Job summary
The role of Head of School is to work with and support the NHS England Postgraduate Dean in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions, aligned to the NHS England mandate.

The Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The Head of School 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 as well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.

Main duties of the job
The Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The Head of School 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 mas well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.

Although the main role is to lead and develop the Postgraduate School of Public Health, all senior clinicians within NHSE may have wider roles and projects as agreed with the Postgraduate Dean.

About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

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.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and 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 our offices.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Details
Date posted: 06 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: Depending on experience
In line with HoS sessional payments
Contract: Secondment
Duration: 8 months
Working pattern: Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number: 990-NW-EC3711-E
Job locations: 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Specialty-specific matters and trainee/trainer concerns;
• Recruitment to training posts and programmes;
• To use our educational resources to support learners within programmes to achieve their full potential.
• Postgraduate programme management, including assessments, progression, rotations (to ensure Code of Practice compliance), support and remediation, OOP management, trainee management, careers support, less than full-time training, inter deanery transfer, academic training, and other related work-streams.
• Appraisal of TPDs (Training Programme Directors)
• Attendance Head of Schools meetings

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

• Membership/Fellowship of Faculty of Public Health
• Work as a Public Health Consultant in the NW Region

Desirable

• Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development (example: educator courses, Train the trainer, etc)

Experience
Essential

• Considerable experience of working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
• Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
• Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
• Applicants who are doctors require a Licence to Practise

Desirable

• Active involvement in, and up to date with, appraisal processes
• Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies, related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies
• Understanding of the workforce transformation agenda
• Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and Equality and Diversity in the last 3 years
• Knowledge of the NHS, its structures, and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters

Skills
Essential

• Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others
• A powerful sense of vision and ability to innovate
• Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty

Desirable

• Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
• Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress

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: NHS England
Address: 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Associate Dean
Simon Carley
simon.carley@nhs.net

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