Head of PMO

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

Job overview

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is looking for an experienced Head of PMO to lead the development and oversight of its newly established Programme Management Office (PMO). This role will provide strategic leadership across three core portfolio areas, ensuring alignment with the Trust’s strategic objectives:

• Our People Enjoy Working at SECAmb
• Delivering High-Quality Care
• We Are a Sustainable Partner

Main duties of the job

About the Role

This is a senior leadership position within the Strategy & Transformation Directorate, responsible for ensuring effective programme governance, resource allocation, and delivery of strategic priorities. The post-holder will:

• Establish and embed robust PMO frameworks, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Oversee portfolio performance reporting at senior and executive levels.
• Provide expert guidance on programme governance, risk management, and benefits realisation.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of Portfolio and Programme Managers to ensure quality programme delivery.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive transformation across operational, clinical, and support services.

• Option to join NHS pension scheme
• A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years’ service.
• Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
• Access to occupational health and counselling services.
• Award winning wellbeing hub
• Back up buddy App
• Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money-saving deals.
• Detailed job description and main responsibilities

About You

The successful candidate will have significant experience in PMO leadership, preferably within the NHS or a complex public sector organisation. You will bring:

• Proven expertise in programme management, portfolio governance, and transformation.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Knowledge of NHS governance structures and experience in healthcare improvement programmes.
• A strategic and analytical approach, with the ability to oversee multiple complex programmes.
• Relevant professional qualifications in portfolio and programme management (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2).

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead a newly established PMO, playing a key role in delivering SECAmb’s strategy and driving transformation across the Trust.

SECAmb is committed to upholding its core values of Kindness, Courage, and Integrity, fostering a positive and inclusive working environment where staff are supported to deliver the best possible care to our communities.

For further information or an informal discussion about this role, please contact Matt Webb, Deputy Director of Strategy & Transformation.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

• Programme/Project Management qualification or equivalent experience (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2).
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Advanced professional certifications in portfolio management.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

• • Formal management qualification in leadership or business management.

Experience

• Significant experience implementing programme and project management methodologies, delivering complex programmes, and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale, multi-programme initiatives, including full lifecycle management of high-profile projects.
• Senior management experience within a complex programme/project environment, including line management of professional staff.
• Demonstrated ability to manage highly complex and politically sensitive information in diverse organisational contexts.
• Experience in strategic planning, governance, and embedding change management processes.

• Experience managing programmes in NHS or similar complex public-sector environments.

Knowledge and Skills

• Advanced leadership and team management skills, with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making to address highly complex and contentious issues.
• Advanced analytical skills to assess complex data, interdependencies, and risks, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Proven ability to plan and adapt complex activities in rapidly changing circumstances.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills to influence senior stakeholders and present complex or sensitive information effectively.
• Expertise in programme governance, resource allocation, and business case development.
• Skilled in managing relationships with diverse stakeholders, including NHS England, ICBs, partner providers, and clinical/academic staff.
• Proficiency in IT tools, including MS Office and project management software.
• Demonstrates knowledge of equality, diversity, and inclusion, embedding these principles into programme delivery.

• Detailed understanding of the NHS regulatory landscape.
• Advanced problem-solving skills in complex healthcare settings.

Personal Attributes

• Resilient, self-motivated, and adaptable to changing demands.
• Collaborative and approachable, with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Compassionate and inclusive leader who fosters collaboration, trust, and team development, acting as a role model for Trust and NHS values.
• Able to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines.

Please note that the salary range noted on the vacancy is in line with agenda for change (AFC) pay scales. All successful applicants would be placed automatically at the bottom of the banding, unless proven, relevant NHS or equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

Following the revision of current national legislation (Vaccine as a Condition of Deployment), the Trust has reviewed our requirements relating to staff uptake of the SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination.

Going forward, for patient facing positions, we strongly recommend that new starters will be appropriately vaccinated unless medically exempt in order to offer greater protection against exposure to the virus for front line staff.

In line with this recommendation, if you are successful in your application for a front line post, we will seek information from you in relation to your vaccine status, including exemption status, as applicable.

Please note, all positions come with a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check relevant to the post. This will either be a basic, standard, or enhanced check depending on the role. The level of check will be outlined in the conditional offer letter sent to successful applicants.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to declare any unspent/unfiltered convictions. If you are shortlisted you will then be sent a self declaration form, which must be completed prior to attending interview. for any queries relating to declarations, please contact the Recruitment Advisor listed on the vacancy.

The Trust is passionately committed to being an inclusive employer - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. As an employer we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement networks, facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and disabled applicants and those from other under-represented groups.

• including those with long term health conditions, learning disabilities and hidden disabilities such as dyslexia.

• including the interview
• are fair and equitable.

We are a committed to offering opportunities to individuals with disabilities and offer on-going support, should you be successful, with any adjustments you may need when performing your role.

When completing the application please use your name as it appears on your passport and please ensure you include email addresses and contact numbers for your referees to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

Please note that under our Trust policies, we're unable to employ anyone under the age of 18 years old.

The majority of our roles will include some travel between sites for business purposes. If the vacancy you’re applying for includes work related travel, you will be required to ensure that you hold and have covered the cost of suitable car insurance to support this.

Should you require an application form in an alternative format including large print or braille, please contact [email protected] stating the vacancy reference number and we will be happy to provide this.

When completing the reference section, please include details to cover the last three years’ history.

Due to the high volume of applications at SECAmb, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, then please assume you have not been shortlisted for interview on this particular occasion.

Please note that we contact all applicants via Trac Jobs and would advise you check your Trac Jobs account regularly.

Please be aware that the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. For this reason we recommend completing your application as early as possible.

Follow our recruitment on Twitter @SECAmbRecruit and check out our Facebook page - SECAmb NHS Recruitment. You can also find us on Linkedin under South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

Section 2 unsocial hours will need to be claimed via your monthly timesheet. More information regarding section 2 can be found in the Agenda for Change handbook and on the our dedicated Section 2 page on The Zone.