Job summary
We are seeking an outstanding, innovative and inspirational leader to join our senior leadership team as Head of Imaging Services.

As Head of Imaging Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring safe, effective, high-quality and patient-centred services. Working closely with clinical, operational and care group colleagues, you will drive service transformation, improve productivity and performance, and support wider organisational objectives.

This is a pivotal role at a time of significant transformation and investment in diagnostic services. We are looking for a leader who can build on strong foundations while embracing innovation, technology and new ways of working.

You will lead a large, diverse workforce across multiple sites, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will have substantial senior leadership experience, ideally in diagnostic or imaging services, with strong financial management, change leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

We are seeking a visible, approachable leader with the vision and drive to deliver excellence. You will use data to inform decisions, lead change in complex environments, and balance patient outcomes, workforce sustainability, financial performance and strategic priorities.

Main duties of the job
We are looking for a dynamic and credible leader with:

• Significant senior leadership experience within healthcare services, ideally diagnostic or imaging services
• A proven track record of delivering operational performance and service improvement
• Strong financial and contractual management skills
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams through change and transformation
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership-working abilities
• A commitment to quality, patient experience, and continuous improvement
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience, with evidence of ongoing leadership development

About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

This role requires HCPC Registration.

Base Locations: All sites

Interview date: Week commencing 19th October 2026

Details
Date posted: 15 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year
Additionally, participation in General Manager oncall rota
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 153-SP06761
Job locations: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, BH77DW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Reporting to the Care Group Director of Operations, you will be responsible for the overall management and development of imaging services, including:

• Strategic leadership and service planning across Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging
• Delivery of national and local performance standards, including diagnostic waiting time targets
• Workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and staff development
• Financial management, budgetary control, and business planning
• Quality improvement, governance, patient safety, and regulatory compliance
• Leading service redesign, innovation, and digital transformation initiatives
• Developing productive relationships with clinical leaders, operational teams, regional networks, and external partners

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of imaging services, ensuring patients receive timely access to high-quality diagnostics while delivering excellent value for money.

Experience of leading diagnostic service transformation, digital imaging programmes, or capacity and demand improvement initiatives would be highly desirable.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Radiography BSc (hons) or equivalent
• Current professional registration with The HCPC as a Diagnostic Radiographer
• Clinical and/or managerial Postgraduate (master's level) qualification(s)
• Evidence of further personal development
• Evidence of formal management development and current professional development activity

Desirable

• Formal Project Management qualification
• Evidence of experience in advanced/extended scope Radiographic practice
• Evidence of training in change management

Experience
Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience within an NHS or comparable healthcare environment.
• Personal experience of managing and implementing a significant programme of change or service development
• Experience as an effective senior leader, demonstrating leadership skills and the ability to motivate others
• Experience of human resource management including recruitment, appraisal, performance monitoring, staff development and discipline
• Experience of financial and budget management, including delivery of an efficiency improvement plan
• Experience of influencing the decision-making process in complex environments
• Proven pro-active approach to problem solving
• Excellent analytical and interpretative skills enabling the development, planning and implementation of service changes
• Experience managing complex multidisciplinary services.
• Evidence of strategic planning (able to work towards a clear vision of the future while ensuring that shorter term goals are met)
• Experience of leading oversight and improvement across a clinical governance and patient safety agenda
• Experience of managing competing organisational priorities.

Desirable

• Experience in participation in hospital on-call service with an acute trust.
• Experience in Asset Management and Procurement
• Previous experience as Head of Imaging Services or Head of Radiology
• Experience of leading large-scale transformation
• Experience of regional or system-wide diagnostic programmes
• Experience of major capital schemes and equipment replacement
• Experience of PACS/RIS implementation or digital transformation

Skills
Essential

• Good IT skills
• Ability to apply appropriate management techniques and skills
• Ability to performance manage across all disciplines
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work and to meet deadlines under pressure
• Excellent negotiation and persuasive skills enabling effective arbitration and conflict resolution.
• Comprehensive understanding of data protection, freedom of information and confidentiality issues Excellent presentation skills and the ability to write clear and concise managerial
• Excellent leadership skills with evidence of being an effective team player

Knowledge
Essential

• Detailed understanding of NHS operational and strategic priorities.
• Knowledge of diagnostic imaging pathways.
• Understanding of imaging demand and capacity management.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and patient safety.
• Understanding of workforce planning and skill mix.
• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Understanding of relevant regulatory and professional requirements.
• Sound knowledge of Clinical Governance and Health & safety issues, including the ability to undertake risk assessments
• Knowledge of professional & NHS policies and guidelines relating to service provision

Desirable

• Knowledge of national diagnostic transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of PACS, RIS and electronic patient records.
• Understanding of AI and emerging imaging technologies.
• Knowledge of regional imaging networks.

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, BH77DW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Group Director of Operations
Lisa Clarke
lisa.clarke54@nhs.net