About the Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Programme Director to lead a major regional digital transformation programme across a network of NHS organisations.

The programme will deliver a shared Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) across three NHS healthcare organisations, supporting the modernisation, standardisation and integration of pathology services. This is a strategically important initiative designed to improve diagnostic pathways, laboratory efficiency, interoperability and the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care.

The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across the programme, taking responsibility for delivery, governance, financial management, workforce planning, supplier relationships and implementation readiness.

Working closely with senior clinical, operational, digital and executive stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of networked pathology services and delivering a complex, multi-organisational transformation.

About the Role

As Pathology LIMS Programme Director, you will lead the design, build, implementation and optimisation of a shared LIMS platform across three NHS organisations.

You will have significant strategic and operational autonomy, overseeing multiple interconnected workstreams and ensuring the programme delivers against agreed milestones, budgets, objectives and expected benefits.

This will require an experienced leader who can bring together clinical, scientific, operational and technical teams, manage complex stakeholder relationships and drive standardisation across different healthcare organisations.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership & Delivery

• Provide strategic leadership for a complex, multi-organisational pathology digital transformation programme.

• Lead the end-to-end programme plan, ensuring delivery against agreed milestones, budgets and objectives.

• Oversee the design, build, implementation and optimisation of the shared LIMS platform.

• Manage implementation sequencing, deployment planning and transition into business-as-usual operations.

• Ensure programme objectives and benefits are delivered within agreed timescales and available resources.

Governance, Risk & Financial Management

• Establish and maintain robust programme governance, reporting, assurance and change-control arrangements.

• Manage programme finances, budgets, procurement, workforce resources and supplier contracts.

• Oversee programme risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation and escalation.

• Provide regular performance, financial, risk and benefits realisation reports to the Programme Board, Senior Responsible Officers and executive stakeholders.

• Provide strategic recommendations and programme assurance to senior leadership.

Clinical, Technical & Operational Delivery

• Coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams covering:

  • Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

  • Middleware and analyser interfaces.

  • Electronic requesting and order communications.

  • Data migration and interoperability.

  • Integration and associated digital infrastructure.

• Oversee testing, validation, verification and implementation readiness.

• Ensure patient safety, data integrity, service continuity and regulatory compliance throughout delivery.

• Support the standardisation of laboratory processes and workflows across participating organisations.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Develop effective relationships with senior clinical, operational, digital and executive stakeholders.

• Engage and influence executive sponsors, SROs, clinical leaders, laboratory teams and technical specialists.

• Manage supplier relationships, contractual dependencies and third-party delivery partners.

• Drive collaboration and alignment across the participating NHS organisations.

Transformation & Organisational Change

• Lead organisational change and promote consistent approaches across networked pathology services.

• Support new ways of working, process optimisation and improved laboratory operations.

• Ensure compliance with relevant UKAS, MHRA, information governance, cybersecurity and NHS digital requirements.

• Lead, support and develop multidisciplinary programme teams, creating a collaborative and accountable delivery environment.

• Ensure effective transition into operational support and business-as-usual arrangements.

About You

We are looking for an accomplished Programme Director with significant experience delivering complex healthcare technology and digital transformation programmes, ideally within NHS pathology or laboratory environments.

You will be confident operating at executive level, managing multiple workstreams and bringing together stakeholders across different organisations. You should have a strong understanding of laboratory systems, implementation challenges, supplier management and the governance required to deliver programmes of this scale safely and successfully.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant senior leadership experience delivering large-scale NHS digital transformation programmes.

• Extensive experience managing complex, multi-organisational programmes involving multiple stakeholders and interconnected workstreams.

• Proven experience in programme governance, financial management, risk management and benefits realisation.

• Experience managing suppliers, contracts, procurement and programme resources.

• Strong understanding of healthcare technology implementation and operational readiness.

• Ability to engage and influence senior clinical, operational, technical and executive stakeholders.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing organisational change.

• Strong understanding of testing, validation, data integrity, patient safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications & Professional Development

Essential:

• Educated to Master's level or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline.

• PRINCE2, MSP, Agile or an equivalent programme/project management qualification.

• Evidence of ongoing professional development in programme leadership, digital transformation or healthcare informatics.

• Significant experience operating at senior programme leadership level.

Desirable:

• Additional management or leadership qualification.

• Professional registration relevant to healthcare, digital, scientific or informatics practice.

• Experience working within regional or networked pathology services.

• Direct experience delivering LIMS implementations, upgrades or laboratory transformation programmes.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a major regional NHS pathology transformation programme, working across three healthcare organisations and influencing how laboratory services operate in the future.

You will have the opportunity to shape programme strategy, establish effective governance, drive standardisation and oversee the implementation of technology that directly supports diagnostic services and patient care.

For an established Programme Director with experience in NHS digital transformation, pathology systems and complex multi-stakeholder delivery, this represents a significant leadership opportunity.