Senior Project Manager Student Accelerator Programme

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the Accelerated Cancer Career and Capability Pathway across the SWAG region and beyond. You will partner with universities, NHS bodies and Cancer Alliance colleagues to deliver education, placements and workforce development in cancer care.

The role focuses on strategic project delivery, governance and evaluation to strengthen the future cancer workforce pipeline across England and nationally.

Qualifications

• Educated to masters/degree level or equivalent level of senior experience.
• Postgraduate diploma level training in project management and/or healthcare quality improvement.
• Significant training and/or experience within adult learning.
• Experience delivering complex strategic healthcare projects across organisational boundaries.
• Proven track record delivering complex projects with governance, protocols and controls.
• Sound understanding of national cancer workforce training and ACCEND frameworks.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with the ability to influence outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of the Accelerated Cancer Career and Capability Pathway.
• Develop partnerships with universities, NHS organisations, hospices, and Cancer Alliance stakeholders.
• Coordinate design and implementation of cancer and palliative care learning opportunities in pre-registration programmes.
• Support development of specialist cancer placements, simulation-based learning, mentorship and career development.
• Oversee governance, reporting, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• Create evaluation frameworks to assess impact on student capability and career intentions.
• Provide implementation support to organisations adopting the programme beyond SWAG.

Skills

Senior leadership

Project management

Healthcare quality

Adult learning

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Change management

Education

Masters/degree level

Postgraduate diploma in PM/healthcare

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

As a Senior Project Manager, the post holder will work as part of a dynamic team in delivering an effective service supporting managers and staff across the Cancer Alliance, to drive forward the adoption of transformation and change to improve outcomes for patients.

The Senior Project Manager will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of an innovative Accelerated Cancer Career and Capability Pathway for pre-registration nursing and allied health profession students.

This programme will embed the ACCEND (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) Framework within undergraduate education and practice learning, creating a structured route into specialist cancer and palliative care careers. Initially piloted across the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance, the programme has the ambition to become a nationally transferable model supporting Cancer Alliances and healthcare systems across England and the wider UK.

Working in partnership with Higher Education Institutions, NHS providers, hospices, community services and Cancer Alliance colleagues, this role will play a key role in strengthening the future cancer workforce pipeline through innovative education, placement and workforce development approaches.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of the Accelerated Cancer Career and Capability Pathway.
• Develop strong partnerships with universities, NHS organisations, hospices, community providers and Cancer Alliance stakeholders.
• Coordinate the design and implementation of enhanced cancer and palliative care learning opportunities within pre-registration programmes.
• Support the development of specialist cancer placements, simulation-based learning, mentorship and career development initiatives.
• Oversee programme governance, reporting, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop and implement evaluation frameworks to assess programme impact on student capability, confidence and career intentions.
• Create standardised resources, placement frameworks, implementation guidance and best practice toolkits to support national adoption.
• Provide implementation support and expertise to organisations seeking to adopt the programme beyond the SWAG Cancer Alliance.
• Promote the programme regionally and nationally through networks, conferences and collaborative partnerships

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

• Educated to masters/degree level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Further training or significant experience to post graduate diploma level in project management and/or healthcare quality improvement.
• Significant training and/or experience within adult learning.
• Experience of successful delivery of complex strategic healthcare projects working in partnership across organisational boundaries and to achieve results through others who may not be direct reports.
• A proven track record of successful delivery of complex projects including supporting the implementation of strong governance, protocols, and project controls.
• A sound understanding of national cancer workforce training and education policies and frameworks; including ACCEND.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills and an ability to influence outcomes, with reasoning, persuasion and tact.
• Be a clear communicator with excellent written and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately to a diverse and varied range of audiences consisting of internal and external stakeholders.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.