Head of Programme Management Office | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-profile function at the heart of the Trust’s financial sustainability and transformation agenda. Reporting to the Director of Financial Sustainability, the Head of PMO will provide strategic leadership across the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), wider financial improvement portfolio and PMO function, ensuring robust governance, assurance and delivery of major improvement initiatives.

Working closely with Executive Sponsors, Care Group leadership teams, clinicians and Corporate services, and our Subsidiaries, the postholder will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Trust’s approach to financial improvement, productivity and transformation. The role offers the opportunity to influence organisational strategy, lead complex cross-cutting programmes and further develop the Trust’s PMO capability.

As an experienced delivery leader, you will provide leadership in programme management and ensure best practice assurance standards are applied to successfully deliver both cost and wider improvement initiatives. Further you will act as a central point for problem solving key issues across the organisation that are blocking delivery through the use of structured methods and your own personal influence.

Such methods include establishing and maintaining robust programme management processes (including reporting), supporting key governance forums, facilitating the resolution of strategic issues and interdependencies and providing flexible targeted support to facilitate delivery. The Team is expected to challenge, review and support Managers and Clinicians and be able to influence senior colleagues within the organisation.

Sound financial literacy is an important part of the role and the Head of PMO will be expected to make a positive contribution to the analysis, development and delivery of financial sustainability plans. You will develop close and effective ways of working with other Finance Teams, confidently reflect cost improvement performance in senior governance forums and support the Trust to create a pipeline of realistic and impactful future efficiency opportunities.

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic PMO and Portfolio Leadership

• Lead, develop and oversee the Trust's PMO function, ensuring delivery of a high-quality programme, project and portfolio management service.
• Establish and maintain an effective PMO operating model that supports organisational priorities, strategic objectives and financial sustainability.
• Develop and maintain programme, project and portfolio management standards, policies, methodologies and assurance frameworks across the organisation and ensure consistent application.

Governance, Assurance and Performance Management

• Lead the development and implementation of robust governance, assurance and performance monitoring frameworks across the programme portfolio.
• Provide independent assurance regarding programme delivery confidence, risks, issues, dependencies, benefits and overall portfolio performance.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to Care Groups, Executive Sponsors, Financial Recovery Board, Sub-Committees and other governance forums.
• Provide assurance regarding the effectiveness and deliverability of the Trust's Cost Improvement Programme and associated improvement initiatives, recommending escalation, intervention or corrective action where delivery is at risk.
• Ensure risks are identified, monitored and managed appropriately, supporting organisational decision-making.

Financial Improvement and Benefits Realisation

• Lead the implementation of a comprehensive benefits realisation framework, ensuring systematic tracking, validation and reporting of benefits.
• Work closely with Finance colleagues to ensure financial benefits are demonstrable, sustainable and reflected within agreed financial reports.
• Support delivery of the Trust's financial recovery, productivity and sustainability objectives through robust programme governance, performance management and benefits realisation.
• Provide assurance that programmes deliver improvements without compromising quality, safety, workforce wellbeing or patient outcomes.

PMO Leadership and Organisational Capability

• Lead, motivate and develop the PMO team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
• Hold responsibility for PMO workforce planning, resource management and budget oversight.
• Develop organisational capability in programme and project management through implementation of standards, guidance, training and coaching.
• Promote best practice, innovation and learning across the organisation through effective knowledge management and lessons-learned processes.
• Ensure PMO systems, tools and reporting mechanisms remain fit for purpose and support effective portfolio management.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Lead the development of communication and engagement approaches that promote visibility, understanding and ownership of programme delivery, benefits realisation and improvement outcomes
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders on programme governance, delivery and portfolio management matters.
• Influence, negotiate and challenge constructively to improve programme performance and accountability.
• Represent the PMO function at Trust, system, Regional and national forums as required.

This advert closes on Thursday 12 Nov 2026