Job vacancy: Programme Lead - Operations, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Chelsea

Job summary

Main area: Admin
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 282-P1866

Employer: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: The Royal Marsden Hospital
Town: Chelsea
Salary: £66,274 - £73,496 Per Annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 17/09/2026 23:59

Programme Lead - Operations

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification

2.1. Lead and coordinate the delivery of major operational growth initiatives across the Private Care division including:

° Capacity assessment, optimisation and expansion programmes

° Mobilisation and implementation of approved operational developments

° Delivery of service improvement and utilisation initiatives

° Implementation of new services aligned with strategic growth priorities

° Development of robust business cases and oversight of approved projects through to delivery

2.2. Develop and maintain comprehensive programme plans, implementation schedules, milestones and reporting frameworks.

2.3. Ensure programmes are delivered within agreed scope, timescales, quality standards and budgetary parameters.

2.4. Manage programme interdependencies and ensure alignment between concurrent workstreams.

2.5. Identify, assess, manage and escalate programme risks, issues and delivery barriers.

2.6. Lead programme mobilisation and implementation, determining and coordinating the programme delivery approach and ensuring successful transition into operational delivery.

2.7. Maintain oversight of programme outcomes and ensure delivery of agreed benefits.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to master’s degree level in a relevant subject, or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of highly developed specialist knowledge acquired through postgraduate study and/or specialist training and extensive relevant experience
Highly developed specialist knowledge of programme and project management, change and transformation methodologies, business case development, financial appraisal, programme governance and benefits realisation, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and significant practical experience.
Evidence of continuing professional development
Specialist knowledge of healthcare operational management, capacity, and demand management, service redesign, workforce planning and transformation within a complex healthcare environment.

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant experience leading complex programmes or transformation projects within healthcare
Experience of business case development and benefits realisation
Experience managing competing priorities across multiple workstreams
Experience of governance, assurance and reporting to senior committees
Experience working with senior clinical and operational stakeholders
Significant experience of managing programme budgets, including budget setting, expenditure control, financial forecasting and variance management.

Desirable criteria

Experience delivering capacity, utilisation or service redesign
Experience supporting private healthcare or commercial service development

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of programme and project management methodologies
Understanding of healthcare operational performance and service transformation
Advanced computer skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to present complex information to senior audiences
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to interpret operational and financial data
Excellent organisational and planning skills
Ability to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
Ability to lead change and drive service improvement
Ability to work autonomously and use initiative

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.