Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive and Trust Chair

The postholder will enable the Chief Executive and Chair to focus their time on the issues that matter most by ensuring that priorities are translated into action, decisions are followed through, emerging risks are identified early and high-quality information is available at the point it is needed.

Working with considerable autonomy and discretion, the postholder will act as a trusted interface between the Chief Executive and Chair, Executive and Non-Executive Directors, clinical and operational leaders, the wider system and external stakeholders. Bringing together complex information, provide concise advice and constructive challenge, and use delegated authority to progress priority actions and resolve barriers.

The postholder will have direct management responsibility for the Executive Office and, under delegated authority from the Chief Executive, lead the development and implementation of improvements to corporate management arrangements, Executive decision-making processes and organisational ways of working. The role will include responsibility for developing longer-term plans, coordinating implementation across Executive portfolios and corporate functions, and managing designated staffing budgets, office accommodation and associated physical resources. Postholder will exercise independent judgement within agreed delegated authority, ensuring that improvements are implemented effectively, resources are appropriately managed and organisational priorities are supported.

At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Essential: - Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills gained through substantial relevant experience; - Evidence of continuing professional development; - Management, leadership, business administration qualification; - Project management qualification (Prince 2, APM, PSQ, MSP)

Essential: - Significant experience supporting a Chief Executive, Chair, Executive Director or equivalent senior leader; - Experience operating effectively within a complex, highly regulated organisation; - Experience coordinating strategic priorities, projects and Executive-level actions; - Experience producing high-quality briefings, reports and presentations for senior audiences; - Experience handling highly sensitive, confidential and contentious matters; - Experience managing and developing staff; - Experience working with Board members and senior internal and external stakeholders; - Experience of financial and resource management

Desirable: - Senior-level experience within the NHS or wider public sector; - Experience of transformation, improvement or programme governance

Essential: - Understanding of NHS structures, governance and the wider health and care environment; - Knowledge of effective corporate governance, assurance and risk management; - Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and its application in the workplace

Desirable: - Knowledge of East and North Hertfordshire's health and care system

Essential: - Excellent written and verbal communication skills; - Ability to analyse complex information and present clear advice and recommendations; - Highly developed organisational and prioritisation skills; - Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement and make decisions within delegated authority; - Ability to influence, challenge and build credibility with senior stakeholders; - Strong political awareness, diplomacy and discretion; - Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to demanding deadlines; - Ability to lead a responsive, collaborative and high-performing team; - Advanced digital skills, including Microsoft Office applications; - Ability to identify and implement improvements to systems and ways of working

Essential: - Demonstrates integrity, professionalism and resilience; - Proactive, adaptable and solutions focused; - Maintains confidentiality and inspires trust and confidence; - Committed to the Trust's values of Include, Respect and Improve; - Able to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role