At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative efficiency programmes across the NHS for impactful change.
- Company: Join Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, a top-rated employer.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Extensive NHS leadership experience and relevant financial qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 112782 - 129783 £ per year.
We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations. Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.
Main area: Administrative and Clerical
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 409-S8101570
Site: No.1 Lakeside Town Warrington
Salary: £112,782 - £129,783 per annum
Closing: 14/08/2026 23:59
Interview date: 27/08/2026
After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website.
Job overview:
Band 9 | CMPC Provider Collaborative (Cheshire & Merseyside)
Reporting to: Managing Director
CMPC are seeking an experienced Programme Director to lead the Efficiency at Scale Programme across the CMPC Provider Collaborative. We are looking for a candidate with extensive NHS leadership experience and a strong track record of delivering large-scale transformation, financial improvement, and system-wide collaboration. This is a high-profile, system leadership role responsible for driving sustainable financial improvement, productivity, and value for money across Cheshire and Merseyside.
About the Role:
As Programme Director, you will provide strategic leadership for a complex, multi-organisational programme, overseeing the design, alignment and delivery of large-scale efficiency and productivity initiatives. You will work closely with Chief Executives, Chief Finance Officers and senior system leaders to ensure delivery of financially robust, operationally achievable and sustainable changes. You will act as the senior interface with regional and national partners, ensuring alignment with NHS policy, financial planning guidance and wider system priorities.
Main duties of the job:
- Lead the development and delivery of the Efficiency at Scale Programme across the provider collaborative
- Drive system-wide improvements in productivity, procurement, commercial strategy and value for money
- Provide executive leadership for financial transformation, contract optimisation and benefits realisation
- Oversee large-scale savings programmes, ensuring robust governance, financial assurance and measurable outcomes
- Build strong partnerships across providers, ICS, and national teams
- Present programme progress and financial impact to Boards and senior stakeholders
- Embed a culture of financial accountability, continuous improvement and innovation across the system
About You:
This role requires an exceptional leader with credibility at the most senior levels of the NHS. Essential requirements include:
- Extensive senior leadership experience within the NHS, including working across complex systems and multiple organisations
- A relevant professional financial or procurement qualification (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, MCIPS or equivalent)
- A proven track record of delivering large-scale transformation and efficiency programmes in acute or system-wide settings
- Significant experience in financial management, procurement, commercial strategy and contract optimisation
- Demonstrable ability to influence at Board level and work effectively with Chief Executives, Chief Finance Officers and Executive Directors
- Strong strategic, analytical and leadership skills, with experience delivering results in politically complex environments
Qualifications:
- Degree in Management held or qualified by equivalent experience
- Educated to Masters level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience
- Relevant professional financial or procurement qualification (e.g. MCIPS, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
- Significant evidence of continued professional development towards Board level in a specialist area
Knowledge:
- Extensive experience of delivering quality services within a complex acute setting.
- Demonstrable track record of successful change management achievements, including evidence of successful programme leadership of wide scale acute healthcare programmes
- Significant experience in procurement, commercial strategy and contract optimisation
- Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating financial and commercial optimisation.
- Demonstrable senior governance experience involving system working or across multiple organisations and multiple programmes
- Proven experience of identifying and building successful and positive relationships.
- Experience of complex negotiations with senior stakeholders
- Evidence of successfully leading highly skilled senior multi-disciplinary professionals.
- Experience of developing effective performance through people.
- Evidence of understanding of health and care management, governance, risk, operational and legal structures, and their application.
- Significant experience of working collaboratively within a health and care setting including with commissioner and primary care partners
- Experience of working with Chief Executives and Executive Directors across multiple organisations, effectively influencing the direction of strategy across a regional footprint
- Knowledge and a clear understanding of the background to, and aims of the current healthcare policy, particularly related to finance, governance and procurement regulations
- Experience of interpreting and applying national healthcare guidance
Skills:
- Ability to analyse, disseminate and present complex information, using both verbal and written disciplines.
- Extensive experience of delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders in often pressured and politically sensitive environments.
- Ability to prioritise conflicting programme priorities and maintain momentum.
- Ability to analyse highly numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate initiatives
- Outcome focussed demonstrating a passion for 5 Star patient centred care.
- Knowledge and understanding of the context of healthcare nationally and globally. NHS strategy and policy in particular related to integrated care systems
- IT literate to high standard.
- Understanding of the principles within the NHS sector.
Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification.
The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager.
Flexible Working:
We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that all employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
Working for Team MWL:
Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.
The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.
You will be expected to undertake the Trusts' commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team MWL very soon.
Programme Director - Efficiency at Scale in Warrington employer: Merseywestlancs
At St Helens Hospital, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our Therapy Assistants. Our commitment to professional development ensures that you will have ample opportunities to grow your skills while making a meaningful impact on patient care. With a focus on teamwork and collaboration, you'll be part of a dedicated team that values diversity and fosters innovation in rehabilitation services.
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