About this role
Job summary
The role of Associate Dean (SAS Doctors) is to support the Postgraduate Dean at a senior level and guide, support, and manage the activities related to the development of Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist (SAS) Doctors in line with the Long-Term Workforce Plan (LTWP) and NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England commitments to this group of doctors.
As senior members of the NHSE NW team, Associate Deans share responsibility for the overall development of postgraduate medical, public health and dental education within the NW. They take responsibility for contributing to and leading, as required, any specific NHSE NW projects. This will include liaison with the ICS, Acute Trusts, regional NHS organisations and relevant national bodies.
Main duties of the job
The Associate Dean will lead an exciting portfolio of work to support the development of SAS Doctors working for Providers of NHS services throughout the North West Region.
The post holder will be required to work closely with key internal and external stakeholders across NHS England's national postgraduate medical education reform team and local region- including ICBs and providers of NHS services, to support the development of a sufficient and inclusive workforce with the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours to deliver compassionate high-quality health and care to the people it serves.
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.
Job description Job responsibilities
The postholder will work closely with NHS Englands postgraduate medical education reform team to support delivery of the SAS Pillars, actions and outcomes aligned to the train, retain and reform pillars of the LTWP, to encourage providers of NHS services to undertake activities to improve the experience of SAS Doctors by improving opportunities for career progression, skills development, and access to educational opportunities, in addition to an improved experience of working in the NHS by providing an inclusive culture and creating a sense of belonging.
The post holder will be required to undertake a leadership role in the co-ordination, provision, management, and promotion of professional development activities for SAS Doctors across the region.
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
Registered Medical Practitioner with a current license to practice. Applicants should be in a substantive role in NHS clinical practice Applicants, regardless of professional background, must have a track record of professionalism in line with the principles set out in Good Medical Practice and compatible with appointment in a senior clinical educator role. Experience in the leadership and delivery of education or professional development initiatives within the NHS Managerial experience within clinical education Knowledge of research in medical education and/or professional development
Desirable
Able to demonstrate the importance of SAS Doctors as leaders and educators Able to demonstrate ambition to lead SAS Doctor development in the region.
Experience Essential
Experience of supporting SAS Doctor development within own trust and/ or specialty. Knowledge of key strategic documents relevant to SAS Doctor development. Knowledge of the NHS, its structures, and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters
Desirable
Current or previous experience as a SAS Doctor. Current or previous appointment in a leadership role supporting SAS Doctor development
Skills Essential
Highly developed interpersonal and communication, written and presentation skills and ability to work as part of a team Excellent verbal communication and influencing skills including the ability to establish an effective rapport quickly with stakeholders at all levels, including SAS doctors, gaining trust and respect Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders Strong leadership skills and able to 'sell' the vision Ability to meet tight deadlines and work on own initiative to manage workload through effective prioritising and time management Ability to critically appraise and problem solve whilst maintaining objectivity Ability to recognise when work is of a confidential nature and the implications of confidentiality for how work is carried out Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
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 This role can be based across the North West Region
Flexible across the North West
M1 3BN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)