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NHS England
About
NHS England’s purpose is to create the conditions for an ambitious and high quality NHS. We empower our people and partners to solve problems, provide outstanding care for every patient and improve the nation's health.
Our 7 regional teams work directly with systems and NHS providers across the country. Each region acts as the interface between national strategy and local delivery, overseeing performance, supporting improvement and enabling transformation at scale.
Director General for System Development
Accepting applications until: 14-Apr-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 14-Apr-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Wellington Place or Wellington House
- Town
- Leeds or London
- Postcode
- SE1 8UG
- Major / Minor Region
- West Yorkshire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (or Secondment until 31st March 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Grade
- ESM 3
Specialty
- Main area
- System Development
Our Organisation
We share the core values set out in the NHS Constitution, which all colleagues are expected to demonstrate.
We support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you and your colleagues. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement, whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern.
Job overview
NHS England is seeking an outstanding system leader to undertake this high‑impact Director General for System Development role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive.
This secondment or fixed‑term opportunity offers a unique chance to shape the future operating model of the NHS at a critical point of transition. You will lead the national approach to commissioning and contracting, oversee the direct commissioning of specialised services and screening, and build system capability to deliver the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Plan, including neighbourhood health.
Advert
You will play a central role in the transition of functions as NHS England staff move into DHSC, working closely with Ministers, senior officials and NHS leaders to design and establish an end‑state model for system development that strengthens local autonomy, improves outcomes and delivers efficiency.
The role carries accountability for significant budgets and leadership of a large, multidisciplinary workforce. You will operate at pace in a complex and evolving environment, providing clear leadership, sound judgement and a strong focus on delivery.
This opportunity is ideally suited to an experienced executive leader looking to make a defined, lasting contribution to national system reform—bringing deep expertise in commissioning, contracting and system leadership, and the credibility to influence at the highest levels of government and the NHS.
Working for our organisation
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
We lead the NHS in England by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money
Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.
If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person specification
System Leadership and Improvement
Essential criteria
- A proven record of leading large, complex health or care systems through measurable improvements in quality, outcomes, productivity or financial performance.
- Demonstrable experience diagnosing system-wide performance issues and personally driving the interventions that delivered sustainable change.
Executive-level leadership with a delivery mandate
Essential criteria
- Substantial senior leadership experience at board and executive level where you have successfully led major organisational or system reforms, aligning diverse stakeholders, resolving barriers, and ensuring benefits are realised in fast-moving, complex, and often contested environments.
- Evidence of operating confidently with Ministers, NHS leaders and senior officials to take decisions that directly shape national system performance
Strategic Partnership and System Influence
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to influence, align and mobilise senior stakeholders across organisational and professional boundaries to resolve barriers and unlock delivery.
- Strong credibility working across government, the NHS, public health and local systems, with a clear understanding of the political and operational dynamics of national system leadership.
Commissioning, Contracting and Operating Model Expertise
Essential criteria
- Deep understanding of health service commissioning and contracting, including experience influencing or designing operating models that strengthen capability and accountability across a national system.
- Experience applying commissioning levers, regulatory tools or market-shaping approaches to improve outcomes and enable local autonomy.
Proven leadership of high-performing teams during delivery challenges
Essential criteria
- A track record of leading teams through ambiguity and operational pressure, building an inclusive, resilient culture that enables people to perform and deliver at pace.
Exceptional judgement and crisis leadership grounded in real delivery experience
Essential criteria
- Proven capability to lead incident or emergency responses, or major incidents, applying sound judgement, calm decision-making and integrity to stabilise situations and ensure continuity of critical services.
Documents
- Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 352.6KB)
- Functional Requirements (PDF, 69.8KB)
- NHSE - Verification of ID and RTW Guide (PDF, 306.6KB)
- Guide to Completing Your Application (DOCX, 42.7KB)
- Note for Existing NHS Employees applying for Fixed Term vacancies (DOCX, 26.2KB)
- Redundancy Clawback (PDF, 16.7KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jackie Sutherland
- Job title
- Senior Business Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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