Capital Programme Director, Band 9

We are seeking an outstanding senior leader to oversee a large, complex and strategically critical capital investment portfolio across Gloucestershire Hospitals. Managing an annual programme of circa £55m, this role plays a pivotal part in shaping the future of the estate and improving the environments in which patients receive care.

This appointment sits at the heart of a defining moment for our Trust, with responsibility central to the development and delivery of the Estates Strategy Programme. As part of the long-term masterplan and development control plan, the role provides leadership and assurance across major redevelopment schemes, critical infrastructure upgrades, and the creation of modern, safe, and sustainable clinical environments.

We are looking for a proven leader with extensive experience delivering major capital and infrastructure programmes in highly complex environments, alongside strong commercial acumen, financial expertise, and the ability to influence at Executive and Board level. This is a key senior role that will directly shape the resilience, functionality, and quality of our hospitals for years to come.

Job description

Strategic & Corporate Leadership

- Key stakeholder in the longterm development of the Trusts capital and estates investment strategy.

- Provide authoritative expert advice to the Board, Executive Directors and Committees on infrastructure risk, investment prioritisation and strategic opportunities.

- Represent the organisation in regional, systemlevel and national capital planning forums.

Portfolio, Programme & Project Leadership

- Maintain a coherent, forwardlooking capital portfolio aligned to strategic objectives and financial constraints.

- Provide senior direction and oversight of major programmes, ensuring they are clearly defined, justified, governed and assured.

- Lead as the programme director for the Trusts strategic programmes, including the Tower Block Refurbishment, Department of Clinical Care Programme and Gloucestershire Cancer

- Centre, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and highquality delivery.

- Ensure compliance with capital governance processes, business case standards and gateway review requirements.

Governance, Risk, Assurance & Continuous Improvement

- Embed robust governance, risk management and assurance practices across all capital programmes

- Maintain portfoliolevel oversight of programme and project risks, ensuring early escalation and mitigation.

- Establish the Project Portfolio Subcommittee (PPSC) and golden thread of governance and reporting methodology from programmes and projects.

- Lead structured lessonslearned programmes and embed continuous improvement behaviours across the capital function.

Financial & Commercial Management

- Lead development of programmelevel capital bids, enabling works proposals and submissions to national funding bodies.

- Oversee financial planning, forecasting, lifecycle costing and valueformoney assessment across the capital portfolio.

- Ensure compliance with procurement legislation, standing financial instructions and commercial standards.

Stakeholder, Communication & Change Management

- Act as senior sponsor for organisational changes arising from major capital schemes, ensuring, high level of engagement to enable operational readiness and safe transition into new environments.

- Provide clear, consistent and accessible communication with clinical stakeholders, staff groups, delivery partners and regulators.

People Leadership & Workforce Development

- Lead, support and develop the capital programme workforce, ensuring professional capability and performance excellence.

- Promote a culture of inclusion, accountability, collaboration and continuous professional development.

Financial Responsibilities

- Manage delegated capital and operational budgets, ensuring expenditure remains within approved limits.

- Authorise supplier payments, variations and lifecycle works, including contractual obligations within longterm partnership arrangements.

- Ensure early identification of financial risks or opportunities and provide appropriate reporting to corporate governance structures.

Please also see the full job description (attached).

The proposed interview date is 21st May

Person specification

Qualifications/ Education

Essential

• Degree or equivalent senior level knowledge and experience
• Evidence of extensive CPD relevant to project delivery, estates, construction, or programme leadership
• Training or accreditation in strategic programme leadership, GovS 002, Green Book or major project assurance.
• Professional membership (RICS, CEng, CIOB, APM, IWFM or equivalent)

Desirable

• Experience working with PFI/wholly owned subsidiary, complex contract management environment
• Advanced project delivery accreditation (APM PQ, ChPP, MPLA or equivalent)

Experience, Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive senior leadership experience in Estates/Capital/Infrastructure programmes in an acute NHS or similarly complex organisation.

Desirable

• Experience in New Hospital Programme (NHP) or equivalent national capital programmes
• Experience negotiating with complex private sector consortia beyond PFI alone (e.g., JV, commercial partnerships)

Additional Qualities

Essential

• Willing to work in other areas of the Trust or Trust-wide as and when required to do so
• Ability to cope with conflict and conflicting demands
• Able to communicate professionally with colleagues at all levels (both internally and externally)
• Ability to work as part of a team and support colleagues
• Committed to Trust values and collaborative working

About the employer

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2004 following a reconfiguration of health services in Gloucestershire. We provide acute hospital services across two main district general hospitals, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, as well as maternity services at Stroud Maternity Hospital.

We are proud to place people at the centre of everything we do, working as one team with a shared ambition to grow, develop and learn. Every contribution is valued, and by combining our skills and experience we support both our diverse communities and each other. Gloucestershire offers a strong sense of community and outstanding natural beauty, from historic towns to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With excellent schools, vibrant cultural life, and superb transport links to Bristol, Birmingham and London, it is an inspiring place to live and work.

Join a forward-thinking Strategic Estates team at a key moment of transformation and investment, where your work will have a visible impact in protecting public value and shaping the future estates service model. Benefit from strong executive support, excellent CPD opportunities, and a collaborative, cross-site environment. This is a rare opportunity to combine deep commercial expertise with genuine strategic influence in a complex WoS/PFI environment, delivering lasting value for patients and the NHS.