Training Programme Director (TPD)

NHS ENGLAND; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health organization seeks a Training Programme Director in General Surgery to oversee surgical training programs and ensure high educational outcomes. The successful candidate will contribute to strategy development and workforce transformation efforts while maintaining national standards. NHS experience and leadership skills are essential for this role, located in Manchester.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Living Wage Employer certification

Qualifications

• Thorough understanding of General Surgery training.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-professional team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Specialty's Regional Training Programme.
• Manage specialty-specific matters and concerns.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Education

NHS Consultant experience

Job description

The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive - and we all have our part to play. As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.

As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part‑time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third‑party contractors will earn a real Living Wage. We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.

Role Overview

The Training Programme Director in General Surgery will support the Head of School in the Strategic Development of the School of Surgery. The post holder will lead on the development of the School’s Recruitment and Retention Strategy and contribute to supporting the School Operational Programme. The post holder will be a member of the School Board. The Training Programme Director will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi‑professional links.

Responsibilities

The Programme Director will ensure that both national standards, determined by the Royal College, and guidelines and standards established within General Surgery are met. Responsibilities will include:

• To oversee the Specialty’s Regional Training Programme
• Specialty‑specific matters and trainee/trainer concerns

The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi‑professional links.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be an experienced NHS Consultant with a thorough understanding of General Surgery training across the region and who will also have strong leadership and communication skills and be able to work effectively as a member of a multi‑professional team.

As a result of NHS England (NHSE) integration into the Department of Health, all educator recruitment activity – either extensions to existing contracts or new appointments – will now be on a fixed‑term basis with an end date of 31 October 2026. We are currently reviewing the recruitment process beyond this date and will provide updates as soon as the new procedures are set.

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.

Secondments

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

Commitments to you

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes. We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. We’re passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that. We welcome your talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neuro‑divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro‑divergent.

We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. Whilst we appreciate that you may have had support with your application (e.g., using AI technology or guidance from a trusted individual), it’s important that the information contained within your application reflects your own knowledge, skill, and experience and we trust that you apply on that basis.

If applying for this role on a secondment basis, please make sure you have obtained prior agreement from your current line manager to apply for this position.

Please note that we currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.

To comply with the HM Government Functional Standard GovS 007, and specifically the Personnel Security Standards 2024, individuals employed or contracted by NHS England may be required to undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standards check, dependent on the role.

The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for the processing of your application; a privacy notice is attached to advise you on how we will process your personal data. If you have applied via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred third‑party recruitment system; all subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms – including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial – enabling us to design and deliver high‑quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

• 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

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

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