Programme Lead – Absence Improvement Programme
Contract: Fixed Term 12 months, 37.5 hoursLocation: Derby or Oldbury with travel to other DHU sitesBand: Band 8bSalary: £64,234 – £74,905 per annum
Lead change that improves colleague experience and strengthens services. This senior leadership role is accountable for the successful delivery of the Board‑approved Absence Improvement Programme, ensuring improvements in attendance management translate into enhanced colleague experience, operational resilience, reduced risk and agreed financial benefits.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, mobilisation and delivery of the Absence Improvement Programme
- Translate programme objectives into clear delivery plans, milestones and success measures
- Ensure programme delivery remains aligned to organisational priorities and Board expectations
- Establish and maintain effective programme governance arrangements
- Provide regular progress reports to Executive teams and Board committees
- Develop dashboards, metrics and reporting frameworks
- Monitor programme progress, manage risks and escalates barriers appropriately
- Lead benefits realisation, including financial savings and workforce improvements
- Develop communication and engagement approaches for leaders, managers and colleagues
- Influence and challenge senior leaders to improve accountability for attendance management
- Facilitate collaborative working across People & Culture, Operational Services, Occupational Health and Workforce Planning
- Identify and address cultural barriers to attendance improvement
- Promote fair, compassionate and inclusive attendance management practice
- Lead and support People Programme Managers and other programme resources
- Ensure programme outputs are successfully transitioned into business‑as‑usual arrangements
Qualifications
- Masters‑level education or equivalent experience
- CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience
- Significant experience leading complex workforce transformation programmes
- Experience establishing programme governance arrangements
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and Executive teams
- Experience delivering change across large operational environments
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
- Demonstrable experience of benefits realisation
- Credibility, resilience and sound judgement in complex and sensitive workforce environments
- Experience of attendance, wellbeing or workforce productivity improvement programmes, NHS, healthcare, urgent care or 24/7 operational environments would be advantageous
- Programme management qualifications such as MSP, Prince2, Agile or equivalent experience would also be desirable
Benefits
We’ll support your health, happiness and future with benefits that put you first:
- Access to the NHS pension scheme
- Wellbeing support
- Flexible working options
- Career growth and development opportunities
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We believe great care starts with people feeling valued, respected and supported. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident Employer we welcome candidates to share any support or reasonable adjustments they may need during the recruitment process. We proudly support the Armed Forces community, recognising the strengths and dedication they bring.
Ready to make a difference? If you are a credible and experienced transformation leader who can deliver complex workforce change, improve colleague experience and strengthen operational resilience across DHU, we’d love to hear from you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…