Job Description
Director of Midwifery & Deputy Chief Nurse
Location: Cambridge
Contract: Interim / Locum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Pay Rates (Umbrella): Weekdays: £72.00 per hour - Saturdays & Nights: £90.00 per hour - Sundays & Bank Holidays: £105.00 per hour
Sanctuary Personnel is recruiting an experienced Director of Midwifery & Deputy Chief Nurse to take on a senior leadership role within a large, high-performing NHS maternity service in Cambridge.
This is a critical executive-level opportunity for an accomplished midwifery leader with a strong background in maternity transformation, clinical governance, and system-wide collaboration.
About the Role
As Director of Midwifery & Deputy Chief Nurse, you will provide strategic, professional, and operational leadership across maternity services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, women-centred care across hospital and community pathways. You will act as the professional lead for midwifery, an advocate for women and families, and a senior advisor to executive leadership.
The role includes deputising for the Chief Nurse, holding a corporate portfolio, and leading on key priorities such as workforce strategy, inclusivity, quality improvement, and national maternity safety initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide strategic leadership for maternity and midwifery services across acute and community settings
* Act as the professional lead for all midwifery practice, standards, and workforce development
* Lead maternity transformation programmes aligned with national NHS policy and safety frameworks
* Ensure delivery of high standards of clinical governance, risk management, and patient experience
* Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and staff wellbeing across midwifery services
* Lead on implementation of national initiatives including CNST Maternity Incentive Scheme and Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle
* Represent the organisation at regional and national forums, including Integrated Care System partnerships
* Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion across nursing and midwifery professions
* Deputise for the Chief Nurse as required on internal and external priorities
Essential Requirements
* Registered Midwife with active NMC registration
* Educated to Master’s level or equivalent senior leadership experience
* Significant senior leadership experience within maternity or women’s health services
* Proven experience working at Trust, regional, or national level
* Strong knowledge of NHS maternity policy, clinical governance, and workforce strategy
* Demonstrable experience leading large, complex teams and service transformation
* Ability to influence at executive level and across multi-agency systems
Working with Sanctuary Personnel:
Sanctuary Personnel is an award-winning recruitment agency specialising in Social Work jobs across the UK. With an ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating from over 1,000 reviews, we are committed to matching skilled professionals with roles that reflect their experience, goals, and long-term career aspirations.