Job Description

Are you an experienced and inspiring senior leader with a passion for improving vaccination outcomes and reducing health inequalities?



We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Programme Director (Band 9) in the South East until 31st of October 2026 (with an expected extension to April 2027, subject to approvals).



Key responsibilities



Provide strategic oversight & assurance of vaccination commissioning across the SE, ensuring safe, high-quality & effective service delivery.



Lead the commissioning & contracting strategy for S7A immunisation services, aligning with national policy & local population needs.

Oversee provider performance management, quality improvement, equity & outcomes - using contractual levers & robust analytics to address variation.

Implement nationally determined programme changes at pace & scale, with clear governance, risk management & benefits realisation.

Lead senior multidisciplinary teams (incl S&I Leads/COVID Vac Prog leadership) & managing significant budgets & contract portfolios.

Build strong partnerships with ICSs, LAs, UKHSA, primary care, community providers & voluntary sector to increase coverage & tackle inequalities.

Use insight, data and rigorous programme management to prioritise, evaluate and evidence impact for patients/public.

Seeking a candidate with:

A proven track record of senior leadership in public health commissioning and/or immunisation programmes.

Strong strategic thinking, ability to influence across complex systems & multiple stakeholders.

Experience of large-scale programme delivery, provider performance management, contracting and financial stewardship.

Commitment to equity, inclusion, co-production & improving outcomes -particularly underserved communities.

High levels of political acuity, resilience, ability to operate at pace.



Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.



Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities



Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential



Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care



Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation



Delivering value for money



Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.



If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.



You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached and other supporting documents.

Secondments



Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.