Job description
UH Sussex is seeking a visible, compassionate and values-led Chief Executive who can unite the organisation, strengthen its culture, and deliver on the ambitions of Excellent Care Everywhere – ensuring outstanding care for patients, colleagues and communities, now and into the future.
Job title:
Chief Executive Officer
Accountable to:
Trust Board
Salary:
Competitive, plus any allocated responsibility allowances
Location:
As required across all sites
Key relationships:
Executive Team, Trust Board, Trust Governors, Hospital Management Teams, ICS, other NHS Trusts, organisations within the Integrated Care Partnership, Auditors & Regulators
Job purpose
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides visible, values-led leadership for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UH Sussex), ensuring delivery of the Trust’s vision of Excellent Care Everywhere.
As Accountable Officer, the CEO will lead the organisation to deliver safe, high-quality and compassionate care, fostering a culture that is compassionate, inclusive and respectful. They will unite all parts of UH Sussex as One Trust, enabling colleagues to deliver improvement and innovation across our hospitals and services.
The CEO will be an authentic, outward-facing leader, representing the Trust with staff, partners, patients and regulators, and working collaboratively across the Surrey & Sussex Integrated Care System (ICS) to improve health outcomes, tackle inequalities and strengthen confidence in our local NHS.
Key responsibilities:
Visible, Values-Led Leadership
- Be a visible, compassionate and authentic leader, accessible to colleagues at every level and across all sites.
- Lead with integrity, humility and respect, modelling the Trust’s values in every action and decision.
- Create the conditions for psychological safety, so that colleagues feel listened to, supported and empowered to speak up.
- Communicate openly and honestly, ensuring clarity of purpose, priorities and accountability.
- Build a culture of trust and belonging through fairness, inclusion and consistency.
People, Culture and Organisational Development
- Lead a sustained programme to reset culture and morale, creating a workplace where colleagues feel valued, safe and proud to work.
- Embed compassionate and inclusive leadership at every level.
- Drive improvement in staff experience, engagement and retention, working closely with staff networks and leaders.
- Champion equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring equity of opportunity and voice.
- Promote wellbeing and realistic workloads, supporting colleagues to thrive.
Strategy, System and Partnership Leadership
- Deliver the ambitions of the Trust’s 2025–2030 Strategy – Excellent Care Everywhere, ensuring progress across all five priorities:
- Excellent care for our patients
- Excellent care for our people
- Excellent care for our communities
- Excellent care for the future
- Excellent care together (One UH Sussex)
- Unite the Trust operationally and culturally, completing the journey to One UH Sussex.
- Work collaboratively across the Surrey & Sussex ICS and with partners in local government, universities, primary care, and the voluntary sector.
- Act as a visible ambassador for the Trust, influencing regionally and nationally.
- Champion research, education, and digital innovation to improve outcomes and experience.
Performance, Improvement and Sustainability
- Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, safe, effective and equitable care.
- Strengthen operational performance and patient flow, driving sustainable improvement.
- Maintain clear oversight of financial performance, ensuring transparency and grip.
- Promote innovation, improvement and modernisation, ensuring the Trust’s estate and digital infrastructure support excellence.
- Balance ambition with realism – ensuring change is thoughtfully planned and carefully delivered.
Governance and Accountability
- Act as Accountable Officer under the NHS Foundation Trust regulatory framework.
- Ensure robust systems of governance, risk management and assurance.
- Provide accurate, timely information to the Board and regulators.
- Uphold the highest standards of ethics, probity and stewardship.
- Build public confidence through honesty, openness and delivery.