Job summary
- Main area
- Group Management
- Grade
- AfC Band 8d
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 234-26-GROUP-CoS
- Employer
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group
- Town
- Norwich
- Salary
- £94,356 - £108,814 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Chief of Staff
AfC Band 8d
Join us at the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
The Group was formed in 2025 to bring the three Acute Trusts in Norfolk and Waveney together into one system with one purpose – better care for patients. It has unified leadership with one Chair, one Chief Executive and one Board, which includes Executive Managing Directors for all three Trusts.
The Group has clearly defined aims to
- Provide great care.
- Nurture a skilled, engaged workforce.
- Enable service modernisation expanding digital use and services.
- Plan the right services and environments and support the development of integrated neighbourhood services.
- Stabilise finances and live within our means.
- Leverage our network and strengthen collaboration with system partners.
- Shape future roles of our hospitals and the pattern of Clinical Services necessary to support them- starting with the needs of our population.
It also has an ambition to build, with its partners in health sciences, education and research, a world class University Hospitals System.
Taken together, our three Acute Trusts – The James Paget University Hospital NHS Trust in Gorleston, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in Norwich (including the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital and Cromer Hospital), have a combined workforce of circa 18,000 people.
Job overview
This is a rare opportunity to join the Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group at a defining moment as it continues to grow and develop after its formation in 2025. As part of that growth and development we are excited to be appointing a new Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, you will work directly alongside the Group Chief Executive, Board and Executive Team, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the largest and most ambitious NHS Groups in the country. This is an influential and highly visible leadership position, offering the opportunity to help drive system-wide transformation, support strategic decision-making and help deliver outstanding care for patients and communities.
The role offers exceptional breadth and impact, combining strategic leadership, governance, performance oversight, programme delivery and stakeholder engagement at local, regional and national level. You will help translate ambition into action, ensuring priorities are coordinated, risks are managed and organisational objectives are successfully delivered.
Alongside the opportunity to influence healthcare at scale, you will benefit from flexible working, excellent NHS pension provision, career development opportunities and the chance to live and work in Norfolk, a region renowned for its quality of life, innovation and outstanding natural environment.
Main duties of the job
The Chief of Staff serves as the critical link between the Group Chief Executive, the Board and the wider organisation. Reporting at the most senior level, the postholder will lead the Chief Executive's Office, coordinate the business of the Executive Team and Board, and ensure that strategic priorities are translated into effective delivery across the Group.
Working across a complex multi-site organisation, the postholder will oversee integrated performance management arrangements, support governance and assurance processes, coordinate high-profile programmes and drive organisational improvement. They will provide expert leadership in managing strategic risks, resolving complex issues and ensuring Board decisions are implemented effectively.
The role extends beyond the Group, requiring close collaboration with NHS England, regional partners, local authorities, system stakeholders and national policymakers. The Chief of Staff represents the Group in politically sensitive environments, build consensus across organisations and influence policy, strategy and service development to support the Group's objectives. As such, we are seeking a highly credible leader with significant board-level experience, exceptional political awareness, strong governance expertise and a proven track record of delivering complex change within large healthcare, public sector or similarly complex organisations.
Working for our organisation
The newly formed Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWUHG) is placing people and culture at the heart of its transformation.
By working as one system, the Group is strengthening workforce development, improving staff experience, and creating consistent, supportive leadership across all three hospitals. This unified approach enables better training, enhanced well-being support, and a stronger culture rooted in compassion, flexibility, and continuous learning.
Focusing on people also supports national priorities—ensuring the workforce is skilled, adaptable, and ready for future models of care—and strengthens NWUHG’s overall performance by improving quality, resilience, and sustainability.
Together, this creates a Groupwide commitment to making NWUHG a great place to work, with clear benefits for staff including:
Flexible working hours
Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
Discounted gym memberships
Generous pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
Support in career development
Flexible staff bank
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Chief of Staff position will ensure priorities remain focused, decisions are translated into action and the Group operates with pace, purpose and accountability. You'll provide strategic leadership across governance, performance, risk management and organisational development.
This is a highly influential role where you will:
Drive delivery of the Group's strategic ambitions, ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated and implemented across all hospital sites.
Lead high-profile transformation, improvement and innovation programmes that support better outcomes for patients and communities.
Provide expert advice to the Chief Executive, Board and senior leaders on complex, sensitive and strategically important matters.
Develop and oversee the Group's integrated performance and assurance framework, ensuring clear oversight of delivery, risk and organisational performance.
Build strong relationships with NHS partners, regional and national stakeholders, influencing policy, strategy and system-wide collaboration.
Ensure effective governance and successful implementation of Board and Executive decisions.
Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Above all, you will help ensure that the Group's vision for outstanding, sustainable healthcare becomes a reality, delivering meaningful benefits for patients, staff and communities across Norfolk and Waveney.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to master’s level in a relevant area of academic practice or has relevant experience within depth additional expert knowledge in specialist areas/subject matters expertise in several relevant disciplines or equivalent experience working at a commensurate band.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive knowledge of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciation of the implications of this on engagement.
- Proven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.
Desirable criteria
- Proven Board level experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.
Skills
Essential criteria
- bility to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership. High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner.
- Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusions.
Attitude & Aptitude
Essential criteria
- Ability to provide and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement in a hostile or antagonistic environment.
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with a commitment to provide equality of opportunity, focused on removing barriers to full participation.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Professor Lesley Dwyer
- Job title
- Group CEO
- Email address
- [email protected]
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