An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a senior leader to join CUH as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Delivery Director.

This pivotal Band 9 role provides strategic and operational oversight of all programme, project and delivery activity within the CMO portfolio. Acting with delegated authority, you will support the CMO and Executive Team to drive improvements across clinical governance, quality, safety and the medical workforce.

You will be responsible for translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes aligned to the Trust Strategy, leading transformation programmes that impact organisational performance, patient outcomes and regulatory assurance. The role ensures effective coordination of the CMO executive portfolio, enabling timely, high-quality information to support Board‑level decision‑making.

The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a complex healthcare environment, a strong track record of delivering transformation, and the credibility to influence at Board, system and national level.

This is a high‑profile executive role offering the opportunity to shape policy, strengthen professional practice and deliver sustained improvements in quality and safety within one of the UK’s leading academic NHS Trusts.

Main duties

• Develop and implement the strategy, vision, metrics and KPIs for the CMO portfolio.
• Deliver oversight and accountability for delivery of the portfolio management framework, Project Governance Framework, change/innovation and Transformation Programme.
• Provide executive and Board‑level decision‑making support for a range of strategic priorities and policies.
• Act as an advisor, executive enabler and operational lead for the CMO Office and portfolio.
• Support the line‑management of the executive team and manage operative workstreams, including oversight of the budget.
• Implement radical change projects to deliver improvements to quality and safety across the organisation.
• Ensure that transformation initiatives are well‑structured, with established metrics, processes and tools for monitoring performance.
• Influence the Board, system, regional and national bodies on the NHS transformation agenda in line with departmental expectations.
• Provide strong leadership support in the use of data, community insight and evidence to identify risks, opportunities and solutions.

Core responsibilities

• Analyse current and future workforce planning through predictive analytics to meet the broader NHS Strategic Workforce Planning Salient Priorities.
• Provide strategic direction to align the CMO portfolio’s business priorities with the Trust’s core objectives and inspection report outcomes.
• Analyse data at the margin to identify significant opportunities and deliver initiatives to meet the quality, safety and performance objectives of the organisation.
• Lead transformation projects, portfolio risk, governance and business-as-usual.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Medical Officer and the Executive Management Team.
• Act as a voice for the medical workforce, within the wider organisation, supporting workforce planning and the development of workforce capability agendas and the integration of diverse and inclusive workforce principles.
• Champion the use of modern, innovative technologies, including advanced analytics, AI, DataOps, DevOps, use of cloud services and modern software development techniques in all aspects of the CMO portfolio and delivery!
• Develop and enable risk and impact management systems for the portfolio, ensuring the scope of risk and mitigation is understood and reported to Boards and regulatory bodies.
• Understand the area of medical critical incident, quality and safety both nationally and regionally.

Qualifications and experience

• Educated to Masters level in a relevant field (e.g. Business Administration, Health and Social Care Policy) or equivalent experience.
• In‑depth knowledge of NHS governance, quality and safety frameworks.
• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. Governance, Change Management, Quality Improvement, Project/Programme Management).
• Significant executive‑level experience, influencing strategic decision‑making within a large, complex NHS or public sector organisation.
• Experience providing delegated authority and independent challenge to an Executive Director.
• Track record of leading complex, high‑risk, multi‑programme portfolios with measurable organisational impact.
• Experience managing senior teams, budgets and resources, including workforce planning and capability development.
• Demonstrable experience in driving measurable improvement and achieving cost‑improvement programmes.

Skills and attributes

• Highly credible senior leader with a record of executive influence and delivery.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, judgement and ability to synthesise complex information.
• Advanced influencing, negotiation and persuasion skills, particularly in politically sensitive environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including briefing executives and boards.
• Strong programme and portfolio oversight skills.
• Resilience, composure under pressure and ability to make sound decisions in fast‑moving, high‑stakes environments.
• Strong dedication to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent and inclusive leadership behaviours.

Benefits

• Development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries.
• Reduced‑cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital sites.
• Free Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites.
• Subsidised on‑site parking for eligible staff.
• 24/7 access to hot food at a reduced cost on campus.
• Purpose‑created colleague‑only café with free tea and coffee, break space and private outside area.
• Flexible working arrangements, including part‑time, job‑share, term‑time and flexible start/final times.

Legal and sponsorship information

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer details

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Addenbrookes Hospital – Division Corporate, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

Website: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk

Equal Opportunity Statement

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, civil partnership status or pregnancy and maternity status.