Programme Lead Absence Improvement Programme

Job Introduction

Programme Lead Absence Improvement Programme

Contract: Fixed Term 12 months, 37.5 hours
Location: Derby or Oldbury with travel to other DHU sites
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £64,234 - £74,905 per annum

Lead change that improves colleague experience and strengthens services.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Programme Lead to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for DHU Healthcare’s Board-approved Absence Improvement Programme.

This is a senior leadership role where you will be accountable for the successful delivery of programme objectives, ensuring improvements in attendance management translate into enhanced colleague experience, improved operational resilience, reduced organisational risk and delivery of agreed financial benefits.

At DHU Healthcare, we are a team driven by compassion, respect and encouragement, where contributions are valued and every voice is heard. Together, we make a meaningful impact for our colleagues, patients and communities.

Working across organisational boundaries, you will establish effective governance arrangements, oversee programme implementation, lead a multidisciplinary programme team and work collaboratively with operational leaders to embed sustainable improvements in attendance management practice.

You will bring credibility, resilience and strong judgement, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and translate strategic ambition into practical operational delivery.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly experienced workforce transformation leader who can lead complex change, build sponsorship across the organisation and ensure programme benefits are delivered and embedded into business-as-usual practice.

As Programme Lead, you will:

• 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 escalate 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

You’ll bring:

• 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.

For you, benefits that work.

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

For more information on the full range of benefits available, click here.

Learning, leading, shaping healthcare.

At DHU Healthcare, we support your growth at every stage of your career. With clear career paths, tailored training and the DHU Academy, you’ll have the tools and encouragement to explore new skills and opportunities, take the next step and make an impact.

From leadership programmes and apprenticeships to essential role-specific training, development is part of how we work and shape healthcare together.

Together, reflecting our communities.

We believe great care starts with people feeling valued, respected and supported. That’s why we’re proud to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and welcome colleagues 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.

For more information on how DHU can support you, please click here.

Ready to make the difference?

If you are a credible and experienced transformation leader who can deliver complex workforce change, improve colleague experience and help strengthen operational resilience across DHU, we’d love to hear from you.

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