Chief Delivery Officer
Job Description
Job summary
The Chief Delivery Officer (CDO) provides senior executive leadership for the strategic and operational delivery of Primary Care Alliance (PCA) services, ensuring the effective translation of strategic objectives into high-quality, sustainable services. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CDO holds significant autonomy and accountability for overseeing performance management, workforce development, HR, financial management, and service delivery governance.
While the CEO sets the organisations strategic vision and oversee corporate stewardship, the CDO is responsible for turning that strategy into operational reality, ensuring that systems, teams, and processes function effectively to deliver on the organisations goals.
As a core member of the executive team, the CDO works collaboratively with the CEO, Head of Strategy and Planning, and Board of Directors to develop, implement, and monitor the organisations Business Plan and strategic priorities. The postholder will lead the continuous improvement of services, ensuring safe, effective, and efficient care delivery within a financially viable and clinically robust framework.
The CDO will provide timely, accurate performance data and operational intelligence to inform decision-making and resource allocation, optimising healthcare outcomes while maintaining financial stability. They will also advise the Board on all operational matters, including finance, HR, and service development.
Main duties of the job
- Manage and grow services through integrated bids, business cases, and by engaging external resources when necessary.
- Lead business development, mobilisation, and decommissioning of services, securing resources with the strategic support of the CEO.
- Lead the quality, performance, financial management, and service improvement of PCA services and back-office functions, utilising external resources as needed.
- Line manage the senior management team, working in partnership with Board Directors for clinical accountability.
- Foster a commercially focused, patient-centric culture across the organisation.
- Ensure quality and performance in clinical services in collaboration with the Head of Operations.
- Develop and strengthen partnerships with PCNs, acute hospitals, social care, third sector, and mental health providers.
- Support the design of innovative, integrated clinical models and patient pathways, promoting care closer to home and effective use of system resources.
- Collaborate with NHS and local government partners to support population health commissioning and the health and wellbeing agenda.
- Represent PCA at BOB-wide forums, the Integrated Delivery Board, and national bodies such as NHS England and HEE, ensuring the voice of community services is heard and strategy is informed.
About us
The Primary Care Alliance CIC is a GP-led provider organisation delivering high quality primary care services at scale across Berkshire West.
Representing 36 member practices serving a population of over 580,000 residents, the Alliance works collaboratively with general practice, Primary Care Networks, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) to design, mobilise and deliver high-quality healthcare closer to home.
Our ambition is to strengthen primary care through collaboration, innovation and operational excellence. Over the next five years the Alliance intends to significantly expand its portfolio of commissioned services, supporting the delivery of neighbourhood health, integrated care and innovative models of primary care across Berkshire West.
Our current portfolio includes the Reading Urgent Care Centre, Women's Health Hub, Lipid Optimisation Programme and Practice Resilience services, with an ambitious programme of growth including Same Day Access, proactive frailty services, neighbourhood health and future commissioned services.
As a Community Interest Company, we exist to improve health outcomes for our local population while supporting the sustainability of general practice across Berkshire West.
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The postholder will be responsible for:
- Manage and grow services through integrated bids, business cases, and by engaging external resources when necessary.
- Identify and exploit new commercial opportunities, working alongside the CEO and Head of Planning and Strategy to drive growth and diversify the service portfolio.
- Lead business development, mobilisation, and decommissioning of services, securing resources with the strategic support of the CEO.
- Lead the quality, performance, financial management, and service improvement of PCA services and back-office functions, utilising external resources as needed.
- Line manage the senior management team, working in partnership with Board Directors for clinical accountability.
- Foster a commercially focused, patient-centric culture across the organisation.
- Provide leadership and development for a diverse, highly qualified workforce, ensuring staff engagement and succession planning.
- Ensure quality and performance in clinical services in collaboration with the Head of Operations.
- Lead the operational response to incidents, including major incidents requiring command and control.
- Develop and strengthen partnerships with PCNs, acute hospitals, social care, third sector, and mental health providers.
- Support the design of innovative, integrated clinical models and patient pathways, promoting care closer to home and effective use of system resources.
- Collaborate with NHS and local government partners to support population health commissioning and the health and wellbeing agenda.
- Align PCA activities with GPLG to maximise efficiency and reduce duplication.
- Represent PCA at BOB-wide forums, the Integrated Delivery Board, and national bodies such as NHS England and HEE, ensuring the voice of community services is heard and strategy is informed.
LEADERSHIP & CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Uphold PCAs mission to deliver outstanding, patient-centred services and promote its strategic direction and values.
- As a senior leader, share responsibility with fellow Directors for achieving organisational performance and financial targets, ensuring high-quality care and service delivery.
- Lead the operations team and ensure effective budget management, staff appraisals, mandatory training, and ongoing professional development for managerial staff.
- Develop and maintain effective processes and systems to review the Corporate Risk Register and Board Assurance Framework in relation to operational services.
- Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, including the Companies Act, and lead operational readiness for regulatory inspections and reporting requirements, including Care Quality Commission compliance.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion across the workforce and ensure Berkshire West PCA meets all related legal and policy obligations.
- Exercise joint responsibility for the delivery of both statutory and non-statutory organisational objectives, long-term planning, and the development of strategies, policies, and operational plans.
- Attend all Board and relevant sub-committee meetings, actively contributing to governance, assurance, and strategic decision-making.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP
1. Lead the strategic development and operational management of all PCA services, ensuring delivery of high-quality care, achievement of local and national targets, and compliance with governance and regulatory frameworks.
2. Oversee service improvement, transformation projects, and mobilisation/decommissioning of services, maintaining robust systems and procedures across all operational areas.
3. Provide assurance reports to the Board and sub-committees on operational performance, risk, and governance.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
4. Hold budget responsibility for all services and projects, providing effective financial oversight and working closely with the Finance Manager and external accountants.
5. Ensure sound budgetary control, monitoring expenditure, leading financial recovery projects as required, and reporting financial performance to the Board.
6. Support income generation through contract negotiations and new service development.
PARTNERSHIPS AND SYSTEM WORKING
7. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with the ICB, GP and other NHS providers, and voluntary sector organisations to promote integrated service delivery.
8. Represent PCA at local and national forums, ensuring the voice of community services is heard in system planning and commissioning.
9. Promote service user engagement and incorporate patient feedback into ...
