Job title: Programme Manager

Base: Health Innovation KSSs primary place of business is The Beehive, located in Gatwick/Crawley, West Sussex.

Hours: 1.0 WTE / Full-time, 37.5 hrs per week

Salary: £54,000 - £57,000

Location:  Health Innovation KSS work on a hybrid basis. Post holders are expected to be based in, or be able to attend meetings in the Kent, Surrey, Sussex geography.

Reports to: Associate Director – Patient Safety

Direct reports: Project delivery resource and access to a pool of team members if required.

** SUBSTANTIVE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH INNOVATION KSS PROGRAMME MANAGER ROLE **

Job Purpose

• Working as part of the programme and project resource team within Health Innovation, taking a leadership role for a portfolio of programme areas.
• The specific area of responsibility for the role (at appointment and/or as appropriate for individual role holders) will be outlined at Appendix A. Please note that any specific area of responsibility is subject to change, according to future programme delivery requirements.
• Managing a programme which may include some Senior Programme/Innovation Manager or Associate Director involvement.
• Taking a lead responsibility for the organisation and delivery of collaborative learning events in conjunction with Clinical Leads.
• Supporting innovation focused colleagues in the delivery of tailored packages of support to industry.
• Supporting innovation focused colleagues in having a range of conversations with organisations to help deliver the spread and adoption of innovation into practice, developing the innovation eco-system and pipeline.

Making a contribution to income and the income generation pipeline to generate income for Health Innovation KSS to ensure long-term sustainability by:

• contributing to bids or grant applications for funding to support services offered by Health Innovation KSS.
• working closely with innovation focused colleagues in the identification and securing of contracts of tailored packages, in support of industry
• delivering tailored packages of support to industry according to the agreed contract and reporting via ‘consultancy timesheet approach’
• working closely with the appropriate Senior Programme/Innovation Managers and Associate Directors to support and facilitate:

• the development of new service offerings for our stakeholders and ensuring that a clear customer focus is maintained
• the cultivation of existing customer demand through the marketing of existing service provision

• the cultivation of new customers through service development opportunities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• To work closely with the relevant Associate Director(s), Senior Programme Manager(s) and where appropriate, Clinical Leads in the management and delivery of an assigned portfolio, which may include both local and national commissioned programmes of work.
• To create good working relationships with teams in organisations participating in those projects and programmes. Building expertise, trust and commitment to the goals of the projects and programmes.
• To create and exploit links between clinical teams, industry and academia wherever it supports delivery of project and programme goals.
• To horizon scan for examples of innovation within the project areas that can be spread and adopted.
• To make a contribution to income and the income generation pipeline through projects and programmes to generate income for Health Innovation KSS to ensure long-term sustainability.
• To support organisations to adopt NICE Technology Appraisals relevant to the project areas.
• To ensure that any risks relating to the delivery of programmes within an assigned portfolio (including risks to the programme delivering within budget) are managed wherever possible and/or proactively alerted to the appropriate Senior Programme Manager, Associate Director and/or Chief Operating Officer.
• To lead and facilitate meetings with clinical practitioners within and across health, social care, independent and voluntary sector organisations within Kent Surrey and Sussex.
• To identify and make recommendations on developmental needs across teams.
• To identify examples of best practice and solutions that can be shared and networked.
• To participate in data quality assurance audits and peer reviews in provider organisations.
• To work closely with external partners to ensure the provision of appropriate and timely analysis to support the implementation of programmes.
• To support and facilitate providers in the development of metrics and impact measures.
• To prepare reports, briefings and presentations as required and present at meetings and conferences.
• To interpret relevant national policy with regard to service and productivity improvement and ensure appropriate implementation.
• To represent Health Innovation KSS at meetings with NHSI/NHSE and other national bodies as appropriate.
• To work closely with commissioners to support the implementation of Health Innovation KSS objectives.

General responsibilities

• To act as part of 'one team'.
• To promote the values of Health Innovation KSS.
• To ensure effective communications within and between project teams, be involved in and participate in meetings, team briefings, development days, corporate events etc.
• To engage with line manager in regular performance and development reviews against agreed objectives. To be responsible for actively identifying own development needs and committing to a personal development plan based on continuous learning.

Values and Behaviours

Health Innovation KSS has developed a clear vision for the direction of the company. A set of values and behaviours have also been developed and agreed to underpin this vision. Our values and behaviours framework can be found on our Careers site. Applicants and employees will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to these values and behaviours, which will be assessed through the recruitment, selection and appraisal processes.

Diversity and Equal Opportunities

It is the desire of KSS AHSN Ltd (Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex) to broaden diversity within its workforce.

KSS AHSN is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that all new, existing and prospective employees are treated fairly through the principles of equal treatment and promotion of diversity.

This includes:

• ensuring that all individuals who come into contact with the organisation, whether as employees, stakeholders or in any other capacity are treated with dignity and respect;

• ensuring that the opportunities we provide for learning, personal development and employment are made available on a non-discriminatory basis and;

• providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for employees, stakeholders, visitors and others.

Along with the other 14 companies within the Innovation Network, we are committed to a series of pledges to further support the diversity and innovation agenda.

Programme Manager: Person Specification

Education, Qualifications & Training

Essential:

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• Project or portfolio management qualification or equivalent experience

• Evidence of continuous professional development; record of CPD shows strong self-development ethos and learning

Desirable:

• An appropriate professional qualification or Master's degree
  

Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Significant recent management experience in the NHS or other organisation in a relevant sector
• Evidence of effective partnership working
• Proven experience of managing large scale projects or programmes in the public sector
• Managing resources to support the delivery of projects / programmes.
• Financial and performance management experience.
• Experience of working with a range of staff at all levels, including clinicians.
• Experience of clinical transformation projects
• Significant knowledge of the health and/or social care sectors

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking reviews of national policy.
• Experience of providing advice to senior managers and consultants.

Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• Sound knowledge of the NHS, social care, current government policies and change / innovation programmes
• Able to think strategically and analytically
• Ability to develop strong working relationships
• Analysis and synthesis of complex information
• Able to make a contribution to Health Innovation KSS income generation pipeline through innovation programmes
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Advanced IT skills and good working knowledge of IT systems e.g. Excel and Access.
• Drive, energy, enthusiasm and determination.
• Creative and lateral thinker
• Facilitation skills to direct and support teams to achieve change through measurable outcomes

Desirable

• Sound knowledge of the NHS, social care, current government policies and change / innovation programmes.
• Bid writing skills.

Personal Style & Behaviours

Essential:

• Takes a visible lead

• Has a flexible and adaptable approach to work

• Helps others to develop themselves

• Values diversity and looks for opportunities to improve equality

• Acts with integrity and presents themselves as a good role model
• Smart, professional appearance and outlook
• Constructively challenges current practice

Other requirements:

Essential:

• Reliable work record
• Travel, as required, within the KSS patch.

Desirable:

• Possesses a driving licence

Appendix A

Specific responsibilities of this role:

Programme Manager – Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) Programme

In addition to the main Programme Manager Job Description, outlined here are specific tasks related to the focus of the role of Programme Manager ABC Workstream within our ‘Patient Safety Improvement Programme’ workstreams. These are initial specific responsibilities of the role (i.e., upon appointment) and are subject to change, according to programme delivery requirements.

Background:

Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Patient Safety Collaborative (PSC) is part of Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, supporting the delivery of NHSE Safety Improvement Programmes. You will work towards achieving aspects of the NHS Improvement Specification contract and Network Support plan and you will be focused upon leading programmes within that commission, specifically the Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) Programme.

As the Driver Diagram below indicates the current safety improvement programmes of work include Maternity & Neonatal Safety, Medicines Safety, System Safety and Managing Deterioration.

Image1: Patient Safety Improvement Workstreams 2025 / 26

It is well-evidenced that avoidable intrapartum brain injury can have devastating consequences for babies and their families, along with lifetime impacts for health and care services. The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme has its origins in a call for action by the Treasury in 2018 on the costs of litigation associated with avoidable brain injury.

Developed and piloted over three phases spanning 2021-2025, the ABC improvement programme was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care. It has been led by the ABC Collaboration, comprising the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute (THIS Institute). The pilot of ABC3 concluded on 30 April 2025.

Through national implementation we will seek to improve clinical practice, communication and care for women and families, resulting in better outcomes and experiences. The project will help maternity staff improve clinical practice of two significant contributors to avoid brain injury in childbirth:

• detection and response to suspected intrapartum fetal deterioration
• management of the obstetric emergency of impacted fetal head at caesarean birth

For intrapartum fetal deterioration, this includes the implementation of a new Track and Trigger tool that combines maternal and fetal risk factors, real-time observations, labour progress, and fetal heart rate features. This integrated approach supports more timely and effective clinical decision-making, thus reducing the risk of injury to the baby. A suite of training materials and associated tools also underpins the aim of improved multiprofessional team responses to episodes of fetal deterioration.

