Senior Improvement Lead

It is essential that the post holder has expertise in improvement methods and project management and can demonstrate expertise in planning, developing, coordinating and delivering projects on behalf of health and care clients in the region, with a strong track record of delivering quality improvement from start to completion using continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

As a Senior Improvement Lead, the post holder will:

• Ensure projects/programmes are managed effectively, leading and being accountable for their successful delivery from start through to completion.
• Provide practical hands-on support to clinical teams, networks and others undertaking QI projects and service redesign work, including training/coaching in QI methodologies where appropriate.
• Build and nurture connections within and between organisations including participate in local working groups, networks, and project meetings to provide information and support for local teams to analyse their data and use that evidence to inform decisions.
• Present complex information about QI projects to a wide range of stakeholders in a formal setting.
• Monitor progress across the programme and produce regular reports and updates for national, regional, and local governance mechanisms.
• Work with the Health Innovation East Programme Management Office to ensure effective and timely financial and performance reporting to SMT, Board and commissioners.
• Support the Head of Patient Safety, ensuring that programme risks and issues are proactively identified and reported, and develop proposals for resolution, mitigation, and escalation of risks.

The post-holder must be able to work under pressure, deliver to a programme plan adopting a flexible/adaptable approach.

Corporate duties

• Promote equal opportunities and affirm that staff, colleagues, patients, and others who encounter Health Innovation East are afforded equality of access, experience and outcomes.
• Observe Health Innovation East’s equity, diversity and inclusion pledges in every aspect of your work, avoiding any behaviour which discriminates against col-leagues, potential employees, patients, or partners on any grounds
• Uphold and promote the organisation’s values
• Work flexibly and collaboratively with others to achieve the organisation’s goals and support its values
• Support the organisation in creating an environment that values risk management and promotes the highest standards of health and safety for Health Innovation East’s employees, supported by policies and procedures as appropriate
• Ensure up to date knowledge is maintained and comply with current data protec-tion laws and company data protection and confidentiality policies and procedures
• Ensure that we only operate within our remit of not offering clinical advice
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures and any applicable legislation

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent experience relating to healthcare.
• Evidence of quality improvement and/or patient safety qualification or demonstrable experience in these fields.

Knowledge and understanding

• Excellent knowledge of improvement methodologies and application within healthcare settings.
• Knowledge and experience of project management and risk management.

Skills

• Ability to travel within region, with occasional travel to national meetings (eg London, Birmingham, Manchester).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt and appeal to various audiences.
• Strong relationship building and management skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise work, in response to changing requirements and demands and attention to detail.
• Proficient in use of a range of IT software, including MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
• Good levels of emotional intelligence and resilience.

Disposition/ Aptitude

• Evidence of the ability to work with teams in developing quality improvement projects.
• Ability to develop good relationships with senior colleagues within and outside of the organisations.
• Demonstrable interest in healthcare improvement.
• Ability to maintain credibility of self and the team.
• Ability to work flexibly both autonomously and within a small team.

Desirable Skills and Knowledge

• A recognised project management qualification.
• Strong knowledge of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
• Clinical or improvement experience within healthcare.
• Awareness of strategic challenges facing the NHS (with a working knowledge of Eastern region preferred).
• Advanced data skills, particularly around measurement for improvement methodology and interpretation.

Appointment will be subject to evidence of right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS check, due to the potential for the postholder to be working in an environment with children and vulnerable adults.

Submission of an application constitutes your consent to reasonable media and public online presence checks during the hiring process.

Use of AI tools is permitted where appropriate; however, all application materials must reflect the applicant’s own ideas, experience, and original thinking.

How to apply

To apply please submit your CV and a covering letter, by 31 July 2026, to recruitment@healthinnovationeast.co.uk specifying your motivation for applying and how you meet our person specification. For an informal discussion, please contact amanda.newstead@healthinnovationeast.co.uk.

Please note that CVs without a covering letter will not be considered.