Programme Manager (Cataract Immersion Surgical Training)

NHS Golden Jubilee; Clydebank; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Clydebank seeks a Programme Manager to oversee the implementation of a cataract immersive training program. The ideal candidate will have a strong professional background in ophthalmology and excellent interpersonal skills. Responsibilities include managing training schedules, fostering relationships with local clinicians, and driving program improvements based on feedback. The role offers flexibility and encourages applications from all backgrounds.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive recruitment processes

Qualifications

• Comfortable working within a complex and diverse environment.
• Experience as a Principal Optometrist or similar senior role.
• Ability to gain and maintain the trust of individuals across various boards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee implementation of the cataract immersive training programme.
• Manage relationships with lead clinicians and service managers.
• Prepare and maintain schedules of programme activities and events.
• Use feedback to improve training programme elements.

Skills

Professional credibility

Strong personal networks within ophthalmology

Ability to work in a complex environment

Education

Relevant degree in Optometry or related field

Job description

About NHS Scotland Academy

The NHS Scotland Academy is a partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland funded by the Scottish Government, offering accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions. The Academy provides opportunities to improve skills using immersive, simulation-based, and distance learning. It offers attractive training programmes linked to recruitment and career progression.

Leveraging the strengths of both parent organisations, the Academy uses the state‑of‑the‑art clinical and simulation facilities at NHS Golden Jubilee and the educational expertise and technology‑enabled learning of NHS Education for Scotland.

Since launch in October 2021, the Academy has established successful training programmes, including immersive experiences for residents and consultants in endoscopy and ultrasound.

As part of this partnership, the successful applicant will be employed by NHS Golden Jubilee through a Service Level Agreement with their own board, or via a substantive or bank contract with NHS Golden Jubilee. To deliver this programme, the role is initially available for 6 months full time, then for 30 months part time at 0.3 WTE, with extension possible if the programme still requires this role for three years. The first residents will start in February 2026, with faculty being appointed to that timeframe, but we hope to have the Programme Manager in post ahead of this. There is flexibility available for the right candidate, so if you are interested in the role but it is not possible for you to join full time for the first six months, please let us know in your application.

About The Cataract Surgery Immersive Training Programme

NHS Scotland Academy exists to deliver unique workforce learning opportunities on behalf of NHS Scotland. Funding has been made available to a number of Boards to help reduce waiting times for cataract surgery, and, in parallel, NHS Scotland Academy has been funded to increase the number of immersive training opportunities for resident doctors and/or SAS doctors working towards the RCOpth EPA in running an independent cataract list.

The training programme is based on positive feedback from residents and requests to expand an existing immersive programme in NHS Golden Jubilee, as we work towards more immersive training opportunities available throughout NHS Scotland.

Placements will be for six months, with new placements each February and August. Each week residents will have at least five immersive cataract theatre sessions; when deemed competent by the trainer, resident doctors in training will operate independently with the trainer working in an adjacent theatre. Residents will also have clinic sessions which will be independent with support available, and RSTAC time (Research, study, teaching, audit and curriculum), including non‑technical skills and change management. By the end of a six‑month placement, residents will have achieved the competencies for their EPA in running an independent cataract list and will return to their home boards with this ability.

To deliver this programme, we are recruiting faculty experienced in delivering cataract surgical lists of a minimum of eight cataracts per list, and enthusiastic for training. Faculty will work within a Jack and Jill theatre set‑up, supervising a trainee in one theatre and running a list in the other. Faculty will be appointed on a sessional basis within a National Treatment Centre in either Clydebank or Inverness.

Clinical governance for these roles sits within the Board where the activity takes place, and educational governance sits within NES, via NHS Scotland Academy. Reporting lines will be through the appropriate Clinical Director in each host Board.

Job Role

In addition to recruiting faculty, we are seeking to recruit a Programme Manager who will be the faculty’s primary point of contact within the Academy and will ensure there is appropriate cover for training lists to be run in each Board. Some elements of the programme, including non‑technical skills training, will be offered to residents training in any Board and the Programme Manager will support the development and delivery of this, harnessing the expertise from within the ophthalmology community. The postholder will need to be comfortable working in a complex environment, within a diversity of approaches.

The postholder will need to gain and maintain the trust and confidence of individuals in all Boards. The postholder will need to understand the complex environment of the delivery of ophthalmology services, particularly but not limited to cataract surgery. They will need professional credibility and strong personal networks within ophthalmology, so we will ideally attract a senior individual to this role, who is likely to have worked/be working as a Principal Optometrist.

Working as part of the NHS Scotland Academy team, the postholder will contribute to providing expert training in cataract surgery and will accelerate skill acquisition of trainees, enabling them to safely run independent cataract surgery lists earlier.

Key Purpose and Tasks

• To oversee the implementation of the cataract immersive training programme as outlined in the approved business case, translating the idea into practice and working with service to support training lists, monitoring delivery of training and managing variances to ensure overall quality meets defined standards.
• Manage relationships with lead clinicians and service managers in Boards where immersive training lists are delivered, initially in NHS GJ and NHS Highland, with close links with all Boards, and supporting an ambition for access to immersive training to be available across Scotland, in the long term.
• Identifying, defining, evaluating, planning and tracking the benefits realisation from the programme. Using feedback from residents, trainers and patients to access and improve different elements of the programme, using NHS Scotland Academy principles and methodologies.
• Preparing and maintaining schedules of programme activity, events and courses.
• Listening to and supporting stakeholders, taking account of their particular interests, within the context of implementing change. This may also involve supporting identifying, addressing and resolving differences between individuals and/or interest groups.

Interview date for this post will be held 10 December 2025.

NHS Golden Jubilee is open to considering flexible working options for this role.

This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

As a disability confident leader we are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition covered by the Equality Act 2010 and need support for any stage of the recruitment process please refer to the job pack for more information.

NHS Golden Jubilee encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have.

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service can be found within the Job Pack.