Programme Head, Community Diagnostic Centres, Dorset

NHS; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health provider in the UK is seeking a Programme Head for the Dorset Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) Programme. In this high-impact role, the ideal candidate will develop strategies and deliver changes in healthcare services across Dorset, collaborating with multiple stakeholders. This position demands exceptional leadership and change management skills, along with a strong background in strategic service transformation.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunity to influence public health

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Relevant advanced theoretical knowledge equivalent to Masters level.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant fields.
• Experience working at a strategic level.
• Direct management of a relevant team.
• Management of large scale change programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of strategies for the CDC portfolio across Dorset.
• Work collaboratively to develop service changes.
• Act as a change champion for Dorset.
• Drive innovation and consistency across services.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Negotiating skills

Change management

Emotional intelligence

Education

Masters level knowledge

Job description

Overview

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dynamic person to be a pivotal part of developing and expanding diagnostic services across Dorset. We are looking for someone to take on the Programme Head role for the Dorset wide Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) Programme.

The post holder will lead the continuation and future development of the CDC programme, working closely with executive teams, clinicians, operational managers and other stakeholders across the Dorset system and partner organisations to develop and deliver complex service change reflecting national CDC guidance, and national and local strategies.

This is a high-impact role requiring exceptional communication, operational, and improvement skills, with the ability to influence, coordinate and implement change at pace. The post also recognises the increasing need to enable new models of care and support cross-site service realignment in a dynamic, agile environment.

Base Location: Poole Hospital, working across Dorset as required and working from home.

Interview Date: 17th October 2025

Main duties

As the Head for the Dorset Community Diagnostic Centres programme you will provide expertise and dynamic leadership in developing and delivering the transformation of services within the identified CDC portfolio across Dorset as agreed through relevant board(s).

You will lead the development of local strategies relevant to the CDC portfolio reflecting the system-wide Long-Term Plan, accessing and using relevant local and national material to inform an understanding of local needs and engaging with stakeholders.

You will work collaboratively with System, Trusts, independent sector colleagues and other stakeholders across the Dorset system and partner organisations to develop and deliver service change that reflects an agreed target operating model and national and local strategies, supports efficiency, demand management and / or improved outcomes and is fit for the future.

You will provide leadership to support teams to maximise the development of services for the Dorset system on the context of national programmes and local plans ensuring all stakeholders are engaged in the programme.

A key part of this role will be acting as a visible and influential change champion for Dorset, delivering the CDC programme as it develops going forwards. You will work across Dorset driving innovation, improvement and consistency, ensuring increased access to diagnostics across the county.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This is an exciting time to join our hospitals in Dorset. We are in line to receive a significant national investment of £147 million to help transform our services and redevelop Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, now merged as University Hospitals Dorset. We have been able to access these national funds because we have such a good plan in Dorset.

Our vision is to join up our services so they can be delivered in a more integrated way. We have a great opportunity together to improve outcomes for patients, make better use of all our resources, and ensure our services can be provided on a sustainable basis. For developing our workforce, the aim is to establish modern, well-equipped centres of excellence with sustainable roles for staff, standardisation of education and training so that we can attract and retain skilled clinical and non-clinical staff to Dorset. This is a great opportunity for you to be part of the transformation as our two hospital trusts also merge.

Details

Date posted: 25 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8c

Salary: £76,965 to £88,682 a year pa

Contract: Secondment

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 153-CO05076

Job locations: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Royal Bournemouth Hospital; Castle Lane East; BH7 7DW

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Relevant advanced theoretical (equivalent to Masters level and/or specialist training) knowledge.
• Evidence of continuing professional development that enhances theoretical and practical knowledge.

Experience

• Relevant experience working at a strategic level.
• Direct management of a relevant team.
• Relevant experience in the successful management of large scale change programmes with demonstrable outcomes.

Technical Skills Competencies Essential

• Leadership Skills: demonstrable evidence of leadership competencies in the following areas: vision, delivery, control and decision making; understanding and managing context; emotional intelligence; relationship building; team and people development; tackling difficult issues.

Knowledge

• Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills.

Other requirements specific to the role

• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and professional accountability.
• Able to analyse performance, competing perspectives and priorities in the delivery of health and support service improvement.

Additional information

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.

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.

Employer details

Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, BH7 7DW

Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers