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Job summary

Main area
Executive Director of Quality
Grade
VSM
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
242-4757-LR
Employer
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
NWAS Headquarters, Ladybridge Hall
Town
Bolton
Salary
Attractive Salary
Closing
01/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust logo

Executive Director of Quality

VSM

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet our minimum selection criteria at each stage of the selection process. We will not tolerate discrimination on any of the following: gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, age, disability, working pattern, caring responsibilities trade union activity or political beliefs-or any other grounds.

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of staff from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. We encourage applications from all backgrounds to improve the diversity of our workforce and to better reflect the communities we serve to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place; every time. 

The Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a large number of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications received for our advertisements, we will only contact those candidates shortlisted for interview via email; we aim to do this within 4 weeks of the closing date. If you do not receive the email, it will be that you have not been shortlisting on this occasion. When applying for this position, it is essential that you read the job description and person specification fully. Please use the supporting information space to demonstrate your ability to undertake this role, drawing on your skills, knowledge and experience.

We also offers a range of excellent benefits including a pension scheme, up to 33 days Annual leave (exclusive of bank holidays), training and development opportunities, access to NHS discounts, Car Lease Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, NHS Mortgages and Childcare Vouchers.

 

Job overview

This vacancy will close at 09:00, Monday 1st September 2025

Rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and Ofsted, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year Urgent and Emergency Care to those in need of immediate medical treatment, and where necessary, transport to the most appropriate receiving hospital/centre. As the geographically largest Ambulance Service in the UK, our 8000 staff and volunteers in over 300 different roles serve a population of more than 7.5 million people across Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, and part of Derbyshire. Each year we receive approximately 1.4 million 999 calls, respond to just under 1 million emergency incidents, and make more than 1.4 million patient transport journeys for those who require non-emergency transport to and from healthcare appointments. We also deliver the NHS 111 service across the region for people who need medical help or advice, handling around 1.7 million calls every year.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join our Trust as the Executive Director of Quality, a critical member of our leadership team. Reporting directly to our Chief Executive, Salman Desai, you will be at the forefront of ensuring patient safety as the highest priority whilst shaping the future of our Trust. Your strategic leadership will drive excellence across quality, assurance, innovation, and improvement, ensuring that our services are not only safe and effective but also person-centred and equitable. 

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Executive Team, you will define and deliver a compelling vision for quality governance, patient safety, and compliance, fostering a culture of continuous learning and transformation. You will be responsible for patient safety and effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and provide professional clinical leadership for the Nursing, Midwifery, and Mental Health workforce. You will lead the development of strategic plans to enhance care pathways, address safety risks, improve service delivery, and embed a robust culture of innovation and improvement.

 As an inclusive, creative, and clinically qualified senior leader, you will bring extensive expertise in clinical governance, quality processes, and patient safety. With significant senior leadership experience at or near board level, you will excel at managing change in complex, dynamic, and unionised environments. A skilled communicator and collaborative team player, you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders across the health and care landscape.

The Trust is entering an exciting phase with a recent change in leadership, and the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping a future that places patient safety and quality at the heart of everything we do.

Working for our organisation

Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.
We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.

Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident.

We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  As a member of the Executive Team 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To learn more about us and this exceptional role, please visit our dedicated microsite North West Ambulance Service | or for a confidential discussion, and details of how to apply, please contact our search partners Joanna Riley, Emily Smith, or Emma Pickup at Gatenby Sanderson on 07807 624 332, or [email protected] 

Person specification

Qualifications and Education

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent knowledge through experience.
  • Strong evidence of continuing personal & professional development
  • Knowledge of specialist change management/quality improvement, developed through practical experience, post graduate training or short courses
  • Registered Nurse / Midwife or Allied Health Professional

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to translate strategic goals into effective and achievable operational plans
  • Effective negotiating and influencing skills – ability to effectively manage critical relationships
  • Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and in challenging situations to a range of audiences
  • High level analytical skills with the ability to develop and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to draw appropriate conclusions and drive action
  • High level critical thinking skills
  • Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
  • Intellectual flexibility, including the ability to understand both operational detail and long term strategic vision
  • Innovative and creative – able to foster and nurture change whilst effectively managing risk
  • Ability to cope with ambiguity and perform through uncertainty
  • Planning and organisation to ensure appropriate structures and delivery of work to ensure progress, value for money and assurance.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Up to date and specialist knowledge and experience across the full range of activities and areas undertaken by the post holder.
  • Experience of leading building effective multi-disciplinary teams and networks including across organisational boundaries
  • Experience of managing in a unionised environment
  • Significant experience of leading & implementing major transformation programmes
  • Has business planning, objective setting and performance management experience
  • Proven programme and project management experience

Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Has a visible, inclusive & credible leadership style
  • Experience of successfully driving through change in a complex service delivery and stakeholder environment
  • Excellent relationship development and networking across internal and external stakeholders
  • Strong commitment to promoting equal opportunities and diversity
  • Personal resilience
  • Results orientated – takes personal accountability, is proactive and action orientated
  • Professional integrity – demonstrates and promotes Trust values
  • Meets fit and proper persons requirements, including Board level competencies

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Race at WorkDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldApprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2024ENEI 2024 Gold

Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gatenby Sanderson
Job title
Recruitment Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07807 624 332
Additional information

Joanna Riley, Emily Smith, or Emma Pickup at Gatenby Sanderson, 07921 308766 or by email [email protected]

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