Job summary
The Diagnostics Recovery & Transformation Programme is the largest single investment programme in the NHS in terms of capital and revenue combined (second largest after New Hospital Programme in terms of capital only).

It is delivering twin priorities:

• A significant transformation in the NHS diagnostic model
• Recovery of diagnostic services as a key element of overall elective recovery and cancer performance.

The national diagnostics programme has four key Diagnostic Disciplines, and each team is made of subject matter experts including clinicians and implementation leads who each lead work across a priority area:

• Imaging
• Pathology
• GI Endoscopy
• Physiological Sciences

The physiological science transformation focus of this work seeks to boost the productivity, quality, resilience and profile of physiological science services. The programme develops and implements strategic improvement approaches including national data collection and analysis, development of physiological science networks, improvement support alongside coordination of national investments in digital and capital equipment.

Main duties of the job
The National Specialty Adviser is responsible for providing clinical advice to the Diagnostics Programme in the area of Physiological Science, with expertise in one or more of the following disciplines: Neurophysiology, Ophthalmic Science, Vascular Science, GI Physiology and Urodynamics.

Main duties of the job
The role of the National Specialty Advisor (NSA) is to support senior leaders including Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), National Clinical Directors and Medical Directors to provide clinical advice in four respects:

• Clinical advice to drive transformation of services
• Clinical advice to support identification and delivery of our corporate clinical priorities (at national and regional level);
• Clinical advice to support the commissioning of services;
• Clinical advice on ad hoc issues to support parliamentary accountability.

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.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Details
Date posted: 19 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £105,000 a year
MDL1
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number: 990-PC-EC4077-E
Job locations: Any NHS England office, Wellington Place Leeds or Wellington House, London, Any NHS England office, LS1 4AP, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The post holders will support senior leaders with the provision of clinical advice and leadership through: -

• Clinical advice to drive improvement of the performance of physiological Science Services, including supporting productivity through digital transformation of services.
• Clinical advice and support to front line units / systems as needed, complementing the work of regional Clinical Leads in this area.
• Clinical advice on the development and delivery of improved models of service delivery.
• Clinical advice on the achievement of an effective and sustainable workforce.
• Ensuring benefits to population health and addressing health inequalities.
• Securing buy-in and removing barriers to project success, including working with trusts and relevant national bodies and societies.

The NSA is responsible for supporting senior leaders and national programmes with the provision of clinical advice including on improving population health outcomes and narrowing health inequalities within the field.

The ability to build excellent collaborative networks and develop effective and mutually supportive relationships with key partners within and throughout organisations.

Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is due to funding.

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

• Educated to degree level in a relevant scientific or medical discipline
• Holds a relevant masters or a higher level qualification in a relevant speciality (i.e. those with a physiology background will require a masters level qualification and for medically qualified graduates membership of a relevant royal college).

Knowledge and expereince
Essential

• Experience in clinical leadership of a physiological science service
• Experienced clinical practitioner with credibility and the ability to command the respect of all clinical and non-clinical professionals across primary, secondary and community care

Desirable

• Significant experience of working at a national or sub-national level as a clinical leader in a relevant specialty

skills and capabilities
Essential

• The ability to build excellent collaborative networks and develop effective and mutually supportive relationships with key partners within and throughout organisations.

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.

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

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.