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Project Improvement Manager – Cancer Diagnostics
The closing date is 12 October 2026
Band 7
East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA)
Location: County Hall, Leicester (Hybrid Working)
Are you passionate about service improvement and transforming diagnostic pathways to deliver better outcomes for patients?
The East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA) is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Project Improvement Manager – Cancer Diagnostics to support the delivery of innovative programmes that improve cancer diagnostics across the East Midlands.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of regional cancer transformation, helping to redesign diagnostic pathways, improve operational performance and ensure patients receive earlier diagnoses and faster access to treatment.
Working alongside clinical leaders, provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and NHS England, you’ll play a key role in delivering improvements across endoscopy, pathology and wider diagnostic services.
Vacancy may close early if sufficient applications received
Main duties of the job
As a Project Improvement Manager, you will support the delivery of complex transformation programmes that improve diagnostic services and cancer performance across the East Midlands.
Working with Senior Programme Managers and multidisciplinary teams, you’ll coordinate projects from development through to implementation, ensuring improvements are delivered effectively, on time and in partnership with organisations across the region.
You’ll use data, improvement methodologies and collaborative working to identify opportunities, redesign pathways and deliver sustainable improvements that directly benefit patients.
What you’ll do
You’ll play a key role in delivering regional diagnostic improvement by:
Supporting implementation of cancer transformation and improvement programmes.
Working with NHS providers to improve diagnostic pathways and operational performance.
Leading projects focused on reducing delays and improving access to cancer diagnostics.
Supporting pathway redesign across endoscopy and pathology services.
Focus areas
This role has a particular focus on improving diagnostic services across the East Midlands, including:
Pathology turnaround times and reporting capacity
Diagnostic waiting time reduction
Cancer Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)
One-stop and streamlined diagnostic pathways
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact,
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do – taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive,
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
Job responsibilities
About you
We’re looking for someone who is passionate about improvement and enjoys working across organisational boundaries to solve complex problems.
You’ll have:
Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, with additional specialist knowledge or qualifications in programme or service improvement.
Experience supporting or leading healthcare improvement or transformation projects.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Experience interpreting performance data and using it to support improvement.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
The confidence to work independently while building productive relationships across the NHS.
A collaborative and proactive approach to improving patient care.
Why join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance?
At EMCA you’ll become part of a high-performing regional team committed to improving cancer services for more than five million people.
We offer the opportunity to:
Lead meaningful improvement projects with real patient impact.
Work alongside experienced clinical leaders and improvement specialists.
Influence how cancer diagnostic services are designed and delivered.
Develop expertise in pathway transformation and operational improvement.
Build strong partnerships across the NHS and wider healthcare system.
We also offer:
Hybrid and flexible working.
Generous annual leave.
Professional development and career progression opportunities.
A supportive and collaborative team environment.
Working arrangements
The role is based at County Hall, Leicester, with hybrid working available. Regular travel throughout the East Midlands is required, including attendance at provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and regional meetings. The successful candidate will also work on‑site within acute provider organisations when required to support pathway improvement, operational performance recovery and diagnostic transformation.
Every improvement you deliver has the potential to reduce waiting times, speed up diagnosis and improve outcomes for patients affected by cancer.
If you’re passionate about service improvement, enjoy working collaboratively and want to make a lasting difference across the NHS, we’d love to hear from you.
Join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and help transform cancer diagnostics across the region.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
- Degree level or equivalent knowledge and experience
- Diploma level qualification or experience in specialist area
Communication and Relationship Skills
- Provide and receive highly complex/sensitive/ contentious information where there maybe barriers to understanding that will need developed persuasion, negotiation, reassurance and empathy skills
Analytical and judgement skill
- Complex facts, situation that require analysis, interpretation and comparison to ensure compliance
Planning and organisational skills
- Plan and organise a broad range complex activities requiring formulation and adjustment. Facilitate collaborative working, implement new ways of working
Responsibilities for policy and service deployment implementation
- Lead on service development for specialist area. Lead on policy development for specific area that may have wider implications for working practices
Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
- Hold delegated budget for service area. Authorised signatory for expenses and small payments.
Responsibilities for human resources
- Line manager for department. Manage the delivery of teaching and development interventions
Responsibilities for information resources
- Regularly Develops and maintains reports and documents pertaining to area of responsibility from numerous sources or use by various audiences
Responsibilities for research and development
- Undertakes surveys pertaining to own area of work
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.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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