Director Chief Executive Office

Job overview

Internal applicants only - Interview Dates;
Stakeholder Event 03.03.26 / Panel Interview 05.03.26

Following the appointment of our new Chief Executive, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is strengthening the leadership and coordination of the Chief Executive’s Office.

UHSx is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, serving more than one million people each year across multiple hospital sites. We are operating at scale, under significant scrutiny, and with high ambition for improvement. A key focus over the coming period will be responding to our developmental Well-Led agenda, embedding the new Trust Operating Model, and strengthening visible, confident leadership across the organisation and the wider system.

To support this, we are seeking to appoint a Director of the Chief Executive’s Office (Chief of Staff).

We are looking for someone who:

• Knows the organisation well and understands its scale, complexity and context
• Has strong personal credibility and can build trust quickly with clinicians, managers, staff-side colleagues and partners
• Has operated at a senior sub-board (director) level in a complex organisation and brings clear delivery credibility
• Is comfortable working with Boards, executive teams and senior stakeholders
• Can combine strategic thinking with operational realism
• Is able to influence, challenge and align senior leaders constructively
• Is motivated by strengthening how the organisation supports front-line teams and patients

Main duties of the job

About the role;

This is a senior corporate role, operating at corporate director level, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and leading the Chief Executive’s Office.

The postholder will act as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive, providing organisational grip, executive coordination and high-quality preparation across governance, system leadership and Trust priorities. The role exists to enable the Chief Executive to focus on visible internal leadership, culture, delivery of the Trust Operating Model, and effective system engagement.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Acting as senior adviser to the Chief Executive and providing coordination across executive priorities
• Leading the Chief Executive’s Office, including executive support, diary management and correspondence (including MP and media enquiries)
• Strengthening executive preparation, decision-making and follow-through, including leadership of the Chief Executive’s Team meeting
• Supporting Board, regulatory and system engagement through high-quality briefing and preparation
• Operating at corporate director level, including acting as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for discrete, time-limited programmes of work
• Leading the Chief Executive’s engagement programme, ensuring a planned and purposeful approach to internal visits, system relationships and external partnerships
• Working confidently across organisational boundaries, including with system partners and the voluntary and third sector

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level
3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role will suit someone who is calm, grounded, highly organised and able to bring clarity and discipline to fast-moving, high-pressure environments.

Why this role matters

This role is not about adding bureaucracy. It is about strengthening how the organisation works at its centre so that:

• decisions are clearer and taken more quickly
• escalation routes are effective and predictable
• executive and Board engagement is well prepared
• leaders are freed to spend more time in services and with staff
• the Trust is better placed to respond to its Well-Led development priorities

Person specification

Education &…