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Job summary

Main area
General Surgery NW
Grade
Training Programme Director (TPD)
Contract
Secondment: 10 months (until 31 October 2026)
Hours
Part time - 1.25 session per week (5 hours per week)
Job ref
990-NW-18602-E
Employer
NHS England
Employer type
NHS
Site
3 Piccadilly Place
Town
Manchester
Salary
In line with TPD sessional payments
Closing
04/12/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS England logo

Training Programme Director General Surgery NW

Training Programme Director (TPD)

Our Organisation

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.

Job 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.

Main duties of the job

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.

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 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. 

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a result of NHS England's (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

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 in General Surgery on the Specialist Register and working in NHS in North West England
  • Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
Desirable criteria
  • Education Qualification such as Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Medical Education (D)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with doctors in an educational context
  • Experience as an educational supervisor especially for General Surgery trainees
Desirable criteria
  • Clinical Manager experience
  • Previous or current appointment as a Leader in Healthcare Education would be desirable
  • Experience in Recruitment
  • Awareness of funding streams for Healthcare Education
  • Understanding the Workforce Transformation agenda

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable leadership skills, consistent with own personal style, and an ability to motivate others
  • Effective interpersonal skills, as well as written and oral presentation skills
  • Committed to own professional development and learning
  • Ability to remain curious, open to new ideas, and willingness to be challenged
  • Adequate organisational skills to be able to deliver the operational aspects of the role in a timely manner
Desirable criteria
  • A clear sense of vision and an ability to innovate

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident committedStep into healthAccredited Living Wage Employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
David Van Dellen
Job title
Head of School Surgery
Email address
[email protected]
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