Chief Medical Officer: Sponsorship Available

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to join our Executive Team and Trust Board as a full voting member. This is a unique opportunity for an outstanding clinician and inclusive leader to help shape the future of our organisation, provide strategic leadership to our medical workforce, and deliver our vision for patients and communities.

As a key member of the Executive Team, you will lead improvements in quality, safety, innovation, and clinical excellence, ensuring the highest standards of patient care while supporting the Trust’s ongoing transformation and long-term success.

You will inspire clinical teams, champion innovative models of care, and work collaboratively with health, social care, and community partners to improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities. The role also offers significant system leadership opportunities, developing strategic partnerships and shaping services across our communities.

Main duties of the job

Whether you are an experienced Medical Director seeking your next executive challenge or a senior clinical leader ready for your first Board-level appointment, you will bring:

  • A strong leadership track record in a complex healthcare environment.
  • A demonstrable commitment to putting patients first.
  • A clear vision for high-quality, innovative clinical service delivery
  • Credibility and influence across professional groups.
  • A commitment to inclusive leadership and cultural change.
  • The ability to embed organisational values and create an environment where colleagues can thrive.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust at a pivotal stage in its development, working alongside an ambitious and supportive Executive Team and Board to drive sustainable improvement and innovation.

We are committed to increasing Board diversity and particularly welcome applications from individuals currently underrepresented at Board level.

If your ambition matches ours, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understands the strategic direction of the local and regional health economy.
  • In depth understanding of CQC, NICE, NHS England regulations
  • Expertise in medical revalidation and its importance for upholding public confidence
  • A track record of leading service improvement in a complex environment and working collaboratively across systems

Qualifications

Essential

  • Dr or Dentist with full professional registration with GMC/GDC
  • Relevant Postgraduate qualification
  • Evidence of CPD

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience as a medical leader within a large NHS provider
  • Experience and strategic understanding of Integrated Care Systems and the forward health care economy.
  • Experience in a range of health organisations.

Desirable

  • Significant executive director experience in a similarly complex organisation or system.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 2 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.