Training Programme Director & Teaching Lead (Ophthalmology)

NHS England; Southampton; On-site; GBP 10,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Consultant to take on the role of Training Programme Director – Teaching Lead for Ophthalmology. This position involves the overall delivery of Postgraduate Teaching in Ophthalmology and requires strong leadership and communication skills. Applicants must have NHS Consultant experience and be able to effectively work within a multi-professional team. This is a crucial role focused on enhancing education and training within the healthcare workforce.

Qualifications

• Experienced NHS Consultant with a thorough understanding of Ophthalmology training across the region.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi‑professional team.

Responsibilities

• Overall delivery of Postgraduate Teaching in Ophthalmology.
• Lead delivery of functions aligned to NHS England mandate.
• Improve learner supervision, assessment and experience.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Consultant experience in NHS

Job description

Within NHS England, South East Region, the Wessex Local Office is responsible for the planning, development, education and training of the future and current healthcare and public health workforce across Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Salisbury.

An opportunity has arisen for a Consultant with a strong interest in medical education and training to be the Training Programme Director – Teaching Lead for Ophthalmology.

Applications are invited from current STC members, or from those within the specialty who can demonstrate relevant interest in education and training.

Key Responsibilities

• Overall delivery of Postgraduate Teaching in Ophthalmology.
• Work with the Training Programme Director and the Head of School to lead the delivery of a wide range of functions aligned to the NHS England mandate.
• Improve learner supervision, assessment and experience, engage faculty and ensure effective educational outcomes.
• Focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi‑professional links.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experienced NHS Consultant with a thorough understanding of Ophthalmology training across the region.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi‑professional team.

Additional Information

The NHS England board have set out the top‑level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high‑quality services for all, which includes:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care.
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation.
• Delivering value for money.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in‑person.

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only; agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to applying.

The fixed level of funding contribution for this role is £10,000 per annum, per session, as an Educational Management Contribution (EMC). 0.5 EMC has been allocated for this role.

If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.

Prior to applying, please ensure you have discussed this role with your local Director of Medical Education to ensure that this work functions as a secondment with time freed up in your job plan to fulfil expectations. The financial contribution to the Trust is then to backfill any clinical time. This will be followed up at interview to ensure support is in place.

The Trust Director of Medical Education will be asked to provide a reference in support of your application.

NHSE is expected to cease as a separate entity following the merger into DHSC, therefore extensions and new appointments can only be guaranteed up until this date. We anticipate educator roles being required beyond this point and further arrangements to be made once the new structure becomes clearer. We recognise this will create some uncertainty and will do our best to keep anyone potentially impacted informed of future plans as they come available.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

This advert closes on Tuesday 20 Jan 2026.