ePath Programme Director

The post holder will provide strategic and operational leadership for the design, build, implementation and optimisation of the network ePath LIMS across three NHS Trusts.

Leading a complex, multi-organisational digital transformation programme, ensuring delivery against agreed milestones, budgets and objectives.

Establishing robust programme governance, reporting, risk management and assurance arrangements.

Coordinating interdependent clinical, operational, digital and technical workstreams across participating organisations.

Managing programme finances, resources, supplier relationships and contractual dependencies.

Engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including executive sponsors, SROs, clinical leaders and digital teams.

Overseeing implementation planning, testing, validation, operational readiness and safe transition into live services.

Managing programme risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation and escalation.

Supporting standardisation, interoperability, organisational change and benefits realisation across the network.

Providing clear programme assurance and strategic recommendations to the ePath Programme Board.

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The post holder will have significant strategic and operational autonomy and will be responsible for directing the delivery of a highly complex, multi-organisational pathology digital transformation programme.

Provide strategic leadership for the design, build, implementation and optimisation of the network ePath LIMS across Northumbria Healthcare, North Cumbria Integrated Care and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals.

Lead the development and delivery of the programme plan, ensuring alignment with organisational, network and NHS digital transformation priorities.

Establish and maintain effective programme governance, reporting, risk management, change control and assurance arrangements.

Coordinate multiple interdependent workstreams covering LIMS, middleware, analyser interfaces, electronic requesting, data migration, interoperability and associated digital infrastructure.

Provide oversight of programme finances, workforce resources, procurement, supplier contracts and implementation activities.

Develop effective working relationships with senior clinical, operational, digital and executive stakeholders across participating organisations.

Lead programme risk management, ensuring timely identification, mitigation and escalation of risks, issues and dependencies.

Oversee testing, validation, verification and implementation readiness, ensuring patient safety, data integrity, service continuity and regulatory compliance.

Provide strategic oversight of implementation sequencing, deployment planning, business continuity and transition to business-as-usual support arrangements.

Lead organisational change, promoting collaboration, standardisation and improved ways of working across pathology services.

Ensure compliance with relevant UKAS, MHRA, information governance, cybersecurity and NHS digital requirements.

Provide regular programme performance, financial, risk and benefits realisation reports to the ePath Programme Board, SROs and executive stakeholders.

Lead, support and develop multidisciplinary programme teams, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and accountable leadership culture.

Ensure programme objectives, agreed milestones and benefits are delivered within available resources and timescales.

The Programme Director will be accountable to the Network ePath Programme Board and will work closely with the Chief Information Officer, Senior Responsible Officer and senior leaders across the three participating organisations to ensure successful programme delivery.

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.

Qualifications / Professional Registration