Job summary
To support our improvement ambitions, we are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Quality Improvement (QI) Lead to join our QI Team.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced improvement leader to play a pivotal role in shaping and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across YAS.
As the Senior QI Lead, you will provide visible leadership, specialist improvement expertise and operational management of the QI Team. Working closely with the Head of Quality Improvement, you will drive forward strategic improvement programmes, support organisational maturity in QI, and influence how care is designed and delivered to benefit patients, staff and the wider health system.
We are looking for someone who is:
* Skilled — educated to master’s degree level or have experience in a similar role or setting, and hold a recognised QI qualification such as Quality Improvement Service Redesign (QSIR) or Lean Six Sigma.
* Experienced — able to deliver improvement and has a track record of delivering change in a complex organisation through scale and spread.
* Credible — a strong leader with extensive leadership experience, including within health and social care settings.
* Values driven — demonstrates understanding of Trust values and can articulate them in practice.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will:
* Be responsible for the delivery of improvement programmes by advising on improvement methods, managing milestones, supporting teams to achieve improvements and ensuring timely delivery.
* Support the delivery of QI enabling plans and strategies.
* Engage with and provide improvement leadership to people who may not be directly in the QI team to embed improvement as daily practice.
* Communicate complex and sensitive messages relating to improvement across the Trust.
* Work with the Head of QI to develop and deliver QI team yearly work plans and objectives.
* Deliver improvement education programmes.
* Work with teams to undertake Quality Impact Assessments (QIA) and provide assurance of the QIA process to the Head of QI.
* Support the Trust to operate within an effective quality management system.
* Support the Trust to ensure quality is demonstrated and regularly audited, including alignment with Care Quality Commission (CQC) frameworks to achieve an outstanding rating.
* Regularly provide assurance to the Head of QI and key stakeholders on organisational improvement maturity, including progress against cultural measures relating to improvement.
* Deputise for the Head of QI as required.
About us
Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust geographically covers nearly 6,000 square miles of varied terrain, from isolated moors and dales to urban areas, coastline and inner cities. We serve a population of over five million people across Yorkshire and the Humber and strive to ensure that patients receive the right response to their care needs as quickly as possible, wherever they live. We employ more than 7,100 staff, supported by over 1,300 volunteers, delivering a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency and healthcare service. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice, and we are continuously improving our offer to staff in areas such as health and wellbeing, benefits and flexible working, including hybrid working.
Benefits
* Flexible working including part-time hours, job shares and flexible hours, agile working (role dependent)
* 27 days annual leave, increasing to 33 with service
* Contributory pension
* NHS discounts including shops, restaurants, gyms etc.
* Car lease and other salary sacrifice schemes (salary dependent)
* Dedicated employee assistance and counselling service
* Opportunities for research participation, career progression and ongoing development
* Well respected, committed and supported staff networks
Details
Date posted: 14 March 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year Per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 174-SQIL-110326
Job location: Yorkshire Ambulance Service Headquarters, Brindley Way, Wakefield, WF2 0XQ
Employer details: Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Employer website: https://www.yas.nhs.uk/
Contact: For further information on sponsorship and visa requirements visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
Job description and person specifications
Please see attached Job description and person specification for a full overview of the main responsibilities of the role.
Qualifications
Essential
* Educated to master’s degree level, or equivalent professional qualifications and/or substantial experience in a similar role or setting.
* Qualification in a recognised quality improvement methodology (QSIR, LEAN, Six Sigma) or demonstrated extensive use of QI methodologies in Health and Social care.
Desirable
* Coaching/mentoring qualification
* Adult education trainer qualification
Experience
Essential
* Extensive leadership experience, including within health and social care settings.
* Experience of working within the ambulance sector or other health and social care environments.
Skills
Essential
* Proficient in managing and applying continuous improvement methodologies across multiple levels within an organisation.
Other
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
Additional information: Guidance on criminal records checks for overseas applicants can be found on the UK government website.
Employer details
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Address: Yorkshire Ambulance Service Headquarters, Brindley Way, Wakefield, WF2 0XQ
Employer's website: https://www.yas.nhs.uk/
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