CQC Interim Deputy Director of Programme Delivery

Executive Level 3 – £75,183 – £107,896 perannum
Contracted Hours: Full time 37 hours per week
Contract Type:  Secondment / Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2027
Location: Home-based,with travel to meetings as required 
Closing Date:  Friday 29 May 2026 at11.59pm
Interview Date: TBC via MS Teams

Make a difference
Every role at CQC contributes toour mission.

We are seeking an interim experiencedand credible Deputy Director of Programme Delivery to lead thesuccessful delivery of a defined programme of complex projects that will shapethe effectiveness and efficiency of operational support and enabling servicesat CQC.

As a senior leader within theProject Delivery Profession, you will be accountable for end‑to‑end delivery,working closely with the Programme Director, Senior Responsible Owners (SRO),and Deputy Director peers across Business Change, Portfolio Assurance andQuality Improvement. You will operate in an environment of complexity anduncertainty, delivering robust governance, proactive risk management, andorganisational readiness for change.

This is a high‑profile rolerequiring strong leadership, excellent stakeholder engagement skills, and aproven track record of delivering large‑scale, peoplecentred, politically sensitive or technically complex programmes.

Picture this
We areseeking an experienced and motivated individual who can:

. Lead and shape improvements, ensuring robust frameworks and processes.
. Drive alignment between organisational priorities and change initiatives, embedding best practice and statutory compliance.

The role

 In this fixed term role, you’ll:

. Create an environment in which projects can succeed – working effectively together and managing dependencies.
. Deliver benefits and outcomes as set out in the business case remaining in scope, on time, on budget and with the appropriate competencies and capabilities to succeed.
. Build and maintain a strong delivery-focused project/programme and business change cross-functional team.
. Provide leadership and direct larger multi-disciplinary teams to deliver successfully.

Show us
We will be looking for specificskills, knowledge and experience in your application form:

. Significant experience delivering multiple projects or programmes focused on organisational design and implementation across low to high levels of complexity, including business change
. Strong leadership capability with experience of leading large, matrix‑managed, multi‑disciplinary teams
. Excellent stakeholder management skills, including influencing at Executive and Board level  

How to apply…
To apply for this role, please submit a copyof your CV and Supporting Statement (nomore than750-words) via theRecruitment System.  
  
Your Supporting Statement should cover the following:  
  
– How your previous experience makes you suitable for this role?  
– What strengths will you bring to the role that will have an immediatepositive impact?

**You will also be requiredto complete additional role specific questions at the beginning of yourapplication**

If you’d liketo have an informal chat about the role you cancontact Fiona Dolman, Programme Director on Fiona. Dolman@cqc.org.uk
For generalenquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk 

Compliance
Note for internal candidates:
This is a secondment/fixed termopportunity. Please read the recruitment and selection policy section onsecondments. You must discuss your application with your linemanager before applying.
To progress your application, you’ll need to provide evidence of your right towork in the UK. Without valid right to work you won’t be eligible for therole. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Someroles may also be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Next steps
If you apply, you’ll need to create a profile and complete an online application form. Your application will be completely anonymous.  Please see our information for applicants for more details on the process. We contact every applicant to let them know the outcome of their application, so you will hear from us whether or not you are shortlisted.
You can read the full details of the role in the Job Description: JD Deputy Director Programme Delivery

Candidate Information Pack available upon request

The Benefits
Weoffer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Annual leave starting at 27 days per year, rising to 32.5 days with service, plus bank holidays (usually 8 days per year).
• Training and development opportunities.
• Wellbeing initiatives, such as gym discounts and meditation.
• NHS pension scheme, with around 14% employer contribution.
• Discount schemes (including eligibility for a Blue Light card, at a cost of £4.99 and valid for 2 years), reward vouchers, car leasing and more!

Please see our benefits page for the full list.

Equity for all
We know job descriptions can feel intimidating. Research shows they can cause some people to doubt whether they’re a good fit. This happens more often to people from underrepresented groups (e.g. ethnic minority backgrounds). If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience could be exactly what we need.
We want every candidate to feel supported and able to do their best. If you need adjustments to our process, we’ll work with you to remove any barriers. Visit our accessibility page for more on this. If you’d like to chat, please contact recruitment@cqc.org.uk. Please note, if you have previously informed us of adjustments you need for interview or within your role these are not carried over and must be discussed for each individual application you make.
We promote a workplace where fairness, respect and inclusion are a priority. Diverse teams make our work better, help us deliver our mission and make our culture stronger. See our ED&I page for more about this.
We welcomeapplications from everyone, and colleagues can find supportand community among our many employee networks. This includes people of any:

• Age
• Sex
• Gender identity or expression
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• Ethnicity
• Disability

Values and vision
We are guided by our core values, which shape our work and our culture.
Excellence – being a high-performing organisation.
Caring – treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Integrity – doing the right thing.
Teamwork – learning from each other to be the best we can.
We are a disability confident employer and a carer confident employer.

A Note on AI
AI tools can be great for research and refining ideas, but we want to learn about you. If you use AI or Chatbots to help you with your application, keep these points in mind:

•        AI can support research, structuring and refining your writing, but your application must reflect your real skills and experience.
•        Spell-checking and condensing word counts are great ways to use AI effectively.
•        Do not copy and paste AI generated answers. These will not help you stand out; remember we want to hear about your skills and experience.
•        Providing false and insincere examples goes against our core values of honesty and integrity and may lead to your application being withdrawn or termination of your employment.