Chief Executive

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is a leading healthcare provider in East Anglia, and we are seeking an exceptional and experienced leader to become our new Chief Executive. As a major integrated acute and community healthcare provider, and one of the largest employers in the region, our almost 13,000 staff are responsible for delivering high quality services to a population of around one million people living in Ipswich, east Suffolk, and north Essex, as well as providing some specialist services to a wider population.

As our new Chief Executive, you will lead the organisation at a critical time for the Trust and wider health system as we embrace the opportunities and challenges of being at the forefront of delivering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. With your broad skillset and experience you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future strategic direction of the organisation and providing inclusive, values driven leadership that ensures robust and sustained operational delivery alongside continuous improvement in patient outcomes and experience.

Your ability to engage and empower our clinical leaders to be at the centre of this transformation is central. Building trusted partnerships with our wider partners in primary care and the third sector is essential if we are to make the shift to focus on prevention and care delivered in our communities. These are exciting times to be a leader in healthcare.

You will work alongside the Chair and Board colleagues as Accounting Officer of the Trust, delivering for the populations we serve. You will hold executive accountability for the leadership, operational performance, and overall success of the Trust in delivering safe, effective healthcare and improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

In joining us, you will provide visible and compassionate leadership to our people, fostering a culture of openness, transparency, and continuous improvement. You will ensure that the organisation operates effectively, leading the Executive team to deliver the Trust's strategic objectives, performance standards, and the highest quality of care. Working closely with our newly appointed Chair, you will ensure clarity on individual and collective roles and responsibilities, creating an environment where innovation thrives and all colleagues are empowered to deliver outstanding outcomes for patients and communities.

We are seeking an outstanding individual who brings relevant executive leadership experience with a track record of success in a large and complex organisation. You will demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders across organisations and communities, and be known as much for your collaborative, diplomatic, and inclusive approach as for care delivering standards expected of the NHS. You will likely have a substantial track record of success in the NHS and health and care sector, and your leadership will reflect a deep commitment to EDI.

You will have a personal passion for delivering compassionate high-quality care through our integrated services and in collaboration with system partners.

This is a high profile and influential role and in joining ESNEFT, you will work alongside a capable and ambitious Board and have the opportunity to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of the people we serve across Suffolk and north Essex.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our Board to reflect the communities we serve. We therefore particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented at Board level.

If you are interested in this critical appointment, please contact Alumni Global, who are supporting the Trust on this appointment process, for a confidential discussion please get in touch with Thomas Patterson, Managing Director, on  or thom