Managing Director

Primary Healthcare Darlington (PHD) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Managing Director to provide inspirational operational leadership across our growing organisation. As a federation owned by 11 GP practices serving over 112,000 patients, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, sustainable healthcare. In this critical leadership role, you will drive business growth, financial sustainability, and service innovation while ensuring that our patient-centred vision remains at the heart of everything we do. Your ability to foster a culture of collaboration, inspire staff and local stakeholders, and navigate the evolving healthcare landscape will be essential to our continued success.

Reporting directly to the Board, you will provide exceptional leadership and oversee operational delivery, organisational governance, risk management, workforce development, and performance improvement. You will be responsible for developing strategic plans, securing new business opportunities, and maintaining strong partnerships with local healthcare providers, commissioners, and community organisations.

We are looking for an influential and visionary leader with a proven track record in managing complex healthcare environments, driving operational excellence, and leading through change. If you are passionate about making a lasting impact on primary care and have the skills to lead PHD into its next phase of growth, we would love to hear from you.

Interviews will be 20th March 2025

Main duties of the job

1. Provide day-to-day operational leadership across all areas of PHD operations.

Immediate priorities

1. Provide visible, confident and compassionate leadership.
2. Consolidate the financial sustainability of the organisation, taking and creating opportunities for growth and service development.
3. Continue our journey of organisational change, supporting the development and effective operation of our organisation.
4. Inspire local stakeholders, including member practices, to strengthen their engagement with PHD.

About us

PHD was established in 2014 as the GP federation owned by the 11 GP Practices across the Town covering a population of over 112,000 patients in Darlington, County Durham. We have close links with Darlington Borough Council, local NHS Foundation Trusts and the Integrated Care Board. We also work closely with and provide support to the Darlington Primary Care Network (PCN). We enable the 11 Practices to work together at scale to ensure consistent and equitable NHS services for the patients of Darlington. Working from our dedicated premises close to Darlington Memorial Hospital we provide NHS, Public Health and Private Medical Services. As well as providing support and opportunities for at-scale working to our member practices and the PCN we are a healthcare provider delivering a range of General Practice and health and wellbeing services for communities across the area.

Mission Statement

To provide sustainable high-quality healthcare, which ensures the best outcomes for the population of Darlington.

Our Vision

General Practices working collaboratively, in partnership with our communities and other service providers, adopting new and innovative approaches to deliver sustainable healthcare.

Job responsibilities

1. Provide day-to-day operational leadership across all areas of PHD operations.
2. Lead the development of PHD as a thriving business. Develop the organisation, its staff, partners and wider team members with a focus on growth and financial sustainability, improving existing services and developing new areas of innovative practice and service development.
3. Support and reinforce our open, positive can-do and progressive culture that supports business growth and makes PHD an enjoyable and fulfilling place to work.
4. Operate as a key advisor to the PHD Board of Directors and be responsible for the effective governance of the organisation in conjunction with the Chair of the Board. Ensure that the actions of the Board are those which will contribute to ensuring the best decisions for the patients of local practices.
5. Manage the key risks and issues associated with delivery of the organisational strategy, ensuring appropriate actions are taken to mitigate or respond, ensuring that PHD Healthcare operates within its resources and in accordance with contractual specifications.
6. Engage at a senior level within the local Health System as a credible partner, including liaising, negotiating and collaborating with all partners to the benefit of the local population.

This role is available working up to full time (37.5) with a minimum of 30 hours/week. Flexible working arrangements will be considered.

Person Specification

Experience

• Please see attached Job description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£75,000 a year more may be available for an exceptional candidate.