Associate Dean Workforce and Transformation | NHS England

NHS England; Mambulac; Hybrid; PHP 3,881,000 - 4,659,000; Full time

Job summary

A national healthcare organization is seeking an Associate Dean to lead and expand General Practice Specialty Training (GPST) posts. This role will drive workforce planning in alignment with the NHS's strategic vision. The successful candidate will collaborate with various healthcare stakeholders to ensure high-quality training and address local healthcare needs. This position offers a fixed-term contract until March 31, 2027, with sessions across the Northwest.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in healthcare leadership roles.
• Ability to foster collaboration among diverse groups.
• Strong understanding of workforce development in healthcare.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of GP Specialty Training posts.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers to enhance training capacity.
• Act as workforce planning advisor to support local health needs.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Workforce Planning

Strategic Advisory

Education

Relevant medical qualifications

Job description

The Associate Dean role purpose is to provide strategic leadership for the expansion of General Practice Specialty Training (GPST) posts across the region, driving delivery of the regional workforce plan in line with the NHS 10-year strategic vision and prevention agenda. The Associate Dean will play a pivotal role in ensuring the regional GP training programmes meet future healthcare needs through place-based leadership within their assigned ICB area.

We are looking to recruit to 3 posts at 3 sessions per week; this is a fixed term role until 31st March 2027.

The roles will cover the Northwest: Cheshire & Mersey, Greater Manchester and Lancashire & South Cumbria.

Location to be discussed at interview.

Remuneration will be at GP03 point of national GP educator pay scale.

Please be aware that should you be successful in this position, you will be hired to the job title of (Associate Dean’s) and this job title is advertised to attract the right skills needed for the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, and expansion of GP Specialty Training posts across the assigned ICB area, aligning with the regional workforce strategy and NHS long-term plan priorities.
• Collaborate with local healthcare providers, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and educational bodies to increase training capacity and ensure high-quality, sustainable training environments.
• Act as a strategic advisor on workforce planning to support the prevention agenda and address health inequalities within the local population.
• Work closely with regional and national education bodies to ensure training aligns with evolving service delivery models, including digital transformation and integrated care pathways.
• Provide leadership and oversight for GP trainers, ensuring curriculum quality, assessment standards, and trainee support mechanisms are robust and effective.
• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders including local authorities, NHS trusts, PCNs, and community health services to promote collaborative workforce solutions.
• Champion innovation in education, training methods, and learning environments to prepare the future GP workforce for emerging challenges.
• Contribute to regional governance structures, reporting on progress against workforce targets, educational outcomes, and strategic initiatives.
• Promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within all aspects of GP training and workforce development.

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.

Leadership Principles:

• 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.

This role is a great opportunity to join a dynamic team supporting the Primary Care Dean and GP Head of School with the expansion of General Practice Specialty Training (GPST) posts across the region, driving delivery of the regional workforce plan in line with the NHS 10-year strategic vision and prevention agenda.

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 Thursday 4 Dec 2025