Job Description

NHS Elect has been delivering support across the health service for more than 20 years, through our membership model, improvement networks and consultancy programmes. We fully understand the challenges faced by our healthcare colleagues and are uniquely positioned within the NHS to work in partnership to deliver cost-effective, sustainable outcomes that make a real difference to patients and staff. We operate across the UK and beyond, with clients at a local, regional and national level.
What we are looking for:
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the organisation for an Associate Director (Band 8B). The post holder will work in the Improvement Network division of NHS Elect. The Associate Director will work in the measurement team, under the director for measurement, responsible for a wide portfolio of work across the organisation, with a focus on measurement for improvement and capacity and demand.
Main duties of the job

• Responsible for providing support to organisations within a complex portfolio within the expert areas of expertise across the network ' of multi site systems. Employing a high degree of strategic awareness and an ability to read an work with local organisational cultures is essential.
• Lead the successful co-design, improvement and implementation of support programmes.
• Postholder will be responsible for creating and maintaining a positive working relationship with colleagues within the team, across the organisation and with external stakeholders when relevant.
• Working closely with NHS Elect team colleagues to co-design and deliver support programmes in line with organisational objectives.
• To embed a culture of continuous improvement to attract, develop and retain the best staff to enable the delivery of high quality clinical services.
• The post holder will need to be able to understand the intention so board level sponsors to reflect them in the work NHS Elect does for organisations across the network.
• The role will be highly autonomous and the post holder will have a high level of freedom to act independently, assessing customer needs to design and deliver support programmes that align with the organisational needs with expert knowledge of OD interventions, an ability of diagnose appropriate interventions based on organisational context and an ability to use personal presence and interpersonal skills to maintain an adult learning environment.

About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Details
Date posted
27 October 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
64,455 to 74,896 a year pa inclusive
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
290-CR-967
Job locations
Remote working
London
W2 1NY
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the attachment with the job advert. Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development or equivalent experience.
• Educated to postgraduate degree level or equivalent experience.
• Management leadership or research qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Formal training in an adult learning discipline such as coaching or Organisational devilment
• Attained or working towards a Masters level qualification

Experience
Essential

• Leading the measurement and/or capacity and demand components of a national programme.
• Experience in QI coaching at a Senior Management level.
• Experience of presenting at national conferences.
• Demonstrable experience of publishing abstracts
• Ability to lead, engage and motivate multi-disciplinary teams from bands 2-7 in training
• Experience of line management of front line staff in the NHS from bands 2-7
• Experience of using virtual platforms eg Teams, Zoom, for delivery of workshops and meetings online
• Experience of designing and delivering adult learning workshops
• Experience of working across and NHS wide network
• Working at a senior level at band 8b
• Expert in nationally recognised improvement methodology programmes

Desirable

• Q Community member

Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential

• Expert knowledge of measurement for improvement
• Expert in delivering Capacity and demand workshops
• Expert in working with large datasets
• Expert in MS Access, Excel and Minitab
• Expert in research methods
• Expert knowledge in at least one the NHS Elect membership offer areas of expertise; career Planning, coaching and mentoring, customer care, facilitating groups and teams, leadership development, organisational development, quality and service improvement, staff welling, strategy and systems.
• Service improvement experience
• Analyse complex information to make operational decisions

Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development or equivalent experience.
• Educated to postgraduate degree level or equivalent experience.
• Management leadership or research qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Formal training in an adult learning discipline such as coaching or Organisational devilment
• Attained or working towards a Masters level qualification

Experience
Essential

• Leading the measurement and/or capacity and demand components of a national programme.
• Experience in QI coaching at a Senior Management level.
• Experience of presenting at national conferences.
• Demonstrable experience of publishing abstracts
• Ability to lead, engage and motivate multi-disciplinary teams from bands 2-7 in training
• Experience of line management of front line staff in the NHS from bands 2-7
• Experience of using virtual platforms eg Teams, Zoom, for delivery of workshops and meetings online
• Experience of designing and delivering adult learning workshops
• Experience of working across and NHS wide network
• Working at a senior level at band 8b
• Expert in nationally recognised improvement methodology programmes

Desirable

• Q Community member

Skills/Knowledge/ Abilities
Essential

• Expert knowledge of measurement for improvement
• Expert in delivering Capacity and demand workshops
• Expert in working with large datasets
• Expert in MS Access, Excel and Minitab
• Expert in research methods
• Expert knowledge in at least one the NHS Elect membership offer areas of expertise; career Planning, coaching and mentoring, customer care, facilitating groups and teams, leadership development, organisational development, quality and service improvement, staff welling, strategy and systems.
• Service improvement experience
• Analyse complex information to make operational decisions

Skills Required