Improvement Programme Manager - Theatres

Improvement Programme Manager - Theatres

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated Improvement Programme Manager to join our Improvement Delivery Team. You will play a key role in driving improvements across our perioperative services, starting with our Perioperative Productivity Programme.

In this role, you will lead workstreams aimed at maximising elective theatre utilisation, focusing on areas such as on-the-day cancellations, standardisation and optimisation of pre-operative assessment pathways, data quality, scheduling, and 6-4-2 planning across both of our hospital sites.

We are looking for candidates with insight into the perioperative pathway a niche area where clinical or operational experience will support the successful delivery of this programme. This is an on-site role, working closely with operational and clinical teams both within LGT and across our place-based systems to deliver practical, hands on improvements that make a real difference for patients.

You will bring strong experience in programme management, improvement methodologies, and data analysis, along with excellent stakeholder management and collaboration skills. The role includes line management responsibilities as well as informal matrix management, requiring a credible and effective approach to leadership.

Proposed interview date: Monday, 23 March 2026 (may be subject to change).

Main duties of the job

The Programme Manager will provide leadership to support the delivery of the Trust's Priority Programmes by embedding a culture of improvement and building organisational capability in improvement, project, and change management.

The postholder will be assigned to a Trust Priority Programme aligned with the organisation's strategic objectives. They will work both as part of a wider programme team and autonomously, reporting to the Programme Director and Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) in a matrix management structure.

The role will support the design, implementation, delivery, and transition to business-as-usual of the assigned programme. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering detailed project and programme plans, including project initiation documents (PIDs)
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement
• Designing and delivering projects using agreed upon improvement and project methodologies
• Risk management and mitigation
• Managing budgets, business cases, and benefits realisation plans
• Providing strategic updates and high level communications to governance groups and stakeholders
• Integrating programme outcomes into business as usual operations

The postholder will also play a key role in shaping a positive organisational culture through role modeling, continuous improvement, and demonstrating the impact of the programme on staff and patient outcomes.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivating a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Job responsibilities

• Provide support with and lead on elements of the design and delivery of a series of specific improvement and efficiency projects and programmes from start to end, ensuring they align with agreed organisational, system and national strategic priorities.
• Deliver projects and programmes using analytical and issue based problem solving, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and improvement/change management methodologies.
• Ensure that clinical, professional and patient engagement is central to the delivery of all project activities.
• Assist in the implementation of standardised improvement, project and change management methodologies across the trust, which will deliver the key priorities outlined in the Trusts improvement and change strategy.
• Ensure systems are in place to enable improvement information to be used effectively by the Trust Board and managers at all levels across the Trust.
• Understand and interpret new strategic targets and policies, both at a national and local level, which are relevant to the Trust.
• Analyse key performance data relating to improvement, identifying areas of poor performance and agreeing an improvement plan with the relevant teams.
• Provide regular progress reports for improvement projects and programmes and ensure learning is disseminated and spread across the Trust to maximise benefit and promote sustainability of change.
• Set up appropriate programme and workstream plans highlighting key deliverables, milestones, roles and responsibilities required.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent ability
• Formal education to first degree level or equivalent ability
• Project management qualification or equivalent ability
• Improvement qualification or equivalent ability
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

• Management experience in healthcare or a transferable environment where change management skills have been required in the post
• Experience in project management delivery with evidence of leading and delivering large scale improvement projects and tangible benefits including financial benefits
• Experience of modelling complex data sets, including financial data sets, and providing clear and comprehensive outputs
• Developing and delivering benefits realisation plans, including financial
• Management of change and improvement and the use of tools and methodologies
• Familiarity with basic IT applications
• Experience in financial management
• Experience of working in a clinical or operational role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum plus HCAS