NHS Blood and Transplant
Senior Programme Manager
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Job Summary
At NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) we are a unique organisation that works with patients and donors alike to save and improve lives every day. We are on a mission to ensure that every patient receives the donation they need. We are seeking an experienced Senior Programme Manager to lead the delivery of complex high-value digital projects and programmes that align with NHSBT’s strategic objectives, ensuring the successful delivery of outcomes and benefits within defined time, cost, and quality parameters.
Join our dedicated team and contribute to the strategic planning and delivery of large-scale digital initiatives that will have a profound impact on patients’ lives. Collaborating closely with SROs, Project Executives, Product Managers, Architects and both internal/external delivery partners, you will lead on full project lifecycle including planning, structuring, development of the investment case and benefits, then manage and oversee delivery and execution.
We are looking for someone with a proven track record of managing large-scale digital projects and/or programmes, preferably in healthcare or a related field. You will have an innovative, problem-solving approach, with strong stakeholder management skills and experience in implementing risk management and governance processes. By being part of a passionate, enthusiastic, supportive, and high performing team, you will build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Through this you will contribute to life-saving work, where every day promises diversity and excitement managing critical projects and programmes aimed at enhancing organ donation and transplantation services.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Programme Manager, the post holder will lead the delivery of complex, high-value programmes that drive transformational change and deliver critical benefits, supporting NHSBT’s long-term strategic objectives.
The Post Holder Will
- Lead the strategic scoping, definition, and planning of complex programmes, translating organisational goals into actionable programme plans that address key challenges and opportunities while ensuring alignment with NHSBT’s vision and priorities.
- Drive the end-to-end delivery of programmes, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This includes managing all associated resources (financial, human, and technical) effectively, while proactively identifying and mitigating risks, dependencies, and challenges to ensure successful outcomes.
- Establish and implement robust mechanisms for identifying, tracking, and realising programme benefits, ensuring measurable value and strategic impact are delivered to NHSBT. This includes ensuring benefits are sustained over the long term and aligned with the organisation’s performance and improvement objectives.
- Provide expert leadership and direction to diverse, multi-disciplinary teams operating within a complex matrix environment. The post holder will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance, ensuring that team members are motivated, supported, and equipped to deliver programme objectives.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and influencing decision-making at the highest levels. The post holder will ensure alignment and commitment to programme objectives across all stakeholders, leveraging advanced negotiation and communication skills to address challenges and secure buy-in.
- Where appropriate, undertake direct line management responsibilities for programme personnel, ensuring effective performance management, professional development, and succession planning to build organisational capability and resilience.
- Act as a senior leader within NHSBT, contributing to the organisation’s strategic planning and development, and championing a culture of continuous improvement, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
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About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Extensive experience over a number of years of leading complex change transformational programmes with successful delivery of outcomes and benefits.
- Expertise in leading large diverse group through significant change with technique to reduce resistance and maximise adoption of change, including awareness of people change management theories.
- Proven track record in business case development using the HM Treasury Five Case Model.
- Experience of managing programme budgets, cost forecasts, and benefits realisation.
- Experience of stakeholder engagement internally and externally and with external supplier environments.
- Experience of applying lessons learned and continuous improvement in programme delivery to enhance capability.
- Deep specialist knowledge of programme management principles, methodologies (e.g., MSP®), and best practices, applied in a large, complex organisation.
- Experience in driving the development and implementation of new services or policies within a programme context.
Qualifications And Training
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent senior-level experience.
- Programme management qualifications such as MSP practitioner or advance practitioner or equivalent experience.
- One or more recognised project management qualifications APM Registered Project Professional, or Major Projects Leadership Academy, PRINCE 2 and Agile DSDM qualification.
- Training in Benefits Realisation and Better Business Cases (aligned to Green Book).
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to programme management.
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
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You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What We Offer
- Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
- Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
- Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
- Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
- Read about our application process
- Learn more about our culture at NHSBT
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 30 August 2026.
The assessment process for this role will include: multiple interview rounds, the first being a video presentation, if you are successfully shortlisted you will then be invited to a competency-based interview.
Interviews are anticipated to be held on 16th and 18th September 2026 – subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
- Name: Daniel Madzikanda
- Job Title: Recruiter
- Contact Details: daniel.madzikanda@nhsbt.nhs.uk
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