Senior Programme Manager

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Professional development

Inclusive culture

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is hosting Health Innovation Wessex to appoint a Senior Programme Manager on a 12‑month fixed‑term secondment. You will lead a diverse portfolio across health and care, academia and industry, delivering high-profile projects and ensuring impact for patients and communities.

You will build partnerships, secure funding, and guide programmes through development to dissemination, with flexible and hybrid working designed to support delivery and

Qualifications

• Significant programme delivery experience in health, life sciences or public sector.
• Strong understanding of NHS challenges, productivity, digital transformation and population health.
• Experience leading programmes, organisational transformation and performance improvement.
• Excellent partnership-building and influencing skills across organisational boundaries.
• Commitment to improving patient outcomes and community health.
• Experience in innovation, research translation or healthcare transformation is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of national and regional programmes from concept to delivery and dissemination.
• Develop collaborative partnerships across health, academia and industry to scale solutions.
• Secure and manage funding and provide assurance reports to senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities, manage governance and ensure timely delivery of programme milestones.
• Promote dissemination of findings and value across the system.

Skills

Programme delivery

NHS/health sector

Partnership building

Strategic planning

Change management

Communication/ influencing

Job description

Hours: Full time, Part time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 188-HS011026

Site: Southampton Science Park Chilworth

Town: Southampton

Closing: 26/10/2026

Job overview

Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to join one of England's leading health innovation organisations as Senior Programme Manager 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

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.

H igh 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.

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 - there is an expectation of a minimum of 2 days in the 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.

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.

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