Director of Midwifery

Job overview

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional and visionary Director of Midwifery to lead and shape the future of maternity services across the Trust. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, and compassionate care for women, babies, and families.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will work closely with the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and divisional teams to drive strategic improvements, foster innovation, and champion the voice of midwifery across the organisation.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

As a Director of Midwifery you would need to provide strategic leadership and professional accountability for midwifery services.

Leading the development and implementation of maternity transformation programmes aligned with national policy and local priorities.

Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and drive continuous quality improvement.

Promote a culture of safety, learning, and excellence in care.

Support workforce development, retention, and wellbeing of midwifery staff.

Collaborate with system partners to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities in maternity care.

As an individual we are looking for a dynamic and experienced midwifery leader who:

• Is a registered midwife with significant senior leadership experience.
• Has a proven track record of delivering service improvement and innovation.
• Demonstrates excellent communication, influencing, and partnership-building skills.
• Is passionate about equity, safety, and person-centred care.
• Can inspire and lead teams through change with compassion and clarity.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Director of Midwifery is a high-impact leadership role focused on clinical excellence, strategic transformation, and workforce development. It blends operational oversight with professional advocacy, ensuring that midwifery and integrated care services are safe, effective, and continuously improving. The role demands vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to patient-centred care.

The postholder is responsible for:

• Develop and implement divisional midwifery strategy aligned with Trust-wide goals.
• Lead transformation initiatives, workforce planning, and service redesign.
• Represent the Division in system-level planning and external networks.
• Drive research, innovation, and academic excellence in clinical practice.
• Accountable for care standards, safety, and effectiveness across the Division.
• Lead quality assurance, planning, monitoring, and improvement efforts.
• Oversee complaints, incident investigations, and risk mitigation.
• Occasionally work clinical shifts to maintain credibility and visibility.
• Line manage senior clinical leaders and oversee performance management.
• Lead recruitment, retention, and professional development initiatives.
• Conduct disciplinary and grievance procedures when necessary.
• Manage budgets and contribute to financial improvement programmes.
• Authorised signatory for staffing and operational expenditures.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality clinical services across midwifery and nursing.
• Hold directorates accountable for performance and standards.
• Lead divisional performance reviews and improvement plans.
• Work across divisions and with external stakeholders to enhance care models.
• Lead corporate projects and transformation programmes.
• Foster collaboration among midwives, nurses, and allied health professionals.