Job vacancy: Senior Transformation Programme Manager, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing

Job summary

Main area: Administration
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract: 1 year (one year fixed term contract)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 354-CO-21809(EC)

Employer: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Portland House
Town: Worthing
Salary: £76,965 - £88,682 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 15/02/2026 23:59

Senior Transformation Programme Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

Engage with key stakeholders, including clinicians, patients, commissioners, and external partners, to ensure alignment of transformation goals and objectives
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, partner bodies, and service users, to gain support and commitment for transformation initiatives.
Responsible for managing and assessing a complex range of data and making informed recommendations which are focussed on outcomes that meet external and internal customers’ and patient needs.
Responsible for mediating and advising in areas where there are differences of opinion.
Use data-driven presentations to challenge existing work practices and beliefs for varying audiences.
To collaboratively determine key performance indicators to enable easy tracking of deliverables by SROs, Clinical Leads, and operational teams.
Design, facilitate and lead project management meetings and regular meetings with other stakeholders.
Produce written documentation, including status reports, information/data/reports as required for Trust and Clinical management at Divisional and Executive level
Lead and influence existing opinions in order to launch and sustain change initiatives.
Lead and mentor a team of project managers, ensuring effective collaboration, communication and professional development

Performance Measurement and Benefits Realisation

Oversee the programmes budget, resource allocation, and timelines, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget
Engaged clinical expertise to drive initiatives that are clinically informed and patient-centred
Monitor and report on the progress of transformation initiatives, providing regular updates to the executive team and board
Ensure that the programme delivers measurable benefits to the organisation. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure that planned benefits are realised and sustained over time.

Human Resources & Financial Resources

Line manager for own staff/ staff of major area of activity
Oversee programme budgets, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within financial constraints. Manage resources efficiently, optimising team performance to achieve programme outcomes

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Relevant Masters qualification or equivalent experience of working as a senior operational or strategic manager in a relevant field
Project or programme management training, qualification or equivalent recognised qualification
Evidence on ongoing CPD activity

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria

Extensive experience in programme management, particularly within the NHS or healthcare sector, with a focus on mental health services
Proven track record of leading large-scale transformation programmes, from concept through to successful implementation
Strong track record in change management, particularly in environments subject to significant policy, regulatory, or operational changes.
Demonstrated ability to work with senior leadership and cross-functional teams
Strong knowledge of programme management methodologies, such as PRINCE2, MSP, or Agile
Experience of managing a team to achieve delivery of planned benefits
Experience influencing staff at all levels to ensure project objectives are owned by all members of the team including users and stakeholders. Evidence of the ability to involve teams in analysis of situation and solution development; persuade teams to take on new ways of working and to constructively challenge the status quo
Experience of budget management
Experience of financial recovery and turnaround, or improving financial sustainability within an organisation
Experience of working in a demanding environment with many, sometimes conflicting priorities.
Experience of working in a demanding environment with many, sometimes conflicting priorities
Experience of successfully developing collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.

In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.