Job vacancy: Programme Manager - Innovation Adoption, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton

Job summary

Main area

Administrative Services

Grade

Band 8a

Contract

23 months (We have one 23‑month and two 12‑month fixed-term or secondment opportunities available. Please indicate your preferred contract length within your application)

Hours

Full time
Part time

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

188-HS030626

Employer: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Southampton Science Park
Town: Southampton
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 per annum (pro rata)
Closing: 28/06/2026 23:59
Interview date: 10/07/2026

Programme Manager - Innovation Adoption

Band 8a

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are an ambitious organisation, looking for passionate and motivated people to join us with a proven track record of delivery. You will need a tenacity to succeed, great communication and project management skills, an ability to build new relationships quickly, and the capability to adapt and work flexibly, with a high degree of autonomy to deliver project outcomes in a timely manner. Able to prioritise work and manage time effectively and complete objectives within agreed standards and deadlines.

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of past experiences – whether that be clinical, NHS management or from industry – an appreciation of the challenges involved with innovation deployment and transformation in the NHS is an advantage to succeed in this role. Past experience of commissioning, transformation and project management are also advantageous.

The Programme Manager – Innovation Adoption will lead one or more innovation programmes, establishing effective collaborative delivery structures, securing funding, and promoting the spread of Health Innovation Wessex programmes. The portfolio of programmes will evolve in line with organisational priorities.

Role overview:

Proactively managing Innovation Adoption Project(s) to deliver the Health Innovation Wessex overarching Innovation Adoption Programme
Identifying and evaluating the impact of innovative service developments and technology solutions on patient outcomes and NHS services
Gathering data on quality improvements and efficiency savings and evaluating and advising on potential impact of system wide implementation
Developing implementation models in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, evaluating feasibility of project implementation across Health Innovation Wessex partner organisations
Co-ordinating a set of key stakeholders and supporting the development of a programme or project, providing direct project management for all or some elements of a project as necessary
Working with partners to understand and agree the appropriate roles for all parties involved to ensure added value and maximum impact

Please indicate your preferred contract length within your application. This can be discussed further at interview should your application be successful. We look forward to hearing from you!

Person specification

Qualifications, Training, Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Professionally qualified or a relevant degree, plus project management experience or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
A Master’s degree level or equivalent postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
Knowledge of the specialist work practices and/or professional guidelines relevant to the Health Innovation Wessex area
Knowledge and experience of the NHS and local health and social service functions
Programme and Project management experience in an NHS or care service setting or equivalent experience in a relevant setting
Experience of integrated working across professional boundaries and involving several organisations
Experience of organising/managing events
Knowledge of issues, trends and opportunities for delivering improved health and care services in the relevant programme area
Experience of planning and organising the development and implementation of new initiatives and activities within specialist area of work
Experience analysing and presenting project findings and engaging with partner organisations in supporting projects
Experience in demonstrating influencing skills across hierarchies and disciplines demonstrated through representation of influencing, negotiating and presentation activities
Understanding of Finance/ resource management

Desirable criteria

Management experience
Project Management training (e.g. PRINCE II)
Experience of quality improvement projects and/or methodology
Experience in evaluating projects
A good understanding of risk management practices
Experience in engaging managers and practitioners in project development
Commercially aware
Experience of promoting findings and outcomes through a range of media and communication channels
Experience of holding budgets for project portfolios; monitoring budgets, and responsibility for budget planning for projects

Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet the Health Innovation Wessex values and behaviours policy; Quality – People- Together •Innovative • Inclusive •Collaborative •Achieving •Trustworthy and UHS Trust Values; •Patients First •Always Improving •Working Together

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

For more information about our Trust

https://careers.uhs.nhs.uk

Getting to work - our travel promise

Getting to work should be as easy as possible and that’s why we have introduced the UHS travel promise – a commitment from the Trust that we will provide reasonable travel options for every member of staff. Every member of staff can apply for a permit to use our park & ride facility. Eligibility for on-site parking is dependent on the nature and requirement of the role. All staff can also access a range of discounted benefits relating to travel including reduced price bus tickets, purchase of salary sacrifice bikes and ultra-low emission cars.

Our commitment to equality

Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

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