For the impacted fetal head, this involves the implementation of a training package and structured tool to support improved recognition and management of cases of impacted fetal head.

If successful, the programme is expected to reduce the unwarranted variation in outcomes across England.

By narrowing this gap, it will support the majority of maternity units to achieve outcomes comparable to those currently attained by the highest-performing 20%. The reduction in the number of children born with Cerebral Palsy which could reduce litigation costs by £860 million - £1.4 billion per year.

• As part of the team, you will work alongside a clinical faculty consisting of an Obstetrician and three senior Midwives, and report to the Perinatal Deterioration Operational Group (PDOG) monthly. The PSC will provide clinical, safety, implementation and improvement support to ensure the effective training and implementation of Detecting and responding to fetal deterioration during labour (IFD) and Managing impacted fetal head at caesarean birth (IFH) in line with the ABC approach to all sites in Kent Surrey and Sussex.

Image 2. The specification for 2025/26 focusses on Phases 3 to 7 (highlighted in green below) –

The essential elements for this role are quality improvement and project management experience. You will have experience in delivering QI within an organisation and will perhaps be looking to expand your experience in working across a regional footprint.

Location and skills preference:

• You will cover the whole of Kent, Surrey Sussex geography.
• You will support local clinical teams / systems to drive the spread and adoption of new commissioned improvement programmes across health & social care systems.
• A background of clinical experience or significant interaction with clinicians and health & social care systems is essential for this role, due to the specific focus on clinical improvement and clinical engagement.

Additional duties and responsibilities:

• To deliver a programme of work specifically commissioned by NHS England and within the NHS Improvement Specification contract and Support Network implementation plan.
• Report progress to Patient Safety Lead / Associate Director Patient Safety on a regular basis.
• To support the relevant Clinical Leads with the management and delivery of projects within Patient Safety Improvement programmes across Kent Surrey and Sussex.
• To identify opportunities across all programmes of work within the Patient Safety Collaborative and across the wider Innovation Network Kent Surrey Sussex, where alignment of work ensures more efficient & effective progress.
• To work across other PSCs (primarily in SE region) and other workstream leads nationally ensuring a wide sharing of ideas and resources.
• To be the point of contact and lead for the ABC Programme.
• Be responsible for supporting the delivery of a national programme; planning and delivering specific QI and spread projects and must be comfortable using a range of improvement, scale up and project management techniques to deliver and monitor milestones and outcomes of work.
• Your work will include undertaking diagnostics, supporting small tests of change (for example with PDSA cycles) and supporting teams to use measurement for improvement.
• To deliver regular virtual and periodic face-to-face events supporting our programmes through their improvement cycles eg `Breakthrough Series`.
• To be responsible for contributing to the production of and input to monthly informal and quarterly formal assurance reports; working alongside the Associate Director Patient Safety / Patient Safety Lead, Programme Manager, and Programme Co-ordinator
• To support our communication colleagues in a vibrant communication strategy in cascading case studies and areas of good practice throughout all media channels and input to Futures Platform.
• To participate in the regular nationally workstream lead calls, ensuring KSS is continually aware of national changes / amendments to the commission.
• To support, seek out and identify new innovations and technologies matched to locally articulated needs alongside the Innovation Network Kent Surrey Sussex team.
• To build strong relationships with clinicians across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex for spreading changes & improvements in practice, where appropriate.
• To support building improvement capacity and capability across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex.
• The post holder will have an oversight of programme budgets and where appropriate, processing expenditure and liaising between the programme team and management teams.
• To work closely with the Innovation and Industry team and provide relevant advice to support other Innovation Network programmes as aligned to the ABC programme.
• Supporting ICS Lead Directors with clinical engagement and needs articulation

To apply for this role, you must do so by following the application process (click on the apply button below). You will answer some eligibility questions as well as some which are related to your day-to-day job. After the job closes, our selection panel will review your application answers and CV. It is our aim to manage our recruitment processes in a fair, consistent and unbiased way. Please be assured that your application and CV will be entirely anonymised, until shortlisting has taken place.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 pm on 9^th September 2025.

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which will be a first formal interview. Initial interviews are expected to be conducted remotely, via Teams, on 22nd September 2025.

We love giving feedback, so if you do attend for interview, we will share how well you performed at the end of the selection process.

No Agencies, thank you.