
Financial & Capital Management
Ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets.
Escalate and manage financial risks in collaboration with finance leads.
Ensure procurement is value-for-money and compliant 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 commensurate with the role as directed.
Key Relationships:
Internal:
Whittington Health CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Directors
Divisional Clinical Directors, operational managers, strategy and finance teams
Startwell Programme team (project staff, secondees, consultants)
External:
Senior leaders across NCL Trusts (UCLH, Royal Free London)
NCL Integrated Care Board (ICB) leaders and NHS England representatives
Place-based partnerships and other external stakeholders
Person specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential criteria
12. Masters Degree or equivalent experience
13. High standard of written and spoken English
14. Project management qualification or relevant project experience
15. Knowledge and understanding of a range of issues across the NHS and NHS patient agenda
Work Experience
Essential criteria
16. Experience of working at a management level within the NHS or similar environment.
17. Demonstrable NHS/ public sector experience and knowledge
18. Experience of managing complex projects that cross multiple teams and stakeholders
19. Experience of service redesign and development
20. A proven record in successful leadership of complex operational change while also developing and maintaining high standards of quality
Desirable criteria
21. Demonstrable experience of effective budgetary management and control, including achieving targets on a regular basis.
22. A proven success in business planning and in the development and effective implementation of complex strategic plans
23. Experience of leadership of clinical services.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
24. Demonstrate a strong understanding of multidisciplinary issues and commitment to multidisciplinary working
25. Highly developed communication skills ranging from informal 1:1 discussions, formal presentations covering both oral and written skills.
26. Ability to work with and through others
27. Commitment to self-development with ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting the health and public sector.
28. Demonstrable record of successful line management of staff and proven team leadership and motivational skills
29. Evidence of political awareness and sensitivity to the high profile of the Directorate and the Trust
Desirable criteria
30. A clear understanding of the components of Clinical Governance and how these contribute to an integrated and quality driven service
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
31. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
32. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
33. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
34. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
35. Participate in required training and supervision.
36. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.