Deputy Chief Executive Officer


Location
Gillingham, England
Salary
£100,000 - £200,000 per annum
Profession
Chief executive
Deadline
29 Oct 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
07 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

1 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • .

    Applications to be submitted via Gatenbysanderson

Desirable

Not listed in the available specification.

Job overview

Medway NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an outstanding Deputy Chief Executive to join a newly formed Executive Team and help lead the next phase of the Trust's development. Serving a population of more than 500,000 people across Medway & Swale, the Trust plays a vital role within the Kent & Medway health and care system

As Deputy to the Chief Executive, you will provide leadership across strategy, planning, transformation, improvement, digital, analytics and system partnerships. Working closely with executive and clinical colleagues, you will help ensure that strategic ambitions are translated into practical improvements for patients, staff and local communities

This is an opportunity to join the organisation at an important point in its journey. A refreshed Executive Team is focused on strengthening organisational culture, improving performance, building improvement capability and creating the foundations for sustainable long-term success. The Deputy Chief Executive will play a central role in shaping and delivering that agenda

We are looking for a credible, values-led leader with Board-level experience, a strong track record of leading organisational improvement and transformation, & the ability to build effective relationships across complex organisations and partnerships

For an ambitious leader who wants to make a significant contribution to a major NHS organisation, this is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of services for the communities of Medway & Swale

Main duties of the job

The postholder will play a pivotal role in supporting the Chief Executive and Board to deliver sustainable organisational improvement, operational excellence and long-term strategic transformation across Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

As Deputy Chief Executive, the postholder will provide visible corporate leadership across the organisation, acting on behalf of the Chief Executive as required and ensuring strong alignment between quality, safety, workforce, operational performance, finance and strategic priorities.

The postholder will be responsible for leading the Trust's strategy, planning, transformation and organisational improvement agenda, ensuring that the Trust's ambitions are translated into measurable outcomes that improve patient care, staff experience, productivity, workforce sustainability and financial performance.

The postholder will provide executive leadership for:

  • Corporate strategy including Quality Management System development.
  • Operational planning including Programme Management OfficerSystem collaboration and partnerships.
  • Transformation, continuous improvement and programme delivery.
  • Business intelligence, analytics and population health intelligence.
  • Innovation and digital technology-enabled transformation.Trust charity

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Corporate Responsibility

  • Act as a full member of the Trust Board, sharing collective responsibility for quality, safety, operational performance, workforce, finance and reputation.
  • Support the Chief Executive in strengthening organisational grip, and delivery across all aspects of Trust performance.
  • Provide strategic advice to the Board and Board Committees regarding future opportunities, risks and strategic choices.
  • Participate in executive on-call arrangements and provide visible leadership across the organisation.

Deputy Chief Executive Responsibilities

  • Act as principal deputy to the Chief Executive Officer and undertake all duties delegated by the Chief Executive.
  • Deputise fully for the Chief Executive Officer during periods of absence.
  • Represent the Trust internally and externally at local, regional and national level.
  • Support the Chief Executive in developing a cohesive, high-performing and values-led Executive Team.
  • Promote collective Executive leadership and shared accountability for organisational priorities.
  • Ensure Executive portfolios operate in an integrated and aligned manner.
  • Lead across organisational boundaries to ensure delivery of Trust-wide objectives.
  • Support the Board in maintaining strong governance, assurance and organisational oversight.
  • Build organisational confidence through visible leadership, accessibility and engagement with staff, patients and partners.

Strategy, Planning and Strategy Deployment

  • Lead the development, implementation and ongoing refresh of the Trust's strategic direction.
  • Ensure strategic priorities are aligned with quality, workforce, operational and financial plans.
  • Lead the annual planning cycle and development of integrated business plans.
  • Develop a systematic approach to strategy deployment, ensuring organisational priorities are translated into delivery throughout all levels of the organisation.
  • Ensure effective monitoring and reporting of strategic objectives and delivery milestones.
  • Provide leadership on population health needs, health inequalities and future service planning

Applications to be submitted via Gatenbysanderson via the below link:

Job | GatenbySanderson or https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe133328.1/Deputy-Chief-Executive/

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Deputy Chief Executive Officer with Medway NHS Foundation Trust in Gillingham, England. It is listed as a Chief executive role. The advertised salary is £100,000 - £200,000 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Oct 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (07 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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