Job summary
- Main area
- Surgery
- Grade
- Training Programme Director (TPD)
- Contract
- Secondment: 9 months (until 31 March 2027)
- Hours
- Part time - 1 session per week (4 hours per week)
- Job ref
- 990-NW-EC1911-E
- Employer
- NHS England
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Any NHSE Office across the North West Region
- Town
- Flexible across the North West Region
- Salary
- In line with TPD sessional payments
- Closing
- 16/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Training Programme Director Surgery
Training Programme Director (TPD)
Our Organisation
We share the core values set out in the NHS Constitution, which all colleagues are expected to demonstrate.
We support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you and your colleagues. 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.
Job overview
The Training Programme Director in Exam Support for the North West Rotation will support the Head of School in supporting trainees to pass their Primary and Final FRCS exams.
The post holder will lead on the development of the School’s Exam Support Strategy and liaise with the Trainee Support Unit where appropriate.
The post holder will be a member of the School Speciality Training Committee.
Main duties of the job
- Work in collaboration with Head of School of Surgery and local examiners to ensure high quality support to trainees in the North West sitting their Primary and Final examinations.
- To work with the Head of School to support all trainers on the North West to review support in place for trainees struggling with the Primary or Final examinations.
Working for our organisation
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — 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 people can develop and make a difference
- 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, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and 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 process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Programme Director will ensure that both national standards, determined by the Royal College, and guidelines and standards established within Surgery are met.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced NHS Consultant with a thorough understanding of Surgery Exam 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.
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.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Consultant or Specialist Doctor in Surgery and currently working in NHS in NW England
- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
Desirable criteria
- Education Qualification such as Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Medical Education
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience as an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons
- Experience as a panel member on ARCP
- Experience of participating in Quality Panels on the School of Surgery
- Considerable experience of working with doctors in an educational context including running a regional examination preparation course
- Applicants who are doctors require a Licence to Practise
Desirable criteria
- Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and Equality and Diversity in the last 3 years
- Experience in Recruitment at a national level
- Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
Skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others
- A strong sense of vision and ability to innovate.
- Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty
- Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
Desirable criteria
- Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- David Van Dellen
- Job title
- Head of School Surgery
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
You can also contact Joanne Rowell, Associate Dean
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