Chief Executive in Carlisle

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead Cumbria Health into the future. This is a pivotal role, providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and financial stewardship. You will shape the organisation's future, foster a values-led culture, and ensure Cumbria Health remains a credible, high-performing partner within the health and care system.

The Chief Executive is the Accountable Officer for the organisation and is responsible for overall leadership, strategic direction, operational management, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance, working closely with the Board to ensure objectives are achieved. They will be a visible, inclusive and collaborative leader, delivering the organisation's vision for high standards of compassionate care and excellent patient and employee experience; leading effective leadership teams; and building a values-based, high-performance culture.

Main duties of the job:

• Define and deliver Cumbria Health's strategic vision and Road Map.
• Drive sustainable growth and diversification of services.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Executive Team and organisational culture.
• Champion clinical quality, safety, and governance.
• Ensure financial resilience and value for money.
• Build strong relationships with partners across the IC and beyond.
• Promote continuous improvement and innovation in patient and staff experience.

All staff are expected to work to Cumbria Health Values:

• Clinically focused - Everything every one of us does is for the patient
• Responsive - We listen, and we respond quickly in a patient-focused way
• One Team - We work together to provide a high-quality service which is organised and consistent, and in partnership with both the local Acute and Community Trusts
• High Standards - We provide skilled professionals working to the highest standards who are passionate about improving patient care
• Growth & Sustainability - With our strong roots we will continue to thrive and grow
• Communities - Connecting and engaging to meet local needs

About us:

Cumbria Health places the patient, their family and their community at the heart of everything we do. We are an award-winning organisation, the first out-of-hours organisation in the country to be rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We provide primary health care services, both in and out of hours, across Cumbria. We are values-driven and place great emphasis on inclusivity and the wellbeing and development of our staff, while striving to provide a consistently high-quality service. Our service is designed to improve health and wellbeing.

Working for CH can offer flexible opportunities in terms of location, hours and working patterns so you can enjoy a great work-life balance. In order to provide the best patient care we understand the importance of ensuring staff satisfaction and are consistently trying to ensure we offer our staff a positive working environment whether that be through training or social events.

Job responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Define and set the future strategy and roadmap for Cumbria Health. Translate strategy into a credible, deliverable plan owned by the Executive Team, understood by staff, and aligned with ICB priorities, place partnerships, and population health ambitions. Ensure alignment with partners and system objectives.
• Growth, Income & Diversification: Drive sustainable growth via business development, partnership working, and diversification of services and offerings. Lead development of new income streams to support long-term sustainability.
• Executive Team Development: Shape the capability and culture of the Executive Team. Promote organisational development, including succession planning and leadership development. Build a high-performing, accountable team.
• Culture & Organisational Development: Foster a values-led leadership approach, promoting psychological safety and visible leadership presence. Embed a culture of openness, professionalism, and continuous improvement. Ensure data transparency and learning are integral to everyday working. Create an environment that encourages energy, optimism, and discretionary effort making work enjoyable.
• Clinical Quality, Safety & Governance: Champion a strong culture of quality and risk management. Take visible ownership of learning from incidents and patient harm. Ensure robust governance and compliance with regulatory standards. Operate within financial constraints while investing for future sustainability. Drive value for money and ensure financial resilience.
• External Engagement & Reputation: Build the CH reputation as a credible, confident, and constructive system partner and high-quality provider. Develop and maintain influential relationships with the ICB, NHS providers, local authorities, the voluntary and community sector, commissioners and partners. Embed improvement across quality, productivity, patient and staff experience, and innovation. Support teams to challenge the status quo and test scalable approaches.
• Leading a strong organisation: Develop a common understanding of the vision and strategic aims, setting strategic direction with the executive and clinical leadership teams to deliver services that reflect local population needs. Foster a positive organisational image and reputation through appropriate leadership strategies. Work alongside the Chair to support a highly-functional Board. Monitor and review the performance of leadership teams and divisions to optimise quality patient care and meet performance targets. Determine organisational structure and management processes for effective operation.
• Leading strong collaboration with partners: Act as a strong advocate for the organisation and ensure close working with ICB partners. Shape and deliver a clear five-year plan for improving and sustaining local services with partners across health and social care. Contribute to developing the IC and exemplify integrated care models within the NHS. Ensure statutory responsibilities of financial probity are met, and that budgeting and financial systems are sound, with targets met. Agree service level agreements and frameworks with providers and partners in the interests of quality patient care. Lead or contribute to negotiations on major contracts and new ventures to ensure realism and alignment with strategic plans. Ensure governance arrangements are fit for purpose, funds are used appropriately, and services are delivered sustainably within an agreed financial envelope.
• Organisational development and change: Design and implement structures, processes, and a culture that embrace partner diversity, while optimising workforce utilisation to ensure delivery of high-quality services. Lead core values and behaviours to secure a professional yet friendly culture. Create a climate that encourages teamwork and enables all to contribute to their full potential. Mainstream diversity, equality, and inclusion in everyday work. Promote a culture of learning and improvement, where employees are supported, empowered, and encouraged to raise concerns.
• Quality and safety: Provide strategic and operational leadership with quality and patient safety at the core. Uphold and maintain quality and safety standards. Meet statutory responsibilities for clinical governance, infection control, and compliance with CQC standards. Develop quality services for optimal patient care and improve patient experience.
• Performance: Respond appropriately to national NHS and Government objectives to remodel and enhance service delivery and improve performance. Identify KPIs on quality, cost, and activity to direct and monitor performance. Deliver operational objectives, targets, and results against KPIs. Secure efficiencies through transformation and effective use of systems and processes. Prepare timely performance reporting (annual report and accounts, and other key documents) to meet national targets and standards. Ensure risk assessment and controls assurance across the organisation, with total risk aligned to risk appetite. Maintain compliance with statutory and policy requirements. Develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across the health economy; build a positive image through responsive internal and external communications. Serve as the organisation's representative in public and professional forums, demonstrating transparency and integrity.

Person Specification:

• Visible and approachable leader who actively engages with staff and communities.
• Team player with high integrity and resilience.
• Enthusiastic, adaptable, and committed to Cumbria Health values.
• Excellent time management and ability to work under pressure.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to travel between sites and across the county.
• Driving licence and access to own vehicle.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours when required.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Comprehensive understanding of the health and care sector.
• Experience of leading large, complex teams.
• Board-level experience in a healthcare or public sector organisation.
• Proven track record of delivering strategic objectives and organisational change.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of working within an Integrated Care System (ICS) or similar collaborative environment.
• Experience of leading organisational transformation programmes.

Qualifications, Skills and Aptitudes:

• Credible and visible leader with excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning ability.
• Skilled in improvement methodologies and performance management.
• Ability to build partnerships and maintain stakeholder confidence.
• Financial acumen and ability to manage complex budgets.
• Innovative and forward-thinking approach to service delivery.
• Ability to harness digital and data for improvement.
• Skilled negotiator in complex multi-agency settings.

Other factors:

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Commitment to safeguarding and patient safety.
• Willingness to undertake continuous professional development.
• Experience of representing the organisation at regional or national level.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name: Cumbria Health

Address: Cumbria Health, 4 Wavell Drive, Rosehill Industrial Estate

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Depending on experience - Competitive + NHS Pension