# Associate Director for Quality > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/associate-director-for-quality/c939df36-07d5-484a-a801-10767d21a857 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/associate-director-for-quality/c939df36-07d5-484a-a801-10767d21a857.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Worthing - **Region:** South East - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Manager and corporate - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £94,356 - £108,814 per annum - **Contract type:** Fixed term: 3 years (n/a) - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week (part time considered - 30 hours/ week) - **Closing date:** 2026-08-05T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-07-23T13:32:23.170Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/West_Sussex/West_Sussex/University_Hospitals_Sussex_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Quality/Quality-v8174527 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8174527?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Interview Date:  18th August 2026 Can be based in any of our main sites in West Sussex University Hospitals Sussex is the subject of an important Independent Maternity Review (IMR), commissioned by the Department of Health on behalf of the Secretary of State. This is due to commence in October 2026 and is expected to last at least 3 years. The review will examine approximately 1,000 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, neonatal harm due to severe brain injury and severe maternal harm dating back to at least 2018 to understand what happened, reach conclusions on the care provided, provide answers for families and identify learning for the organisation and wider NHS. The review is, by its’ very nature, extremely sensitive. The impact is expected to be significant for the families at the heart of the review, current and past staff and the wider organisation. ### Main duties of the job The Quality Director holds day to day responsibility for running the team and the processes necessary to respond to the IMR team, families, Sussex Police and other external bodies. The tasks within the portfolio are diverse and require a breadth of experience in senior NHS roles. The Quality Director will be expected to manage tasks related to quality and corporate governance, information management, information governance, analytics, communications, wellbeing, inclusion and professional standards.  They will set up and manage the team running the Trust Contact Centre, establish from scratch the administrative, information management and governance systems needed to comply with review and investigation requirements and provide assurance to the Board and NHSE-DHSC. They will coordinate clinical and corporate subject matter experts working across different Trust functions to ensure responses are compassionate to families, clinically robust, compliant with legal requirements and cognisant of the sensitivity of the subject matter locally and nationally. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Our Quality Director will be the ultimate safe pair of hands. They must be passionate about good patient care and meeting the needs of all our Sussex communities. They will have a deep understanding of NHS quality systems and standards – patient safety investigations, complaints, clinical effectiveness, medico-legal processes, quality governance and regulatory requirements. Experience of working with women and children’s services or on a major external quality and safety review are both beneficial. Personal attributes are as important as skills and experience. You must be able to work under pressure and with high levels of scrutiny calmly and professionally. An ability to build professional networks and productive relationships is essential – with our staff, external partners and the families at the heart of the review. Well-developed political instincts and commitment to the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion are essential. ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Previous experience of managing complex, high profile programmes of work in healthcare - Establishing programmes from scratch – setting up teams, processes and governance - Deputising for VSM level staff - Leadership of programmes with sensitive and contentious subject matter **Desirable** - Quality governance leadership role - Prior experience of working with regulatory bodies and / or the Police - Previous experience of working on a major external review of quality and safety in the NHS ### Freedom to Act **Essential** - Ability to make autonomous decisions on complex issues, often under pressure using discretion and sound political judgement - Able to think ahead and anticipate problems and take reasonable action to resolve them or escalate them to the appropriate level - Independently, interpret National Health Service policy and strategy. ### Communication Skills **Essential** - Able to develop strong, supportive professional networks - Highly developed communication, negotiation, and influencing skills; - Ability to present complex information to a range of audiences, including members of the public, staff from different clinical backgrounds - Skilled in conflict resolution and partnership working; - Confidence and ability to challenge colleagues constructively **Desirable** - Experience presenting to Executives and Board level staff - Experience of drafting communications which may be used with local and national Politicians eg Parliamentary questions ### Analytical & Judgment skills **Essential** - Able to establish and manipulate data large, complex data sets needed to report accurately on the programme - Able to manage large, complex databases of information and intelligence - Able to articulate and score risks appropriately **Desirable** - Understanding of clinical outcomes frameworks relevant to the investigation and review eg MBRRACE - Understanding of outcomes and experience data relevant to maternal and child health ### Qualifications and Knowledge **Essential** - Master’s degree or equivalent knowledge/ experience; - Educated to degree level or equivalent professional level in any relevant discipline - Evidence of continuing professional development - Thorough working knowledge of quality governance standards in health care – PSIRF, Complaints, Clinical Effectiveness, Regulatory and Medico-legal processes, including the Coronial system. - Regulatory data protection and patient confidentiality requirements **Desirable** - Programme management qualification - Management qualification - Registered clinician - Thorough working knowledge of maternity and neonatal quality governance including CNST, MNSI, PMRT, NICE and Royal College guidance - Understanding of NHS regulation – CQC, NHSE, GMC and NMC ### Equality, Diversity & Inclusion **Essential** - Evidence of championing diversity and inclusion in previous roles - Able to anticipate the EDI aspects of the work and develop strategies to address them **Desirable** - Evidence of working to improve outcomes and experiences for people with protected characteristics - Knowledge of the evidence base on inequalities in maternal and child health ### Planning & Organisational Skills **Essential** - Highly skilled in translating an objective into a detailed delivery plan with clear tasks, timelines & responsibilities - Able to manage multiple, interdependent strands of work and keep a grip on them - Able to forecast on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis **Desirable** - Prior experience of annual planning and business case production - Familiarity with gateway review processes ### People Management and Development **Essential** - Able to set a clear vision, objectives and hold to account - Skilled in providing constructive feedback - Creates psychologically safe working environments - Demonstrates empathy and compassionate leadership - Highly skilled in developing and managing networks of different professionals to serve organisational needs **Desirable** - Knowledge of ‘teaming’ approaches - Coaching qualification ## Documents - [all staff networks about us flyer (pdf, 304.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2583) - [guide to completing an application form (pdf, 385.9kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2915) - [job description and person specification (pdf, 480.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10477183) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.