Role priorities The Programme Director will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic transformation and operational excellence of complex, multi-year programmes that align with the NHSs long-term objectives, ensuring the successful integration of clinical, operational, and technological innovations to improve patient outcomes and organisational performance. As the strategic lead for the programme, the post holder will be accountable for ensuring that all programme initiatives are aligned with broader healthcare policy, regulatory frameworks, and the NHS's vision for service delivery. The Programme Manager will work closely with executive teams, commissioners, clinical leaders, and partner organisations to define, execute, and sustain transformative changes across the healthcare system. This role will be instrumental in delivering large-scale system-wide improvements, balancing strategic imperatives with operational realities, and navigating complex stakeholder landscapes. The Programme Manager will also provide expert leadership to a cross-functional team, setting the direction for programme design and delivery, driving financial performance, ensuring effective governance, and championing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across all programme workstreams. The role is responsible for dealing with, or advising on, highly confidential information and explaining highly complex, highly sensitive and potentially unwelcome information to a wide range of audiences while overcoming significant barriers to resistance. Alongside other members of the ICB, the role will work to develop digitally enabled transformation. Main responsibilities Lead and direct high-profile, multi-year healthcare programmes aligned with NHS strategic objectives, ensuring the successful delivery of transformational changes that improve patient outcomes, enhance service efficiency, and contribute to organisational sustainability. Develop long-term programme strategies and plans that drive systemic improvements and innovation across services. Establish and maintain robust programme governance frameworks, ensuring transparent decision-making, clear roles, accountability, and a focus on delivery of key performance indicators (KPIs) and programme milestones. Regularly report to senior leadership, boards, and stakeholders on progress, challenges, and risk mitigation strategies. Build and sustain collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders, including NHS executives, clinical leaders, commissioners, service users, and external partners, ensuring all parties are engaged and aligned. Manage stakeholder expectations and facilitate effective communication, ensuring stakeholder buy-in and support throughout the programme lifecycle. Oversee the management of budgets, resources, and timelines for all programme initiatives, ensuring cost-effective delivery while maintaining high standards of quality. Ensure the financial sustainability of the programme by identifying potential cost savings, managing budget risks, and working with finance teams to track and report on expenditure. Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate programme risks and issues, ensuring that risk management strategies are developed and implemented. Work with senior leaders and project teams to resolve challenges and make informed decisions that ensure programme delivery on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards. Develop and implement systems for monitoring and measuring programme performance, setting clear targets and using data-driven approaches to track progress. Ensure regular, high-quality reporting to governance bodies and senior management on programme outcomes, lessons learned, and next steps. Provide detailed analysis and recommendations for programme refinement and improvements. Provide visionary leadership to a multi-disciplinary team of project managers, clinical leads, operational staff, and external consultants, ensuring alignment with programme goals. Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, driving high performance, team engagement, and professional development. Champion continuous improvement initiatives, fostering an organisational culture that embraces change and innovation. Identify emerging trends, new technologies, and evidence-based practices, integrating them into programme delivery. Lead the implementation of best practices in project and programme management to optimise service delivery and patient care. Lead the change management process associated with new systems, processes, or services, ensuring that changes are smoothly integrated into existing NHS operations. Provide support and guidance to clinical and operational teams to facilitate the adoption of changes, and mitigate resistance to change through effective communication, training, and engagement. Ensure that all programme activities comply with relevant NHS policies, regulatory requirements, and national healthcare standards, including patient safety, clinical governance, data protection, and health and safety. Maintain a strong focus on patient-centred care, ensuring that all programme initiatives enhance service delivery and patient experience while adhering to legal and ethical standards. As a senior role, the incumbent may be required to take part in ICB on-call arrangements. This role description provides an overview of anticipated tasks and responsibilities it may subject to adaption and evolution as the ICB develops further.