Strategic Projects Lead – Neighbourhood Health
The closing date is 21 June 2026
The post holder will play a central role in shaping CUH's neighbourhood health strategy – helping define future models of care, informing investment decisions, and ensuring that learning from pilots translates into scalable, sustainable change. Two roles are available, one focused on the Integrated Urgent & Emergency Care portfolio and the other on the Planned & Proactive Care portfolio, with flexibility to support wider programme priorities as required.
Working collaboratively with senior stakeholders, the Strategic Project Lead will use data and evidence to guide decision making, and lead the design, testing and scale‑up of new models of care, addressing operational, cultural and financial barriers. The post holder will maintain an active awareness of the evolving national and local policy landscape, and any implications for our system. The role requires close collaboration with clinical and operational leaders across CUH and our partners, and offers wide exposure to our executive team and board, commissioners, primary/community care, and regional/national teams.
Main duties of the job
* Have overall responsibility for developing and managing the operational implementation of strategic projects, including the development of the model and implementation plan (including the use of a risk register, escalating issues when required).
* Identify and diagnose strategically relevant issues and opportunities (e.g. through horizon scanning), generating solutions, and iterating with relevant stakeholders.
* Work with Divisional Directors, Finance, Workforce and external partners (e.g. charities) to assess and plan requirements for the delivery of strategies / major projects.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full‑time permanent contract unless you have:
* applied for a Graduate visa
* or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 21st June 2026. Interviews are due to be held on 9th July 2026.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we support good working days through development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, a shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our work programme includes reduced‑cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from the hospital site, free Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites, and free travel to and from Cambridge train station. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 24/7 on‑campus hot food is available at a reduced cost, and we have recently launched staff pod break spaces with free tea and coffee, a break space and a private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Flexible arrangements such as part‑time working, job‑share and flexible start and finish times are also available.
Qualifications
* Educated to First Degree level or equivalent.
* Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist areas.
* Evidence of CPD.
Experience
* Proven experience in senior operational management, covering multiple specialities and pathways. Knowledge of inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic requirements of pathways.
* Proven experience in project management.
* Experience in the development and use of a quality management system.
* Proven experience of managing a team, including appraisal skills, recruitment and selection skills, disciplinary and capability procedures, and workforce planning to ensure service continuity.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Experience in finance, policy and service development changes.
* Substantial proven experience of budgeting on a large scale (revenue and capital).
Knowledge
* Extensive knowledge of strategy and policy within the Trust, region and NHS, including an understanding of tertiary treatment pathways, commissioning of pathways and the future changes Cancer Alliances and networks will bring.
* Knowledge of auditing processes.
* Knowledge and understanding of best practice risk management processes.
* Must have a comprehensive understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
* Comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, and individual provider and commissioning organisations.
* Extensive knowledge of business and activity planning processes.
* Extensive knowledge of risk management processes.
* Knowledge of IT/technology used in a clinical environment.
* Knowledge of research and development.
Skills
* Proven leadership skills at a senior management level.
* Excellent and effective verbal and written communication at a senior level.
* Proven ability to work in an organised manner and to high standards.
* Excellent presentation skills for conveying complex concepts to a range of audiences.
* Excellent attention to detail and the ability to meet multiple and competing deadlines.
* Excellent skills in the use of Microsoft Office applications (including Excel, Word and PowerPoint) and databases.
* Highly developed communication and negotiation skills for delivering key and contentious messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at a very senior level.
* Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.
* Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to service delivery.
* Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and make decisions where opinions differ or no obvious solution exists.
* Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time.
* Financial and staff management.
* Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales.
* Ability to consider the most effective way to promote equality of opportunity and good working relationships in employment and service delivery and to take actions which support and promote this agenda.
Additional Requirements
* The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Reference number: 180-F-CVA783
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