Search for more NHS jobs in Leicester
Job overview
Help us transform cancer pathways and improve outcomes for patients across the East Midlands. Every day matters — and so does your contribution.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated improvement leader to join the cancer centre as the Project Manager - Days Matter Performance Improvement
Funded through the East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA) and hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester, this 12-month fixed-term or secondment opportunity will play a pivotal role in supporting cancer pathway improvement and performance recovery across the Trust.
Working closely with operational, clinical and executive leaders, the successful candidate will lead a programme of improvement activity designed to reduce delays, improve patient experience and support delivery of national Cancer Waiting Time standards.
This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with strong programme management, operational performance and service improvement experience to make a significant impact on cancer care.
Main duties of the job
The Days Matter Programme focuses on identifying and addressing delays within cancer pathways to ensure patients receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
You will:
Lead the delivery of the Trust’s Days Matter Programme.
Identify opportunities to improve cancer pathway performance.
Work with clinical and operational teams to redesign pathways and remove barriers to timely care.
Support achievement of national Cancer Waiting Time standards including Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), 31-Day and 62-Day targets.
You will be expected to work independently, influence senior stakeholders and deliver sustainable improvements that make a tangible difference to patient outcomes.
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
Significant experience of operational management, transformation or service improvement within the NHS.
Experience of leading complex improvement programmes and delivering measurable outcomes.
Knowledge of NHS performance management and governance processes.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present complex data.
Excellent communication, engagement and influencing skills.
Experience of working effectively with senior clinicians and managers.
Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role offers a unique opportunity to:
Lead high-profile improvement work that directly benefits patients.
Work alongside clinical, operational and executive leaders.
Collaborate with colleagues across the East Midlands through the East Midlands Cancer Alliance.
Develop your leadership, improvement and programme management skills.
Contribute to a nationally important cancer improvement agenda.
The successful candidate will join a supportive team committed to innovation, collaboration and delivering outstanding care for patients. The role will be based at Leicester General Hospital with a requirement to work flexibly across the Trust sites.
This post is offered as a 12-month fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity. Internal applicants interested in applying on a secondment basis should discuss the opportunity with their current line manager before application
Person specification
Physical Skills
Essential
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft applications and able to learn quickly in the use of other Trust IT systems and software applications
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Service improvement knowledge or equivalent experience.
- Experience of leading large-scale service improvement or transformation programmes
- Experience of performance management within acute healthcare settings.
- Experience of cancer services, and pathway performance
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries
- Experience of presenting complex information to senior stakeholders
- Knowledge of NHS performance frameworks and cancer waiting time standards
- Knowledge and understanding of the application of Quality Improvement methodologies and Service redesign techniques
- Understanding of Programme and project management principles
Desirable
- Experience of regional or system-wide programmes. • Knowledge of cancer
- Knowledge of cancer transformation programmes
- Experience of working with Cancer Alliances or NHS England
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree-level education or equivalent senior-level experience.
- Programme/project management qualification (eg PRINCE2, MSP, APM) or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Leadership or management training.
Desirable
- Improvement qualification (Lean, Six Sigma, QI Practitioner).
- Advanced IT skills in Excel, PowerPoint and Office
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Advanced analytical skills
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to manage competing priorities
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Facilitation and workshop leadership
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Excellent organisation skills with the ability to co-ordinate and have overall responsibility for a range of projects in multiple areas
- Able to work across divisional and organisational boundaries to identify and achieve ideal patient pathways
- Able to develop and implement short, medium and long-term strategies to deliver benefits for patients, staff, and the health community at large
- Knowledge of and ability to apply project management methodologies to plan and implement service improvements
- Able to achieve flexibility in planning changes and ensure mechanisms are in place to accommodate changes within the changing local and national NHS agendas
- Good time management and the ability to work at pace, to tight deadlines and meet targets
- Able to travel locally across sites and work flexibly within reason to meet service needs eg early starts or late evenings to make meetings/complete project tasks
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Demonstrable skills and experience of working closely with Clinicians and project team members to secure service improvements across all levels
- Experience of undertaking stakeholder management, project design and engagement requirements
- Experience of developing and maintaining good working relationships across organisational boundaries
- Experience of high quality report writing, developing and delivering presentations and undertaking staff training
Desirable
- Ability to use trust information systems and IT packages
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Manager and Corporate roles in Leicester
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Project Manager - Days Matter Performance Improvement with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in Leicester, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is 12 months (EMCA funded 12 month fixed term / secondment position). The application deadline is 10 Aug 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 (27 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.