Advertised location: Kirkwall
Advertised salary: Consultant (£111,430 - £148,064)
Employment type: Permanent
Associate Medical Director (Secondary Care) - The Balfour, NHS Orkney
NHS Orkney is looking for an Associate Medical Director for The Balfour, working directly with the Executive Medical Director, in a Board that runs a whole health system for 22,000 people.

This is a hospital-wide medical leadership role. It sits across every specialty rather than within any of them. You will support the specialty teams, hold clinical governance across acute services, lead on job planning, support appraisal and revalidation, support the Responsible Officer function, and deputise for the Executive Medical Director.

The post is open to consultants of any specialty, and other senior doctors with substantial secondary care experience. We would rather hear from a strong leader in any branch of practice than narrow the field by specialty. If you are unsure whether your background fits, ask.

What we can offer you

• The senior medical leadership role for the hospital, working directly with the Executive Medical Director.
• A permanent 0.5 WTE (5 programmed activity) leadership commitment, which can be later paired with a substantive clinical commitment of up to 0.7 WTE in your own specialty within the secondary care establishment - a complete clinical and leadership job in one place, or a leadership role held alongside practice elsewhere.
• A real commitment to work/life balance - block working and alternative patterns are all open to individual conversation.
• Standard Scottish consultant contract terms pro rata, including the Distant Islands Allowance and relocation support, or equivalent terms for your contract type.
• Support for leadership development, continuing professional development, and periods in larger centres to maintain and develop clinical skills where a clinical commitment is held.
• A stunning location with diverse natural resources and a rich culture to explore.
• Travel supported for interviews and visits.

Orkney is a wonderful place to live and work, and has been voted one of the happiest and best places to live in the UK, offering excellent schools, good leisure facilities, amazing scenery and unique wildlife. Excellent ferry and air connections make travel to the Scottish mainland, Shetland, and even Norway straightforward.

To find out more about working for NHS Orkney please visit https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/, and for living in Orkney https://www.orkney.com/.

If you are interested, please contact Dr Anna Lamont, Executive Medical Director, anna.lamont@nhs.scot, to discuss this position. An informal conversation before applying is strongly encouraged.
Closing date: Sunday 25th October 2026