Senior Programme Manager

Job Overview

Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join one of England's leading health innovation organisations as a Business Support Assistant at a pivotal moment for the NHS, life sciences sector and the wider health and care system.

Job Title: Senior Programme Manager

Contract: 12 Month Secondment/Fixed Term - Short Term Funding

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an experienced senior programme manager with a track record of delivering success in complex and dynamic environments.

You will be a credible senior programme manager-level team member who combines strong programme delivery expertise with a passion for innovation, transformation and partnership working.

You Will Bring

• Significant programme delivery experience within health, life sciences, research, innovation, public sector or similarly complex environments.
• A strong understanding of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the NHS, including productivity, prevention, digital transformation, AI adoption and population health.
• Experience of leading programmes, organisational 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 supporting high-performing, inclusive and values-driven teams.
• Commercial awareness and experience supporting business growth, strategic partnerships and organisational sustainability.
• 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.
  
  

Working for our organisation

At Health Innovation Wessex, you will have the opportunity to support some of the most important challenges facing health and care today while helping programmes and corporate services deliver innovation across the NHS.

You will join a highly regarded organisation with a national reputation for collaboration, delivery and impact.

Health Innovation Wessex is a company limited by guarantee, owned by the NHS and University Members with staff hosted by University Hospital Southampton.

We Offer

• A unique opportunity to work at the forefront of health innovation and healthcare transformation.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements - provides for a minimum of 2 days in office or out visiting partners/stakeholders and home working aligned to the role and business needs.
• Commitment to professional development, leadership growth and continuous learning.
• A collaborative, ambitious and supportive culture.
• An organisation committed to inclusion, diversity and wellbeing. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive
• Modern office facilities at Southampton Science Park in Chilworth, one of the UK's leading centres for science, technology and innovation.
  
  

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in shaping and delivering innovative programmes that make a real difference across the health and care system. As a Senior Programme Manager, you will lead a diverse portfolio of high-profile national and regional projects, bringing together partners from across the system to design, deliver and scale solutions that improve outcomes for patients, communities and services.

Working at a strategic level, you will identify emerging opportunities, develop collaborative partnerships, secure and manage funding, and oversee programmes from concept through to implementation and dissemination. You will have the opportunity to influence system-wide change, working with senior leaders and stakeholders across health, care, academia and industry.

What You'll Be Responsible For

As a Senior Programme Manager you will be responsible for managing and implementing a portfolio of projects, putting in place appropriate project collaborative arrangements, actively seeking appropriate funding, managing the projects and promoting dissemination.

You will;

• Determine and co-ordinate the strategic and operational delivery of a high-profile portfolio of work. You will scope needs across the system, put in place collaborative arrangements to deliver each programme or project and manage the process through to dissemination of findings.
• Provide assurance reports to the HIW Senior Leadership Team, our member organisations and HIW commissioners.
  
  

You will have excellent knowledge of health and care systems to understand the context and complexity of the areas of work. The portfolio will comprise of several national and local programmes.

Join Us

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior 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.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

Essential criteria

• Professionally qualified or a relevant degree, plus significant project or programme management experience or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
• A Master’s degree level or equivalent postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
• Knowledge of the specialist work practices and/ or professional guidelines relevant to the Health Innovation Wessex area
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Project Management training (e.g. PRINCE II)
• Management/leadership qualifications or training
• Understanding of current policy and national drivers e.g. ICBs/ICS’s
  
  

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and experience of the NHS and local health or social service functions
• Extensive programme and project management experience in an NHS or care service setting and involving the co-ordination of multiple team members
• Experience of integrated working across professional boundaries, involving several organisations, and working across commissioning and provider organisations
• Effective leadership and team building skills
• Experience of working closely with others to specify project analysis and outputs
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of organising/ managing events
  
  

Aptitudes And Skills Required

Essential criteria

• Ability to build and sustain effective programme teams
• Ability to engage and co-ordinate others (e.g. stakeholders, technical experts, researchers) in programme development and programme delivery
• Ability to engage stakeholders and help them to specify their requirements, manage expectations and nurture relationships
• Well-developed influencing skills across hierarchies and disciplines demonstrated through representation of influencing, negotiating and presentation activities
• Proven staff management and supervisory skills
• Strong oral and written presentation skills