Job vacancy: Programme Director, South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Crawley

Job summary

Main area: Programme Director
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract: Fixed term: 18 months (FTC Subject to Programme)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 278-PD-1026-AS

Employer: South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Nexus House, Crawley (TBC)
Town: Crawley
Salary: £79,504 - £91,609 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 23/11/2026 09:00

Programme Director

NHS AfC: Band 8c

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Programme Director will provide strategic leadership, direction and management of the Guildford Operational Unit Estates Transformation Programme, ensuring the successful delivery of a complex portfolio of estates, infrastructure and operational change projects. The postholder will be responsible for translating strategic objectives into deliverable programmes, ensuring investment delivers measurable operational, financial and organisational benefits.

Strategic Leadership

Provide visible and effective leadership for the programme, establishing a clear vision, objectives and delivery strategy.
Act as the senior responsible lead for the programme, ensuring alignment with Trust strategic priorities and operational requirements.
Advise Executive Directors and senior stakeholders on programme progress, risks, opportunities and strategic decisions.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful programme delivery.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

Programme Management and Delivery

Lead the planning, mobilisation and delivery of all projects within the programme scope.
Develop and maintain comprehensive programme plans, milestones, dependencies and delivery schedules.
Ensure effective governance arrangements are established and maintained throughout the programme lifecycle.
Monitor and report programme performance against agreed objectives, timescales, budgets and quality standards.
Identify and manage programme risks, issues, interdependencies and constraints, implementing mitigation plans as required.
Ensure lessons learned and best practice are embedded across all programme activities.

Estates and Property Development

Lead the development and delivery of new operational facilities, including the planning, design, procurement, construction and commissioning of a new Make Ready Centre.
Oversee estate rationalisation, property acquisition and disposal activities in accordance with organisational requirements.
Ensure estate developments comply with all relevant legislation, NHS guidance, planning requirements and regulatory standards.
Provide strategic oversight of design development to ensure operational efficiency, sustainability and future service requirements are met.
Lead negotiations with developers, consultants, landlords, local authorities and other external partners.

Financial and Commercial Management

Assume overall responsibility for programme budgets and financial performance.
Develop robust business cases and investment proposals to support programme objectives.
Monitor expenditure, forecast costs and ensure effective financial control arrangements are maintained.
Ensure value for money is achieved through effective procurement, contract management and commercial decision-making.
Oversee the management of consultants, contractors and suppliers, ensuring contractual obligations and performance standards are achieved.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Working

Build effective partnerships with operational leaders, clinical colleagues, corporate services, partner organisations and external agencies.
Lead engagement, consultation and communication activities throughout the programme lifecycle.
Present complex information and recommendations to Boards, committees and senior leadership teams.
Act as a key interface between programme stakeholders, ensuring priorities, expectations and objectives remain aligned.

Governance, Risk and Compliance

Ensure robust governance and assurance processes are maintained across the programme.
Lead the development and maintenance of programme risk registers and assurance frameworks.
Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements, including Health and Safety, CDM Regulations, procurement legislation and NHS standards.
Prepare and present reports, business cases and assurance documentation for approval and oversight groups.
Ensure appropriate audit trails, documentation and decision-making records are maintained.

Change Management and Benefits Realisation

Lead organisational change activities associated with programme delivery.
Ensure operational transition plans are developed and implemented effectively.
Define, monitor and report programme benefits and outcomes.
Support the implementation of new ways of working, facilities and service models.
Ensure programme outcomes deliver measurable improvements in operational effectiveness, resilience, efficiency and staff experience.

Leadership and People Management

Lead and manage programme staff and multidisciplinary project teams.
Provide clear objectives, professional support and performance management.
Foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
Support staff development, succession planning and capability building.
Promote wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion across all programme teams.

Key Accountabilities

The postholder will be accountable for:

Successful delivery of the Guildford Operational Unit Estates Transformation Programme.
Achievement of programme objectives within agreed timescales and budgets.
Effective management of programme risks, finances and resources.
Delivery of planned operational, financial and strategic benefits.
Compliance with all relevant statutory, regulatory and governance requirements.
Provision of accurate, timely and professional advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
Maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance, integrity and public sector accountability.

The postholder will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercising professional judgement and leadership in managing complex programmes, significant financial investment, multiple stakeholders and organisational change initiatives of strategic importance to the Trust.

Person specification

Qualifications/ Training

Essential criteria

Master's degree or equivalent experience in Programme Management, Project Management, Construction Management, Estate Management, Property Management, Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Engineering or related discipline. Professional qualification such as MSP Practitioner, PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM PMQ or equivalent. Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable criteria

MBA, ChPP, MRICS, MCIOB, CEng, NEC Contract Management Qualification, NEBOSH Certificate.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Programme Management methodologies, business case development, capital programme governance, financial planning, property acquisition and disposal processes, procurement, commercial negotiations, lease management, dilapidations, contract management and risk management.

