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Job requirements
Essential
7 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Qualifications / training required
Professionally qualified or a relevant degree, plus project management experience or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
- Qualifications / training required
A Master’s degree level or equivalent postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
- Qualifications / training required
Knowledge of the specialist work practices and/ or professional guidelines relevant to the Health Innovation Wessex area
- Qualifications / training required
Knowledge and experience of the NHS and local health and social service functions
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Programme and Project management experience in an NHS or care service setting or equivalent experience in a relevant setting
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Experience of integrated working across professional boundaries and involving several organisations
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Experience of organising/ managing events
Desirable
5 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Qualifications / training required
Project Management training (e.g. PRINCE II)
- Qualifications / training required
Management experience
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Effective leadership and team building skills
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Experience of quality improvement projects and/or methodology
- Previous or relevant experience necessary
Experience in evaluating projects
Job overview
Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is pleased to offer an opportunity to join one of England's leading health innovation organisations as programme manager – innovation adoption at a pivotal moment for the NHS, life sciences sector and the wider health and care system.
This is a 23-month secondment / fixed-term vacancy.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an experienced programme manager with a track record of delivering success in complex and dynamic environments.
You will be a credible team member who combines strong programme delivery expertise with a passion for innovation, transformation and partnership working.
You will bring:
- Programme delivery experience within health, life sciences, research, innovation, public sector or similarly complex environments.
- An understanding of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the NHS, including productivity, prevention, digital transformation, AI adoption and population health.
- Experience of leading programmes, transformation and performance improvement.
- A high level of partnership-building and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across organisational and sector boundaries.
- Experience of working in high-performing, inclusive and values-driven teams.
- High level communication, analytical and decision-making capabilities.
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for patients, populations and communities.
Experience within innovation, life sciences, research translation, healthcare transformation or economic development would be particularly advantageous.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Opportunity
You will lead one or more innovation adoption programmes, putting in place appropriate programme and project collaborative arrangements, actively seeking appropriate funding, and promoting dissemination of the Health Innovation Wessex programmes.
The programmes will change as the Health Innovation Wessex’s portfolio of programmes evolve throughout the year.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Performance and outcomes of Innovation Adoption projects to deliver Health Innovation Wessex programmes.
- Proactively managing Innovation Adoption Project(s) to deliver the Health Innovation Wessex overarching Innovation Adoption Programme
- Identifying and evaluating the impact of innovative service developments and technology solutions on patient outcomes and NHS services.
- Delivering Innovation Adoption project(s) through the development and management of project plans to ensure effective realisation of innovation adoption programme outcomes
Join Us
This is an exceptional opportunity for a programme manager who wants to make a lasting difference to health outcomes, healthcare transformation and economic growth.
If you are passionate about innovation, inspired by the future of the NHS and excited by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of Health Innovation Wessex, we would love to hear from you.
Together, we can accelerate innovation, improve lives and create a healthier future for Wessex and beyond.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Programme Manager – Innovation Adoption with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in Southampton, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Programme manager role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 - Per Annum, Pro Rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 04 Nov 2026.
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