Transformation Programme Lead in Preston

Employer Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Preston Business Centre Town Preston Salary £79,504 - £91,609 Per Annum, Pro Rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/09/2026 23:59

Band 8c

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly experienced and motivated Transformation Programme Lead to join the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative, hosted by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Provider Collaborative is central to the delivery of system-wide transformation across clinical, operational and corporate services. The programme is supporting the development and implementation of new models of care across Lancashire and South Cumbria, helping to deliver service recovery, clinical transformation, improved outcomes, reduced health inequalities and more equitable access to care and treatment.

The postholder will provide senior leadership across a number of complex, high-profile transformation and reconfiguration programmes. Working closely with senior clinicians, executives, providers, commissioners, NHSE, regulators, patients and wider system partners, the successful candidate will lead the planning, implementation and delivery of agreed transformation priorities.

This is a senior, autonomous role requiring strong political awareness, excellent programme management skills, and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. The postholder will be a key member of the Provider Collaborative team and will deputise for the Portfolio Director as required.

Main duties of the job

The Transformation Programme Lead will be responsible for leading and coordinating major clinical transformation programmes across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Key duties will include:

• Providing project and programme leadership for one or more large-scale transformation and service reconfiguration programmes.
• Supporting the development, delivery and implementation of agreed transformation plans across the Provider Collaborative.
• Working with SROs, clinical leads, trust executives, providers, commissioners and wider system partners to deliver programme objectives.
• Establishing and maintaining robust programme governance, including programme boards, steering groups, assurance arrangements, risk management, reporting and key programme documentation.
• Leading the production of strategic documents, including business cases, strategic outline cases, funding bids and implementation plans.
• Managing complex interdependencies across organisations, programmes and workstreams.
• Providing expert programme management advice and support to colleagues across the system
• Presenting complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious information to senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Using highly developed negotiation, persuasion and influencing skills to support decision‑making and delivery.

The role requires an individual who can operate confidently in a complex system environment, manage competing priorities, and work collaboratively to deliver high‑quality, sustainable change.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the major acute teaching trusts in the North West of England, providing high-quality services to local communities and specialist care across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

We have around 10,000 fantastic people working together to deliver care for our patients and service users. Whatever your role, you will be part of an organisation that makes a real difference to people across our local area and the wider region.

As a teaching hospital, we are committed to learning, development and improvement. Working with us provides opportunities to build your skills, develop your career, work with a wide range of professional groups and contribute to services that support patients, staff and communities.

This role sits within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative, working across organisational boundaries to support major transformation and service change. It is an opportunity to contribute to ambitious system‑wide programmes that will shape the future of clinical services across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will be responsible for the leadership, coordination and delivery of complex transformation programmes within the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative.

The role will include responsibility for programme planning, governance, assurance, reporting, risk management, stakeholder engagement and delivery of agreed programme objectives. The postholder will work with senior leaders across provider organisations, the ICB, clinical networks, commissioners, NHSE and other partners to support the successful implementation of transformation and reconfiguration programmes.

The postholder will be expected to:

• Lead the planning, management and delivery of one or more large-scale transformation programmes.
• Develop and maintain clear programme documentation, including programme plans, project initiation documents, risk registers, benefits plans, milestone trackers, governance reports and decision logs.
• Ensure programmes are delivered to agreed timescales, within agreed budgets and in line with programme governance arrangements.
• Support the development of strategic and business case documentation, including options appraisals, implementation plans and cases for change.
• Analyse and interpret highly complex information, including clinical, operational, financial, workforce, performance and consultation‑related information.
• Translate strategic objectives into practical delivery plans and operational milestones.
• Identify programme risks, issues and interdependencies, escalating and resolving these where appropriate.
• Support senior responsible officers, clinical leads and executive leads in discharging their programme responsibilities.
• Develop strong working relationships with clinical, operational, corporate and managerial colleagues across the system.
• Represent the Provider Collaborative at relevant programme boards, clinical forums, stakeholder meetings and wider system groups.
• Present complex information clearly and confidently to senior audiences, supporting effective decision‑making.
• Use negotiation, influencing and persuasion skills to secure engagement and commitment from a wide range of stakeholders.
• Lead and support programme team members, including line management, appraisal, development and deployment of resources.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative and improvement‑focused working culture.
• Champion the interests of patients and the public, ensuring that transformation programmes support improved outcomes, access and quality of care.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, guidance, protocols and programme management approaches to support effective delivery.
• Work with finance, workforce, communications, PMO and partner organisation colleagues to ensure programmes are planned and delivered effectively.
• Ensure that benefits, milestones, risks and interdependencies are reported clearly through the relevant governance routes.

The postholder will be required to work with significant autonomy, exercise sound professional judgement, and manage a demanding and dynamic portfolio of work. The role requires resilience, strong interpersonal skills, excellent written and verbal communication, and extensive experience of leading major change within a health and care environment.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• Good overall educational preparation
• Formal high-level project‑management qualification, or equivalent experience in programme delivery or a PMO‑type role
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Formal leadership qualification

Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrable, recent senior‑management experience in a healthcare organisation
• Wide‑ranging experience of leading major change initiatives through to successful delivery against quality, cost and timescale requirements
• Considerable experience of managing significant change and developing services in difficult or sensitive environments involving conflict
• Recognised expertise in clinical transformation and improvement of clinical services
• Knowledge of the policy context relevant to the commissioning and provision of clinical services
• Experience of working within provider collaboratives
• At least five years’ experience of working within an NHS transformation PMO
• Knowledge of the latest national Provider Collaborative and system‑reform policy agenda
• Extensive, in‑depth knowledge and experience across relevant areas, including finance, people management and programme management

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.

AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real‑life situations. Share work‑related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work‑life balance.

Secondments

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one‑off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working. This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites.

NO UNSOLICITED ADVERTISING COMPANY APPROACHES