About this role
Job summary
Hywel Dda University Health Board is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Principal Sonographer to provide strategic, professional, governance and operational leadership for ultrasound services across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of ultrasound practice across a diverse Health Board, leading service transformation, strengthening clinical governance, and supporting sustainable, high-quality care for patients and communities.
Working within Radiology, you will act as the Health Board's senior professional authority for ultrasound, influencing strategic direction, workforce development, quality assurance and innovation while promoting compassionate, inclusive and values-based leadership.
The post offers the chance to work across beautiful rural and coastal communities, combining senior leadership responsibility with the opportunity to make a visible difference to patient safety, access, service quality and staff development.
Key benefits of the role include:
Influence the strategic direction of ultrasound services across the Health Board.
Lead innovation, service redesign and quality improvement at scale.
Support and develop a skilled ultrasound workforce, including advanced and extended roles.
Contribute to governance, safety and assurance at senior organisational level.
Work in a supportive Health Board serving vibrant communities across west Wales.
Main duties of the job
The Principal Sonographer will provide senior leadership for ultrasound practice, ensuring services are safe, effective, sustainable and aligned with national standards, regulatory requirements and Health Board priorities.
The post holder will lead ultrasound governance, quality assurance, audit, risk management and service improvement, including oversight of policies, standards, equipment strategy, performance data and preparation for accreditation requirements such as Quality Standards in Imaging.
A key part of the role will be leading and influencing workforce strategy, professional standards, education, credentialing, scope of practice and career development pathways, while working collaboratively with clinical, operational, managerial and external partners to improve access, patient flow and outcomes.
The role also includes expert clinical contribution, including referral vetting, high-quality ultrasound examinations, interpretative reporting, medicines governance within the area of responsibility, incident and complaint investigation, and provision of specialist advice across services.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.
We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.
Our services are provided in:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 99 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services
Job description Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 25/11/2026.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant NHS experience working as a sonographer across a range of ultrasound disciplines. Extensive senior-level NHS ultrasound experience across multiple clinical domains. Demonstrable experience of providing organisation-wide professional leadership and governance oversight. Proven experience of leading complex service transformation, change management and service redesign at scale. Experience of providing assurance to senior leadership on quality, safety, performance and risk. Significant experience of workforce leadership, including professional accountability, scope of practice, education and role development. Experience of financial management, budgetary responsibility and development of business cases. Evidence of effective partnership working across multidisciplinary, organisational and system boundaries. Clear understanding of Welsh Government priorities including RTT and Single Cancer Pathway targets.
Desirable
Experience of leading services through external inspection, accreditation or quality assurance processes (e.g. QSI). Experience of working at regional or national level influencing service strategy or professional practice.
Qualifications and Knowledge Essential
Relevant professional qualification Current HCPC/RCT/RCN registration CASE accredited Masters (level 7) qualification in medical ultrasound (e.g. DMU, MSC.) Post graduate study in obstetric and general ultrasound, having a full working knowledge of the regulatory framework relating to your area of practise. Formal management or leadership qualification, or demonstrable equivalent senior leadership experience.
Desirable
Post graduate qualification in Clinical Governance, Quality Assurance, teaching, IOSHH or comparable. Postgraduate qualification or formal training in clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety, education, or health service management. Evidence of continuous professional development at a strategic or executive leadership level.
Other Desirable
Welsh Speaker (Level 1)
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 Hywel Dda University Health Board
Address Health Board Wide - To be agreed with candidate
Health Board Wide - To be agreed with candidate
SA31 2AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)