Associate Director of Nursing: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) is seeking two exceptional nursing leaders to join the Division of Medicine at Aintree University Hospital as newly created Associate Directors of Nursing.

Reporting to the Divisional Director of Nursing and AHPs, these influential roles offer the opportunity to shape patient care, workforce development, quality improvement and service transformation across some of the Trust’s largest and most complex services.

We are recruiting to two portfolios:

• Associate Director of Nursing – Acute and Emergency Medicine, Discharge and Flow
• Associate Director of Nursing – General and Specialist Medicine

As a member of the Divisional Senior Leadership Team, you will provide visible professional leadership, driving excellence in patient safety, patient experience, operational performance and nursing practice. Working closely with senior clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, you will help deliver the Trust’s ambitions for outstanding care while leading significant programmes of improvement and change.

These are rare opportunities to influence services at scale, develop future nursing leaders and contribute to the strategic direction of one of the UK’s largest teaching hospital organisations. Whether leading services at the hospital front door or driving innovation across specialist medical services, you will play a pivotal role in improving outcomes for patients and staff.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Divisional Director of Nursing and AHPs, the Associate Director of Nursing is a key member of the Divisional Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic, professional and operational leadership across their portfolio within the Division of Medicine.

The post holder will lead the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care, ensuring services meet professional, regulatory and organisational standards. Working in partnership with senior clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, they will contribute to divisional strategy, service performance and quality improvement.

As a visible and influential nursing leader, they will champion excellence in patient care, patient safety, workforce development, staff engagement and transformation. They will promote continuous improvement, innovation and compassionate leadership while ensuring the highest standards of nursing practice.

The role holds responsibility for quality governance, patient experience, workforce planning, talent development, operational performance and the delivery of change programmes. Working collaboratively across organisational and system boundaries, the post holder will support the development of responsive, sustainable and high-performing services.

The Associate Director of Nursing will help shape divisional priorities, develop future nursing leaders and drive improvements that enhance outcomes, experience and value for patients, staff and the wider organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• First level registration NMC
• Degree level qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Evidence of knowledge to Master’s level or equivalent
• Significant evidence of post registration continued professional development
• Evidence of Leadership development

Desirable

• Post-graduate/registration Management or Training qualification /equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Significant management and leadership experience to including experience of working at a senior level
• Demonstrable experience of leading clinical innovation or leading change within clinical practice
• Demonstrable experience in , workforce planning, managing resources budgetary and financial management
• Demonstrable experience in development of Nursing/ therapies / radiographers as professional in their practice
• Evidence of relevant involvement in meeting the Trust Quality and Patient Safety objectives
• Evidence of making operational judgements involving highly complex facts/ situations
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain high standards of care and team management over a sustained period
• Evidence of networking ,working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries

Desirable

• Research experience

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding and appreciation of diversity
• Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on the nursing professions and services
• Principles and impact of the NHS Constitution

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of computerised financial, management, budgetary management, and workforce information systems
• Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy

Closing Date: 16 August 2026