Chief Executive | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 06 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Dependant on experience |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 March 2026 |
| Location: | Colchester/Ipswich, CO5 4JL |
| Company: | Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7790160/432-HR1263-25 |
Summary
We are seeking an exceptional and experienced leader to become our new Chief Executive. As a major integrated acute and community healthcare provider, and one of the largest employers in the region, our almost 13,000 staff are responsible for delivering high quality services to a population of around one million people living in Ipswich, east Suffolk, and north Essex, as well as providing some specialist services to a wider population.
We are seeking an outstanding individual who brings relevant executive leadership experience with a track record of success in a large and complex organisation. You will demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders across organisations and communities, and be known as much for your collaborative, diplomatic, and inclusive approach as for care delivering standards expected of the NHS. You will likely have a substantial track record of success in the NHS and health and care sector, and your leadership will reflect a deep commitment to EDI. You will have a personal passion for delivering compassionate high quality care through our integrated services and in collaboration with system partners.
As our new Chief Executive, you will lead the organisation at a critical time for the Trust and wider health system as we embrace the opportunities and challenges of being at the forefront of delivering the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. With your broad skillset and experience you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future strategic direction of the organisation and providing inclusive, values driven leadership that ensures robust and sustained operational delivery alongside continuous improvement in patient outcomes and experience. Your ability to engage and empower our clinical leaders to be at the centre of this transformation is central. Building trusted partnerships with our wider partners in primary care and the third sector is essential if we are to make the shift to focus on prevention and care delivered in our communities. These are exciting times to be a leader in healthcare.
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
For further information on the role and our organisation please see attached applicant pack.
If you are interested in this critical appointment, please contact Alumni Global, who are supporting the Trust on this appointment process, for a confidential discussion please get in touch with Thomas Patterson, Managing Director, on 07970 339 151 or thomas.patterson@alumniglobal.com.
This advert closes on Wednesday 25 Feb 2026