Programme Head, Community Diagnostic Centres, Dorset

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Hurn; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Programme Head for Community Diagnostic Centres. This role involves leading the development and expansion of diagnostic services across Dorset, working closely with various stakeholders to implement changes and drive innovation in healthcare delivery. The ideal candidate will possess significant leadership experience and advanced theoretical knowledge. Join us to make a tangible impact in improving healthcare access.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of local strategies for the CDC programme.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop service changes.
• Act as a change champion for the Dorset CDC programme.

Skills

Leadership skills

Highly developed negotiating skills

Emotional intelligence

Analytical skills

Education

Equivalence to Masters level

Job description

Programme Head, Community Diagnostic Centres, Dorset

The closing date is 09 October 2025

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 of the job

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.

In this role 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 in 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.

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Relevant advanced theoretical knowledge (equivalent to Masters level and/or specialist training).
• 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.
• Leadership skills: leadership competencies in 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.

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.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust