Improvement Lead

Job overview

Improvement Lead

Department Transformation

Band 8b £62,215 - £72,293 Per annum

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

This post is not Remote or Part-time

Previous applicants that have applied in the last 3 months need not apply

Do you have significant experience of leading transformation in large and complex environments? Have you implemented LEAN or other improvement methodologies?

We are looking for a proactive and experienced Improvement Leads, with a passion for transforming services to work in our busy and fast-paced Transformation team at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS FT – a critical function in supporting the Trust to respond to national operational and financial pressures.

Whilst delivering our longer-term strategic ambitions, you will be responsible for delivering our Transformation programme as a senior transformation and programme manager adept at delivering and communicating ambitious change programmes at all levels. You will be responsible for finding and contributing to new ways of working to deliver cost and quality improvement, be used to working in a complex system, managing sensitive issues and competing priorities.

If you have a track record in delivering service innovation/transformation and working at scale to deliver high quality programmes, we would be interested to hear from you.  For an informal discussion please contact [email protected]

Interview  w/c 28 April  2025

Main duties of the job

'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'

As an Improvement Lead, you will work collaboratively with senior leaders within the hospital, the broader health and care system and with regional and national organisations

The Improvement Lead will lead on improvement, efficiency and transformation projects to enable the delivery of services that are efficient and productive outcomes.

They will lead in the delivery of projects within the overarching MKUH Transformation programme, working across the Trust (and with the system partners, as required) to ensure that improvement is driven, embedded and supported by the Divisions and Directorates.

They will help develop, implement and monitor robust change management processes, advising, coaching and training others and building constructive relationships with Divisional staff, to help build and maintain the positive momentum of their transformation projects.

The post holder will also be responsible for supporting a culture of innovation and improvement across the Trust through regular sharing of ideas and best practice along with ensuring effective implementation. Thus, enabling and promoting the Trust’s collaborative working arrangements to provide the innovative and exceptional standards of patient care and experience the Trust is striving to consistently provide.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Leading a process of robust programme / project planning that engages effectively with key stakeholder groups and encourages ownership, buy-in and commitment to key activities and timescales for delivery;
• Identification of opportunities through a range of approaches including the use of benchmarking data, review of financial data, networking with peers in other local and national NHS organisations and close liaison with operational and clinical teams;
• Delivering complex cross cutting programmes of significant value in terms of quality and cost improvement . This might be across the ‘system’ and involve working across health and social boundaries
• Analysis of complex financial and activity data to understand and identify opportunities for operational change;
• Facilitating operational and clinical managers in the identification and implementation of operational/ clinical improvements;
• Driving the development, implementation and tracking of the projects;
• Operating within the governance and quality arrangements of the programme;
• Maintaining an effective risk and issue and dependencies management framework and supporting processes (including ensuring that all mitigating actions are being carried out to reduce the level of risk and likelihood of issues arising);
• Coordinating the delivery of work programme activities and their interdependencies to increase effectiveness and efficiency;
• Proactively monitoring and controlling programme delivery, overseeing the production of regular progress reports and ensuring consistent and effective communication relating to the status of the programme to key stakeholder groups and meetings;
• Leading change projects / schemes to best practice project and Transformation team standards; Please refer to Job Description for further details

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system.  Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.   This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing  employment  with  the  Trust,  all  employees  (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are  subject  to  a probationary period lasting  a  period  of  six  months  with  an  option  to extend  for  a  further  six  months  to  a total of  12 months.