Associate Postgraduate Dean in Foundation - North and East

NHS National Services Scotland; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Scotland is seeking an Associate Postgraduate Dean for the Foundation Programme. This role involves managing day-to-day training operations, supporting postgraduate doctors, and ensuring quality standards are met across programs. Candidates should have substantial experience in medical training. This position is fixed-term for 3 years and offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the development of medical education.

Qualifications

• Practical experience training postgraduates required.
• Significant knowledge of postgraduate medical training process needed.
• Experience as an Educational Supervisor in the NHS is essential.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for the day-to-day running of Foundation Training.
• Collaborate with Foundation Programme Directors for quality improvement.
• Oversight and support for doctors requiring additional assistance.

Skills

Training postgraduate doctors

Quality management

Collaboration with educational teams

Education

Senior career grade doctor (Consultant, GP or SAS)

Job description

Overview

Hours: Part Time, 2 posts x 2PAs each (8 hours x 2 each per week).
Duration: Fixed Term / Secondment for 3 years.
Location: This post will be based in the North and East region of Scotland.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.

Role focus: Working as an APGD team, the postholder will be accountable for the day to day running and further development of Foundation Training in the North and East Region, ensuring all Foundation Programmes in the region implement and maintain best practice, contribute to quality management and improvement of training in Scotland Deanery including but not restricted to Foundation training. Key roles include:

• Recruitment, support, development and performance management of Foundation Programme Directors.
• Quality collaboration with the Foundation School Director and Quality Management teams on surveys, exception reports and training improvement, ensuring GMC, NES and curricular requirements are met.
• Collaborative working with the existing North Associate PG Dean, the Foundation School Director, Dean, Directors of Medical Education, HR teams and University leads.
• Oversight and provision of regional senior input for foundation doctors requiring additional support or remediation.
• Development of new placements for expansion and piloting of innovative training approaches.
• Oversight and development of formal Foundation education including Foundation simulation.

They will contribute to the processes that support resident foundation doctors who exhibit difficulties in regard to performance, deputise for the Foundation School Director as required, take responsibility for contributing to and leading as required on specialty and programme-oriented projects.

Opportunity and region: A role as an Associate Postgraduate Dean (APGD) for the Foundation Programme affords an opportunity to influence, to inspire and to make a difference. In the North and East region – and across Scotland - we have a direct impact by supporting resident doctors and trainers. Our team provides regional leadership for postgraduate training and contributes to a range of regional and national educational initiatives that support and develop postgraduate training in Scotland.

Applicants: We are seeking an enthusiastic and able colleague to join our dynamic team. There are 2 separate roles each with 2 sessions available and we are keen to receive applications from candidates based in the North or East region that wish to join us and take on the important and challenging role as in the North and East of Scotland.

Eligibility: Applicants are only eligible to apply if they are a senior career grade doctor (Consultant, GP or SAS) in a permanent post in the North and East. You should have practical experience training postgraduates, significant knowledge and experience of the postgraduate medical training process, Educational Supervisor in the NHS, experience as a Speciality Adviser, Training Programme Director, Foundation Programme Director, Director, or Associate Director of Medical Education or other position involving training responsibility.

Applicants who wish to apply on a secondment basis are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current employer at the earliest opportunity.

* For NHS employees considering this post, please note that appointments will only be considered on a secondment or SLA basis, in the first instance

If you are interested in this vacancy and would like further information, please refer to the job information pack below.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Fiona Cameron, Foundation School Director ([e-mail]), or Professor Alan Denison, Postgraduate Dean (via [e-mail]).

Important dates: Fixed Term for 3 years in the first instance. Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59hrs on the closing date. Closing Date: 1st October 2025; Interview Date: 16th October 2025.

Other requirements: You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment. Evidence of this must be produced upon request. We actively encourage applicants from a range of backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

For information about the organisation, visit: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/about/who-we-are/

UK work eligibility: To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service. As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website. For specific post types, sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa may be possible in some cases.

Important reminder: It is essential that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please contact the East Region Recruitment Service at [e-mail]