Desirable criteria

NHS Estates Assurance Framework, HBNs, HTMs, NHS Capital Planning Processes, Ambulance Service Operational Requirements.

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant senior programme management experience. Delivery of complex strategic programmes. Major property acquisitions and disposals. Estate transformation projects. Financial management of multi-million-pound budgets. Business case development. Executive level stakeholder engagement. Governance and assurance reporting. Managing consultants and contractors.

Desirable criteria

NHS Estates experience. Ambulance sector experience. Healthcare estate programmes. Public sector property transactions. Estate rationalisation programmes. Experience as Senior Responsible Owner.

Skills

Essential criteria

Strategic leadership, programme management, financial management, stakeholder engagement, business case development, governance, negotiation, risk management, communication, presentation skills, influencing and problem solving.

Desirable criteria

Advanced commercial negotiation and investment appraisal skills.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

Strategic thinker, outcome focused, resilient, innovative, professional, collaborative, customer focused, politically aware and able to influence at Executive and Board level.

Desirable criteria

Experience leading major organisational transformation programmes.

Please note that the salary range noted on the vacancy is in line with agenda for change (AFC) pay scales. All successful applicants would be placed automatically at the bottom of the banding, unless proven, relevant NHS or equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

Following the revision of current national legislation (Vaccine as a Condition of Deployment), the Trust has reviewed our requirements relating to staff uptake of the SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination.

Going forward, for patient facing positions, we strongly recommend that new starters will be appropriately vaccinated unless medically exempt in order to offer greater protection against exposure to the virus for front line staff.

In line with this recommendation, if you are successful in your application for a front line post, we will seek information from you in relation to your vaccine status, including exemption status, as applicable.

Please note, all positions come with a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check relevant to the post. This will either be a basic, standard, or enhanced check depending on the role. The level of check will be outlined in the conditional offer letter sent to successful applicants.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to declare any unspent/unfiltered convictions. If you are shortlisted you will then be sent a self declaration form, which must be completed prior to attending interview. for any queries relating to declarations, please contact the Recruitment Advisor listed on the vacancy.

The Trust is passionately committed to being an inclusive employer - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. As an employer we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement networks, facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds.

We actively support equality of opportunity for all our staff and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. The Trust is making progress towards its aim of becoming more reflective of the diversity of our community in our workforce and guarantees an interview to candidates with disability who meet the essential criteria specified. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and disabled applicants and those from other under-represented groups.

The Equality Act 2010 protects disabled people - including those with long term health conditions, learning disabilities and hidden disabilities such as dyslexia. If you tell us that you have a disability we can make reasonable adjustments to ensure that any selection processes - including the interview - are fair and equitable.

We are a committed to offering opportunities to individuals with disabilities and offer on-going support, should you be successful, with any adjustments you may need when performing your role.

When completing the application please use your name as it appears on your passport and please ensure you include email addresses and contact numbers for your referees to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

Please note that under our Trust policies, we're unable to employ anyone under the age of 18 years old.

The majority of our roles will include some travel between sites for business purposes. If the vacancy you’re applying for includes work related travel, you will be required to ensure that you hold and have covered the cost of suitable car insurance to support this.

Should you require an application form in an alternative format including large print or braille, please contact [email protected] stating the vacancy reference number and we will be happy to provide this.

When completing the reference section, please include details to cover the last three years’ history.

Due to the high volume of applications at SECAmb, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, then please assume you have not been shortlisted for interview on this particular occasion.

Please note that we contact all applicants via Trac Jobs and would advise you check your Trac Jobs account regularly.

Please be aware that the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. For this reason we recommend completing your application as early as possible.

Follow our recruitment on Twitter @SECAmbRecruit and check out our Facebook page - SECAmb NHS Recruitment. You can also find us on Linkedin under South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

We understand that AI tools can be useful for generating ideas or structuring your application. However, any content submitted must reflect your own experiences, skills, and understanding. Applications that are generated wholly or in large part by AI, without personalisation or accuracy, may be excluded from consideration. We value honesty, authenticity, and integrity in the recruitment process and expect all applicants to uphold these principles.

If you are a current SECAmb employee, by applying for this position, if successful you will move to the terms and conditions associated with the post. Any unsocial hours payments will be paid under the Section 2 agreement of agenda for change. Section 2 unsocial hours will need to be claimed via your monthly timesheet. More information regarding section 2 can be found in the Agenda for Change handbook and on the our dedicated Section 2 page on The Zone.