Job overview
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED VIA ODGERS DIRECTLY. Please copy & paste this link into your browser;
This is a new role, created as a central part of our new operating model, and it sits at the heart of how we will lead delivery across the Trust and deliver our strategy, Excellent Care Everywhere.
We are one of the largest and most complex acute providers in the NHS. We deliver care across seven hospitals on five main sites, alongside satellite and community services, and we are a major trauma centre and tertiary provider for Sussex and beyond. We serve a population of around 1.8 million people, employ approximately 20,000 colleagues, and operate around 1,700 beds. Across the Trust we run six emergency departments, four maternity units, and more than 50 operating theatres, alongside extensive outpatient and diagnostic services. Over recent years, the Trust has made important progress, including sustained improvements in waiting list performance. We need to deliver further, sustained improvement in urgent and emergency care and cancer performance, alongside continued focus on elective access, quality, productivity and flow. These are not short-term challenges, and they require consistent leadership and disciplined delivery.
Main duties of the job
The Chief Delivery Officer will provide clear leadership for our divisions and the four divisional Managing Directors, who will play a central role in driving performance and improvement. Our Managing Directors will also attend the Executive Committee and the Board, ensuring that delivery is firmly connected to our strategy, governance and decision-making at the most senior level.
We are now entering the next phase of our journey. This is about consolidating improvement, strengthening delivery against constitutional standards, and transforming services so that we make the best possible use of our scale as a single, cross-site organisation. It also requires us to change how we lead. We need to be clearer about priorities, more consistent in how we hold ourselves and each other to account, and more deliberate in creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up, learn, and improve. Delivery and culture are inseparable, and both matter if we are to succeed.
Working for our organisation
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 - UHSx Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Sussex is a distinctive and diverse county, encompassing large urban centres, coastal communities, and rural areas, with significant variation in health outcomes, life expectancy and access to services. Alongside our system partners, University Hospitals Sussex has a vital role to play in tackling these inequalities and improving outcomes for the people we serve. This is therefore a pivotal appointment. I am looking for an exceptional, experienced operational leader who can help build and lead a strong delivery team, sustain performance, and lead the next phase of service transformation across the whole Trust. It requires judgement, resilience and credibility, and the ability to work in genuine partnership with clinicians, managers, partners and communities. It is also a role with a clear development pathway. For the right candidate, this is a genuine route to a future Chief Executive role, offering Board-level exposure and the opportunity to lead at scale in one of the largest and most complex trusts in the NHS.
If you believe you have the experience, drive and commitment to help continue our journey of improvement and delivery for the people of Sussex, I would encourage you to explore the role further and to speak with our advisers at Odgers, whose details are included in this pack.
Person specification
Experience & Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Educated to masters degree level or equivalent professional experience
2. Post graduate management qualification or training or equivalent professional experience
3. Evidence of continuous personal, professional and managerial development
Desirable criteria
4. MBA
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
5. Proven track record of operational leadership in a complex NHS organisation at board level
6. Recent experience of operating as COO or CDO in an acute hospital setting
7. Evidence of leading complex change and modernisation relating to improving organisational performance and efficiency
8. Experience of leading organisation cultural improvement and embedding new ways of working within an NHS operational environment
9. A track record of successes in delivering against national and local NHS operational performance targets
10. Background of improving service standards and delivering efficiencies, and value for money
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of working in a commissioning environment
12. Experience of working in a commercial environment
Communication & Relationship Skills
Essential criteria
13. Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
14. Effective and strategic influencing skills at all levels of the organisation including Board and external stakeholders
15. Highly developed collaborative working skills - ability to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and multi-professional staff groups
16. Ability to present complex and sensitive information at all levels both internally and externally
17. Ability to write reports and present at Board level
18. Extensive knowledge and understanding of the NHS, politically astute and able to identify and work with key influencers to deliver a range of acute healthcare services
19. Sound understanding of national health policy and local health initiatives
20. Demonstrable understanding of the Trust’s strategic objectives, financial and management challenges
Skills & Aptitudes
Essential criteria
21. The intellect and interpersonal skills to have the respect of senior clinicians, managers and academics
22. Resilience and perseverance to ensure delivery and implementation of key goals
23. The ability to develop capability and confidence in colleagues, ensuring targets are achieved and maintained
24. The ability to motivate staff in all professions and harness and nurture talent
25. Ability to quickly build clinical and managerial credibility
26. Evidence of a compassionate and inclusive leadership style
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
27. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
28. 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