Job summary
- Main area
- Innovation Hub
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 5 months (to 31 March 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (5 days a week)
- Job ref
- 339-CMO7794-LMG
- Employer
- Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT)
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St James Court
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 pa pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Innovation Programme Manager - Innovation Policy and Delivery
Band 7
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.
Job overview
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is developing an ambitious innovation function to help staff turn ideas into improvements for patients, colleagues and communities. We are seeking an Innovation Programme Manager to join the team on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity cover.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape innovation across one of the South West's largest NHS organisations. You will support the processes, partnerships and programmes needed to identify, evaluate, adopt and scale innovations that improve outcomes, productivity and organisational performance.
Working with clinical and non-clinical teams, senior leaders, patients, industry and academic partners, you will support innovators through evaluation, funding, governance, intellectual property and implementation. You will also contribute to business cases, reports, policies and assurance processes that support effective decision-making and demonstrate impact.
We welcome applications from individuals with experience in innovation, improvement, technology adoption, partnerships or programme delivery. Candidates may come from the NHS, industry, academia, start-ups, innovation hubs or other relevant sectors. Most importantly, you will be collaborative, proactive and able to translate ideas into practical change.
If you are passionate about improving health and care through innovation and confident working with diverse stakeholders, we would welcome your application.
Main duties of the job
The Innovation Programme Manager will support the development and delivery of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust's innovation function, helping turn ideas into improvements in patient care, staff experience and organisational performance.
Working with staff, clinical teams and external partners, the postholder will support innovations through evaluation, adoption and implementation, providing advice on governance, funding, intellectual property, procurement, commercialisation and delivery.
The role will manage a portfolio of innovation projects and programmes, developing plans, monitoring risks and benefits, preparing reports and business cases, and providing updates to senior leaders and governance groups. The postholder will work closely with colleagues across clinical services, research and development, improvement, finance, procurement and communications, alongside external partners.
The successful candidate will contribute to innovation policies, reporting and assurance processes, ensuring activity is evidence-based, well governed and aligned with Trust priorities. They will also help foster a positive innovation culture through staff engagement, learning activities and network development.
This is an opportunity to help shape innovation across the Trust, working with a wide range of stakeholders to translate ideas into measurable impact. The role requires a proactive, collaborative individual who can manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the detailed job description for the main duties and responsibilities, along with the highlighted areas in the 'main duties of the job section'.
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
- Formal training in innovation, improvement, project/programme management, or change management
Work Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of assessing, developing or supporting the adoption of new technologies, products or service models
- Experience of influencing and/or supporting policy development.
- Experience of working autonomously using own discretion.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in an innovation environment, such as a start up, scale up, industry setting, or innovation support organisation
- Demonstrable experience in the management and successful delivery of improvement and innovation projects and approaches.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
- Excellent knowledge of coaching, influencing and engaging techniques.
- Knowledge of collating, analysing and interpreting data over time to support innovation and improvement.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, to develop, read, interpret and disseminate complex, sensitive or contentious data and information to others.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Ability to manage complex projects, programmes and competing priorities.
- Ability to translate between clinical, operational and commercial perspectives to support the effective adoption of innovation.
- Working knowledge of budgets and financial management, coupled with sound financial control skills.
- Able to write project documents and complex reports for a range of audiences.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of intellectual property and Technology Readiness Levels
- Highly developed knowledge and understanding of innovation pathways and requirements, acquired through formal training, experience and/or qualification.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tim Keen
- Job title
- Associate Director of Innovation
- Email address
- [email protected]
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