Managing Directors (x4) – University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) is seeking to appoint four outstanding Managing Directors to lead its clinical divisions at a pivotal stage in the Trust’s development.

UHSussex is one of the largest and most complex NHS organisations in the country, serving a diverse population across seven hospital sites. The Trust is united by a clear ambition — Excellent Care Everywhere — and a strong commitment to compassionate, inclusive and respectful leadership.

The future Managing Directors will lead the following four clinical divisions:
• Medicine
• Surgery
• Cancer and Specialist Services
• Women, Children and Clinical Support Services

These are senior executive leadership roles, with both corporate and divisional accountability, responsible for the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred services across all seven hospital sites within each Division. Each role represents a significant executive portfolio, with responsibility for services operating at major acute, specialist and tertiary scale.

Each Managing Director will lead a division with annual turnover of c.£250m–£350m, c.1,900–4,000 WTE staff, and up to c.330 consultants, depending on division. Services are delivered across multiple hospital sites, requiring strong grip, visible leadership and the ability to drive performance, integration and improvement at scale.

Managing Directors will contribute collectively to Trust-wide performance, transformation and recovery, operating as corporate leaders and placing the interests of One UHSussex at the heart of decision-making. They will be accountable for delivering divisional performance in line with the Trust’s transformation and recovery plans, and for supporting sustainable improvement across quality, access, workforce and finance.

Each Managing Director will lead the Divisional Leadership Team, with the Divisional Medical Director, Divisional Director of Nursing and Divisional Director of Operations reporting to the MD. Together, the divisional triumvirate will provide strong, inclusive leadership, elevating the clinical voice from directorates through the divisional structure, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

The Managing Directors will be members of the Executive Management Committee, will attend the Trust Board and relevant Board Assurance Committees, and will contribute at Board level to assurance, grip and delivery. They will chair monthly Divisional Delivery Boards, ensuring clear oversight of performance and progress, and will work closely with executive colleagues and fellow Managing Directors to drive cross-divisional and cross-site improvement and standardisation.

We are seeking experienced, values-led senior leaders with a strong track record of delivery in large, complex healthcare organisations. You will bring credibility with senior clinicians and partners, sound judgement in complex environments, and a clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

UHSussex welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds and particularly encourages applications from groups underrepresented in senior NHS leadership.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our search partners at Hunter Healthcare via Finn Mcnulty, Associate Partner on e:fmcnulty@hunter-healthcare.com or t:07966 006091

Candidate Information Pack