Senior Programme Manager- Operational Performance

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University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Senior Programme Manager- Operational Performance

The closing date is 28 September 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

Senior Programme Manager- Operational Performance - Band 8C

East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA)

Location: County Hall, Leicester (Hybrid Working)

Band: 8C

Responsible to: Associate Director for Programmes

Lead regional transformation. Improve cancer outcomes. Shape the future of NHS cancer services.

The East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA) is looking for an outstanding Senior Programme Manager to provide strategic leadership for some of the NHS's most ambitious cancer improvement programmes.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead large-scale transformation across one of England's largest Cancer Alliances, working with NHS England, Integrated Care Boards, provider Trusts, clinical leaders and system partners to deliver sustainable improvements in cancer services.

If you're an experienced strategic leader with a track record of delivering complex transformation programmes across organisational boundaries, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Programme Manager, you will provide leadership across a significant portfolio of operational and transformational programmes, ensuring national priorities are translated into measurable improvements for patients across the East Midlands.

Working directly with senior executives, clinicians and national colleagues, you will oversee programme delivery, governance, operational performance and assurance across eight NHS provider organisations and five Integrated Care Boards.

What you'll do

This is a senior leadership role where you will:

• Lead the delivery of complex regional cancer transformation programmes.

• Develop and implement operational performance improvement strategies.

• Translate national policy into deliverable regional programmes.

• Provide executive leadership for cancer performance improvement, including Cancer Waiting Times.

• Oversee governance, assurance, programme risks and delivery milestones.

Key areas of responsibility

You will provide senior leadership across a wide range of strategic programmes, including:

• Cancer operational performance and recovery

• Cancer Waiting Times improvement

• Regional transformation programmes

• Diagnostic and treatment pathway redesign

• Service Development Funding (SDF)

• Strategic planning and business development

• Governance, assurance and risk management

• Expert Clinical Advisory Groups (ECAGs)

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

14 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-8246433-EMCA

Job locations

County Hall

Glenfield

Leicester

LE3 8RA

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

About you

We're looking for an experienced senior leader who can operate confidently across complex healthcare systems.

You'll bring:

• A Master's degree (or equivalent experience) with evidence of continuing professional development. Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to doctoral level are desirable.

• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation programmes within the NHS or similarly complex organisations.

• Extensive knowledge of programme management, governance and operational performance.

• Exceptional leadership, negotiation and influencing skills.

• Experience developing long-term strategic plans and translating policy into delivery.

• Strong financial management skills, including oversight of significant programme budgets.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing organisational change.

• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to influence executive and clinical leaders across multiple organisations.

• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for improving patient outcomes.

Why join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance?

At EMCA you'll join a high-performing regional team delivering meaningful improvements in cancer care for more than five million people.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence regional and national cancer strategy.

• Lead transformational programmes that improve patient outcomes.

• Work alongside nationally recognised clinical and operational leaders.

• Shape innovative approaches to service redesign and performance improvement.

• Build partnerships that deliver lasting change across the NHS.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working.

• NHS Pension Scheme.

• Generous annual leave.

• Excellent learning and leadership development opportunities.

• A supportive, collaborative and ambitious working environment.

Working arrangements

The role is based at County Hall, Leicester, with hybrid working available. Regular travel throughout the East Midlands is required, including attendance at provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and regional meetings. The successful candidate will also work on-site within provider organisations when required to support operational performance recovery, pathway improvement, diagnostic transformation and service redesign.

Make a lasting impact

This is more than a programme management roleit's an opportunity to influence the future of cancer services across an entire region.

Your leadership will help deliver earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, improved patient experience and better outcomes for thousands of people affected by cancer every year.

Join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and help shape the future of cancer care across the East Midlands.

Job description

Job responsibilities

About you

We're looking for an experienced senior leader who can operate confidently across complex healthcare systems.

You'll bring:

• A Master's degree (or equivalent experience) with evidence of continuing professional development. Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to doctoral level are desirable.

• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation programmes within the NHS or similarly complex organisations.

• Extensive knowledge of programme management, governance and operational performance.

• Exceptional leadership, negotiation and influencing skills.

• Experience developing long-term strategic plans and translating policy into delivery.

• Strong financial management skills, including oversight of significant programme budgets.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing organisational change.

• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to influence executive and clinical leaders across multiple organisations.

• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for improving patient outcomes.

Why join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance?

At EMCA you'll join a high-performing regional team delivering meaningful improvements in cancer care for more than five million people.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence regional and national cancer strategy.

• Lead transformational programmes that improve patient outcomes.

• Work alongside nationally recognised clinical and operational leaders.

• Shape innovative approaches to service redesign and performance improvement.

• Build partnerships that deliver lasting change across the NHS.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working.

• NHS Pension Scheme.

• Generous annual leave.

• Excellent learning and leadership development opportunities.

• A supportive, collaborative and ambitious working environment.

Working arrangements

The role is based at County Hall, Leicester, with hybrid working available. Regular travel throughout the East Midlands is required, including attendance at provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and regional meetings. The successful candidate will also work on-site within provider organisations when required to support operational performance recovery, pathway improvement, diagnostic transformation and service redesign.

Make a lasting impact

This is more than a programme management roleit's an opportunity to influence the future of cancer services across an entire region.

Your leadership will help deliver earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, improved patient experience and better outcomes for thousands of people affected by cancer every year.

Join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and help shape the future of cancer care across the East Midlands.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience
• Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to PHD level Evidence of CPD

Communication and Relationship Skills

Essential

• Provide and receive highly complex/sensitive/ contentious information where there maybe barriers to understanding that will need highly developed persuasion, negotiation, reassurance, and empathy skills

Analytical and judgement skills

Essential

• Highly Complex facts or situation that require analysis, interpretation, and comparison to develop strategies, assist strategic objective and ensure team performance/delivery

Planning and organisational skills

Essential

• Developing long term strategic plans for service improvement in new areas

Responsibilities for policy and service deployment implementation

Essential

• Responsible for policy development and implementation across working area and/or organisation where appropriate

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

Essential

• Hold budgets for services, departments, and major areas of activity i.e commissioning services.

Responsibilities for human resources

Essential

• Responsible as line manager for several departments and/or service areas. Responsible for designing and delivering relevant training.

Responsibilities for information resources

Essential

• Develops documents from relevant information

Responsibilities for research and development

Essential

• Undertakes surveys pertaining to own area of work

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience
• Further specialist training or qualifications equivalent to PHD level Evidence of CPD

Communication and Relationship Skills

Essential

• Provide and receive highly complex/sensitive/ contentious information where there maybe barriers to understanding that will need highly developed persuasion, negotiation, reassurance, and empathy skills

Analytical and judgement skills

Essential

• Highly Complex facts or situation that require analysis, interpretation, and comparison to develop strategies, assist strategic objective and ensure team performance/delivery

Planning and organisational skills

Essential

• Developing long term strategic plans for service improvement in new areas

Responsibilities for policy and service deployment implementation

Essential

• Responsible for policy development and implementation across working area and/or organisation where appropriate

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

Essential

• Hold budgets for services, departments, and major areas of activity i.e commissioning services.

Responsibilities for human resources

Essential

• Responsible as line manager for several departments and/or service areas. Responsible for designing and delivering relevant training.

Responsibilities for information resources

Essential

• Develops documents from relevant information

Responsibilities for research and development

Essential

• Undertakes surveys pertaining to own area of work

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) 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 and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) 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 and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

County Hall

Glenfield

Leicester

LE3 8RA

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

County Hall

Glenfield

Leicester

LE3 8RA

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

PMO Officer

Sadia Mansoor

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

14 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

358-8246433-EMCA

Job locations

County Hall

Glenfield

Leicester

LE3 8RA

United Kingdom

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