Director of Women and Children’s Strategic Programme | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust


Company:	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Salary:	Not specified
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Truro, TR1 3LJ
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	30 Sept 2026
Closing date:	30 Oct 2026

Apply for this job

Summary

Lead the delivery of the largest healthcare infrastructure investment in Cornwall’s history.

This is not just another programme leadership role.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional and visionary leader to lead the delivery of a transformational £400m+ New Women and Children's Hospital Programme that will reshape healthcare for generations to come.

As Director of the Women and Children's Strategic Programme, you will take executive-level responsibility for one of the most significant capital and service transformation programmes in the NHS. Part of the first wave of hospitals to be built under the national New Hospitals Programme, you will lead the planning, development and delivery of a new state-of-the-art Women and Children's Hospital while driving the redesign of services, patient pathways and models of care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

This is a rare opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.

The programme represents the largest single infrastructure investment in Cornwall's history and is recognised as being of both regional and national significance, attracting oversight from NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and the New Hospital Programme.

Why this role is different……you will not simply manage a construction project.

You will:

· Shape the future of Women and Children's healthcare for an entire population.

· Lead a nationally significant NHS transformation programme.

· Influence strategic decisions at Trust Board, regional and national level.

· Direct complex business case development, commercial strategies and programme governance.

· Work with political leaders, clinical leaders, regulators, national bodies and local communities.

· Lead the delivery of a modern, sustainable, digitally enabled healthcare campus designed for future generations.

We are looking for a leader who:

· Has successfully delivered major programmes, ideally exceeding £150m.

· Can unite clinicians, executives, system partners and national stakeholders around a common vision.

· Thrives in complex, high-profile environments where strategic thinking and decisive leadership are essential.

· Combines commercial acumen, programme expertise and outstanding stakeholder management skills.

· Wants to make a genuine difference through creating better healthcare environments and outcomes for patients and families.

The successful candidate will operate with significant autonomy, leading a diverse team of professionals and managing major strategic, financial, reputational and clinical risks while maintaining momentum through a highly complex national assurance and delivery process.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is at the heart of acute and specialist care for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We care for a population of around 470,000 people, a number that increases during visitor seasons. We employ around 6,700 staff, united by a shared commitment to deliver safe, high‑quality care. We provide services across three main hospital sites, with around 780 inpatient beds:

Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro

St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle

West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance

As a teaching hospital, we’re proud to work in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, the University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School, supporting the next generation of health professionals. We’re committed to staying at the forefront of medical advance; investing in our people, developing our facilities, and expanding the specialist care we can offer locally so more patients can receive the care they need closer to home. We have a growing reputation for research and innovation that helps shape better care for the future. The Knowledge Spa, located on our Truro site, is a vibrant hub for medical, nursing and professional education across clinical and non‑clinical roles. It plays a vital role in attracting, developing and retaining highly skilled teams.

We are driven by one clear ambition, Outstanding Care for One and All, care that’s safe, kind and high-quality. We are RCHT.

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side. 

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following: 

Identity Checks 

Professional registration and qualification checks 

Employment history and reference checks 

Occupational Health clearance

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check

Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit: 

https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation 

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

This advert closes on Monday 19 Oct 2026

Apply for this job

Related jobs