Job Description

***This post is for NHS employees only within Herefordshire & Worcestershire ***
The Programme Manager (Diagnostic Pathways) will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of multiple diagnostic pathways within the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and Acute Hospital Settings. The post holder will be responsible for the strategic planning, coordination and delivery of complex multi-disciplinary programmes to optimise patient access, experience and outcomes.
Working with senior clinical and operational leaders, the Programme Manager will provide expert programme management, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to required quality standards. The role will require effective leadership and influence across organisation boundaries, including primary care, acute services and external partners.
The post holder will have significant autonomy, managing competing prioritises and making decisions to resolve complex issues. They will be accountable for monitoring progress, managing risks and reporting to the Programme board and senior management ensuring all activities align with national and local strategic objectives for diagnostic services.
Main duties of the job
Working collaboratively with lead clinicians and operational managers to define, negotiate and agree the specific diagnostic tests and interventions to be delivered in each pathway and to establish clear evidence based criteria for patient entry. This will involve managing highly complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious information, balancing clinical, operational and financial considerations and facilitating consensus among stakeholders with differing prioritises.
Establish and manager clear and achievable timelines for each element of the programme, coordinating input from a range of clinical and non-clinical stakeholders. Use judgement and negotiation skills to resolve conflicts between competing prioritises to ensure deadlines for delivery are met.
Provide project management guidance and coaching to clinical and operational leads for each pathway. Adapt your approach to meet individuals with varying levels of project management experience.
Generate regular highlight reports that capture progress; key risks; issues, mitigations and any escalations required to the programme board.
Oversee the management of grant allocations to each pathway, ensuring robust financial controls accurate tracking of expenditure and compliance with funding requirements.
Coordinate the submission of returns to the national programme on progress against each pathway as required.
About us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South WarwickshireUniversity NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust.
Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care wed want for our family and friends.
More than 3,000 people work for the Trust they tell us its a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.
We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.
Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential."
Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
Details
Date posted
26 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
55,690 to 62,682 a year pa pro rata
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
229-COR-7502532
Job locations
Hereford County Hospital
Hereford
Hereford
HR1 2ER
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more detailed responsibilities.
The core part of the role is to oversee the successful deployment of the funding received for diagnostic pathway improvement across the four priority pathways. The role however will also be required to support the improvement of diagnostic pathways across the Trust's activities not least in optimising referrals through urgent and emergency care. Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more detailed responsibilities.
The core part of the role is to oversee the successful deployment of the funding received for diagnostic pathway improvement across the four priority pathways. The role however will also be required to support the improvement of diagnostic pathways across the Trust's activities not least in optimising referrals through urgent and emergency care.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in an area relevant to health service management and improvement
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Formal project management qualification (PRINCE2) or evidence of equivalent training

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential

• Knowledge of diagnostics national policy / initiatives and targets
• IT competent in use of MS Office (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to analyse, interpret and report on complex data
• Strong organisational skills, able to prioritise a demanding workload and consistently meet deadlines

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working at a senior level in health or social care in either a clinical or management or service improvement role
• Proven experience of leading a team working across a range of clinical /department/organisational areas and with a range of professionals
• Successful track record of implementing change at a senior level
• Experience of Budget Management
• Experience of planning, allocating and managing work of others in a project setting

Personal Attributes
Essential

• The ability to manage and prioritise workload exercising initiative and independent judgement working to deadlines
• Highly developed motivational, influencing and negotiating skills with proven success
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate effective communication using diplomacy and discretion
• Well-developed presentation skills, able to communicate complex information clearly and confidently to a range of audiences
• Able to work as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in an area relevant to health service management and improvement
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Formal project management qualification (PRINCE2) or evidence of equivalent training

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential

• Knowledge of diagnostics national policy / initiatives and targets
• IT competent in use of MS Office (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to analyse, interpret and report on complex data
• Strong organisational skills, able to prioritise a demanding workload and consistently meet deadlines

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working at a senior level in health or social care in either a clinical or management or service improvement role
• Proven experience of leading a team working across a range of clinical /department/organisational areas and with a range of professionals
• Successful track record of implementing change at a senior level
• Experience of Budget Management
• Experience of planning, allocating and managing work of others in a project setting

Personal Attributes
Essential

• The ability to manage and prioritise workload exercising initiative and independent judgement working to deadlines
• Highly developed motivational, influencing and negotiating skills with proven success
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate effective communication using diplomacy and discretion
• Well-developed presentation skills, able to communicate complex information clearly and confidently to a range of audiences
• Able to work as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

Skills Required