About this role
Job summary
The role of Training Programme Director is to work with and support the Postgraduate Dean in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions within their specialty, aligned to the Health Education England mandate.
Main duties of the job
A speciality Training Programme Director (TPD) is a member of the Speciality Training Committee (STC) who is managerially responsible to the Postgraduate Dean for the delivery of training in that speciality according to the standards set by the GMC and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
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
You can find further details about the role,including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside theorganisational structureand person specificationin the attached Job Descriptionand other supporting documents.
Education and Training Quality Improvement and Performance
To emphasise the importance and promote the development of a quality learning environment for all learners.
To support Postgraduate Deans in meeting all NHSE statutory requirements.
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Improvement
Assist in the development of quality processes which are complementary across the healthcare workforce.
To support the use of clinical skills training and simulation (where appropriate/applicable), stressing the importance of teamwork and human factors.
Governance, Ethics and Compliance
Oversee full compliance with legal, ethical, and institutional requirements governing human tissue use (e.g., HTA regulations or local equivalents).
Ensure robust consent-chain documentation and adherence to donor programme standards.
Manage risk assessments, safety protocols, incident reporting structures, and audit cycles for cadaveric facilities.
Quality Assurance and Evaluation
Establish KPIs, benchmarking criteria for cadaveric training quality.
Conduct regular programme evaluations using trainee feedback, outcome metrics, and faculty reviews.
Lead innovation initiatives to incorporate new technologies.
School Programme Management Cadaveric
Plan and coordinate cadaveric training sessions, including scheduling, faculty allocation, trainee selection, and resource planning.
Maintain oversight of equipment, instrumentation, specimen preparation, and facility readiness.
Work closely with anatomy departments, mortuary services, and simulation centres to ensure operational efficiency.
To provide reports to the Specialty Training Committee and School Board
To complete the annual school development plan
Educational and Workforce Development
To advise and support the Postgraduate Dean in educational and workforce development elements, including professional development of the educational faculty
To support compliance with requirements particularly with regard to the supervision and support for trainees and learners.
To identify learning needs and support provision of educational appraisal, educator development and resource for faculty, trainees and learners.
To create and promote shared learning opportunities to increase effective inter-professional working across the School.
Faculty Leadership and Development
Recruit, train, and mentor faculty involved in cadaveric skills teaching.
Establish competency expectations for faculty and oversee peer-review and feedback mechanisms.
Foster a culture of high-fidelity educational delivery, professional integrity, and continuous improvement.
Trainee Assessment and progression
Develop and implement assessment frameworks for cadaveric skills, including formative and summative evaluation.
Provide clear documentation of trainee performance, mapped to curriculum competencies.
Contribute to ARCP processes by supplying validated evidence and structured reports
Intelligence Support/ provision
To ensure local intelligence processes inform quality management processes.
To engage with information systems (trainee database, post establishments).
Strategic Leadership and Programme Design
Develop and maintain a coherent cadaveric training strategy aligned to national O&G curricula and competency frameworks.
Define learning objectives, training pathways, and assessment methodologies for cadaveric surgical training.
Ensure cadaveric training complements existing simulation, operative teaching, and skills development programmes.
Lead curriculum mapping and continuous updating in response to regulatory, scientific, and clinical advancements.
Collaboration and Stakeholders Engagement
Act as primary liaison between the School, cadaveric centres, and regulatory bodies.
Collaborate with surgical colleges, academic institutions, and clinical departments to align cadaveric training with broader educational strategies.
Resource and Budget Management
Oversee financial planning for cadaveric training, including specimen acquisition, facility costs, and teaching resources
To engage with financial business planning processes and associated School budgets as needed.
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
Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development Primary clinical healthcare qualification
Desirable
Educational qualification such as postgraduate certificate diploma or masters in medical education
Experience Essential
Considerable experience of working with learners or doctors in training in an educational contex Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies
Desirable
Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education Understanding of current health, social care and education policy
Skills Essential
Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key Stakeholders Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress
Desirable
Ability to rapidly establish academic credibility
Behaviours and Values Essential
To contribute to the vision of the local NHS and to enhance patient care by providing leadership and direction with respect to the quality of education and training
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 Victoria House
Cambridge
CB21 5XB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)