Job summary
Consultant Ophthalmologist - Medical Retina & Clinical Lead
10 sessions per week (Monday to Friday)
Permanent
Salary: £113,565 - £150,569 per annum
Closing Date: Wednesday 7th October 2026
Interview Date: Monday 16th November 2026

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community - get in touch to find out more

#JoinTeamEliot

We are looking for an outstanding Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Medical Retina to join our dynamic and forward-thinking ophthalmology team across George Eliot Hospital and South Warwickshire Foundation Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious clinician to join a service committed to delivering high quality, innovative and patient centred retinal care. You will play a key role in the continued development of our Medical Retina service, working alongside experienced ophthalmologists, optometrist, nurses, and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Main duties of the job
Clinical Lead - Joint Multi-Site Leadership Opportunity

• An exciting new leadership role shaping the future of healthcare delivery across two sites. We are delighted to offer a newly created Clinical Lead position that presents a unique opportunity to influence, develop, and shape services across two established clinical sites.
• This innovative joint role has been designed to strengthen collaboration, enhance clinical excellence, and drive service transformation, offering the successful candidate a rare chance to make a significant and lasting impact across multiple teams and care pathways.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and develop Medical Retina pathways and improve patient outcomes.
• Manage a broad range of retinal disease, including diabetic eye disease.
• Contribute to the development of modern, efficient, and innovative models of retinal care.
• Work within a highly skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to clinical governance, teaching, training, and service improvement.
• Develop your own areas of specialist interest and professional expertise.
• Contribute to research, innovation, and the adoption of evidence-based practice.

We want a consultant who combines clinical excellence, leadership, and a genuine passion for Medical Retina.

About us
Here at George Eliot our vision to 'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:

E ffective Open Communication
e x cellence and safety in everything we do
C hallenge but support
E xpect respect and dignity
L ocal health that inspires confidence

Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, extensive in-house course learning directory, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.

Details
Date posted: 07 September 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 230-40758486-PCD-A
Job locations: George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, College Street, Nuneaton, CV10 7DJ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• This is far more than a traditional clinical leadership position. It is an opportunity to be at the forefront of service development, working across organisational boundaries to create consistency, improve patient outcomes, and build a culture of excellence.
• The role combines strategic leadership, operational oversight, quality improvement, and workforce development, making it ideal for an ambitious clinical leader looking to broaden their influence and lead meaningful change.
• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to strengthen academic clinical links, support the development of future healthcare professionals, and help shape evidence-based practice through collaboration with academic colleagues and students.
• We are looking for a leader who brings energy, vision, and credibility; someone who can inspire teams, foster collaboration, and create an environment where innovation and continuous improvement thrive.
• The successful candidate will have a proven track record in service improvement, a strong understanding of clinical governance and patient safety, and the ability to balance quality, workforce, and financial considerations to deliver sustainable, high-performing services. You must also be a substantive consultant with a minimum of 3 years' experience at Consultant level.
• A strong track record of leading service improvement and change initiatives.
• Excellent leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop multidisciplinary teams.
• A comprehensive understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety, and risk management.
• Financial awareness and an understanding of how resources, workforce, and budgets contribute to sustainable service delivery.
• The ability to build strong relationships across clinical, operational, and - academic environments.
• A passion for innovation, education, and delivering exceptional patient care.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious leader seeking a role with genuine influence, variety, and scope. If you are passionate about developing services, empowering teams, strengthening academic partnerships, and shaping the future of care delivery, we would love to hear from you.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Training
Essential

• Full registration on GMC Specialist Register (CCT / CESR)
• FRCOphth or equivalent

Desirable

• Higher degree (PhD or MD)

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Excellent Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work well within a team
• Organisational & Leadership skills
• Clinical Governance understanding
• Be caring and diplomatic.
• Basic keyboard skills
• Ability to plan strategically and to exercise sound judgment when faced with conflicting pressures.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience in the application of IT in Ophthalmology
• To work effectively as part of the Trust Management Structure
• Show ability to learn from experience.
• Demonstrate insight into managing a busy caseload.
• Knowledge of mediSight

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
• Caring attitude to patients
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GP's nurses, other staff, and agencies
• Good interpersonal skills
• An understanding of the current NHS environment particularly in relation to reforms, initiatives and issues
• Ability to travel to fulfil the requirements of the post

Other
Essential

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English
• Adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills to be able to write & present reports at board level
• Able to give examples of dealing with difficult situations (clinical and non-clinical)
• Satisfactory Work health Assessment
• Capacity to take responsibility for own actions and demonstrate a non-judgemental approach towards others
• Able to demonstrate flexibility in working hours
• Displays honesty, integrity, awareness of confidentiality & ethical issues
• Eligible to live and work in the UK

Experience and Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the care of patients
• Training and experience in Medical Retina at a senior level.
• Evidence of a wide experience in Ophthalmology and UK experience
• Ability to run independent cataract lists
• Independent in ophthalmic surgery.
• Experience of supervision of ophthalmology trainees
• Subspeciality fellowship completed
• Previous experience of managing / leading a team

Desirable

• ROP screening
• Evidence of logical thinking and an ability to make clear and balanced decisions
• Demonstrate an understanding of the development needs of trainees and how these can be met.

Teaching and Education
Essential

• Experienced in demonstrating clinical procedures/techniques to other healthcare professionals
• Commitment to continuing medical education
• Ability to organize and participate in and evidence of teaching and training undergraduate and postgraduate students

Desirable

• Appraisal and assessment training skills

Audit / Research and Publications
Essential

• Undertaken complete audit cycle
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical practice
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues
• Interest and awareness of research methodology

Desirable

• Ability to demonstrate recent evidence of relevant and continued research
• Ability to demonstrate recent evidence of relevant and continued research
• Published research in peer-reviewed journals

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Address: George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, College Street, Nuneaton, CV10 7DJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.geh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Operational Manager
Afnan Akhtar
afnan.akhtar@geh.nhs.uk
07392194746

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).