Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8c
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 374-LC6826-A
- Employer
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Cross site
- Town
- Eastbourne
- Salary
- £79,504 - £91,609 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Head of Efficiencies
NHS AfC: Band 8c
We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.
We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.
Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.
Job overview
The Head of Efficiencies is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight, governance and delivery of the Trust‑wide Cost Improvement Programme and associated productivity and transformation initiatives. Working with a high degree of autonomy and accountable to the Director of Strategic Finance and CFO, the postholder will provide expert programme leadership, assurance and challenge to Executive Directors, Divisional Leaders and Clinical Operational Leads to ensure sustainable financial, operational and quality outcomes.
The role leads the Trust’s efficiency delivery function, including direct line management of the efficiency delivery team, and acts as an internal consultant to build organisational capability in efficiency, productivity and project delivery. The postholder will ensure robust planning, performance management, benefits realisation and risk mitigation across a complex portfolio of interdependent programmes, maintaining pace, grip and delivery while safeguarding quality, safety and patient experience.
previous applicants need not apply
Main duties of the job
Lead and oversee delivery of the Trust‑wide Cost Improvement Programme and associated productivity and transformation initiatives, ensuring agreed financial, operational and quality outcomes are achieved.
Provide Trust‑wide oversight of efficiency performance, proactively identifying risks, dependencies and capacity issues, and leading recovery actions where delivery is at risk.
Act as the senior internal expert on efficiency, productivity and programme management, supporting Executive, Divisional and Clinical leaders to deliver sustainable change.
Lead and manage the efficiency delivery team, ensuring effective allocation of resources, high performance and development of organisational capability.
Ensure robust programme governance, benefits realisation, data quality and reporting through the Trust’s PMO and Executive governance structures.
Work closely with Finance and Information teams to validate savings, align delivery with financial plans and support sound decision‑making.
Champion a culture of data‑driven decision‑making, continuous improvement and collaboration in line with Trust values and strategic objectives.
Working for our organisation
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.
Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.
We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to postgraduate level (Master’s degree) or equivalent level of senior experience, knowledge and achievement in a complex NHS or public sector environment.
- PRINCE 2 or alternative Project Management qualification or proven equivalent relevant experience.
- Evidence of sustained and relevant continuing professional development.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of advanced leadership development and/or training in organisational change, improvement or transformation.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant senior-level experience working within the NHS or a similarly complex public sector organisation, with a strong understanding of governance, accountability and organisational decision making.
- Proven experience of leading large scale, complex transformation, efficiency or cost improvement programmes.
- Experience of delivering change across multiple organisations, professions and stakeholder groups, including clinical and executive leaders.
- Demonstrated experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience of using programme and project management systems to control, monitor and assure delivery.
- Strong understanding of service redesign, efficiency and productivity improvement approaches within healthcare.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of system working across an ICS or wider health and care economy.
- Experience of facilitating senior leadership, team development or organisational development interventions.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work collaboratively and credibly across a wide range of organisational, professional and cultural boundaries.
- Specialist knowledge of programme, project and change management within the NHS.
- Ability to provide clear strategic vision and direction, translating strategy into deliverable plans and outcomes.
- Highly developed influencing, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to secure commitment in challenging and contested environments.
- Strong numeracy, financial acumen and understanding of NHS financial frameworks.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lisa Urquhart
- Job title
- Transformation Consultant
- Email address
- [email protected]
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