Chief Delivery OfficerNHS

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is one of the largest NHS organisations in the country, with more than 30,000 colleagues, a turnover of over £3 billion and services spanning 10 hospitals, community health services and adult social care across Manchester and Trafford.

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Delivery Officer to join our Board and Executive Team at a pivotal time for MFT and the wider NHS. Reporting directly to the Trust Chief Executive, you will lead our delivery agenda, translating strategic ambition into measurable and sustainable improvements in operational performance, patient access, productivity and outcomes.

Few roles offer the opportunity to influence care and delivery on this scale. You will shape how one of the NHS's largest and most complex organisations operates, strengthening accountability and organisational oversight while sponsoring major transformation programmes including Care on Time and Care Closer to Home. Working with clinical and operational leaders, you will help MFT deliver consistently high-quality services and make the greatest possible difference with the resources available to us.

Main duties of the job

As Chief Delivery Officer, you will provide executive leadership for operational performance, transformation, patient access, productivity and continuous improvement across MFT. You will lead the Trust's Delivery Oversight Framework and Delivery Unit, using performance insight, analytical capability and targeted intervention to strengthen accountability, manage risk and accelerate improvement.Your portfolio will include delivery of the Annual Plan and key performance trajectories, the MFT Coordination Centre, the Corporate Cancer Team, the Trafford Elective Hub and emergency preparedness, resilience and response. You will sponsor the Care on Time and Care Closer to Home programmes and lead the development of improvement capability through MFT's Improvement Academy and Faculty, supporting the ambition to embed a culture of continuous improvement.We are looking for a highly experienced NHS leader with substantial senior operational leadership experience gained within a large, complex healthcare organisation. You will combine strategic vision with operational grip, sound judgement and a strong record of delivering performance, transformation and improvement at scale.If our Trust and this role is of interest to you and would like to learn more to see if this is the next and best move in your career, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation in confidence.

Closing date for applications - Sunday 15th November 2026

Job description

On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about MFT and full details of the role. We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application. In order to apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria. For more information, including details of how to apply, please visitwww.odgers.com/97048.

About us

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester is the largest health academic campus in Europe. We are an ambitious organisation, serving over 1 million patients and users annually through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are a driving force for innovation, clinical excellence, and system leadership across Greater Manchester.

As a senior leader at MFT, you will shape strategy and transformation at scale, working alongside a diverse, high-performing executive team. Our £3bn plus turnover and leading-edge digital infrastructure, including the Hive EPR, enable us to deliver integrated, patient-centred care and drive continuous improvement.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, values-led culture where your expertise, vision, and leadership will directly influence organisational direction and population health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to lead complex change, champion research and innovation, and develop future talent in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Join us to make a lasting impact--on our Trust, our communities, and the future of healthcare.