Foundation School Director - Wessex

Main duties of the job

NHSE is looking to make an interim appointment as Foundation School Director overseeing the Wessex Foundation School. The post is ideal for a Foundation Training Programme Director who wants to further develop their educational portfolio.

The Foundation School Director is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean and will focus on improving learner supervision, assessment and experience, engaging faculty, and ensuring effective educational outcomes. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation, developing multi‑professional links, innovative curriculum delivery and workforce well‑being strategies.

The Foundation School Director will be expected to meet the challenges of leading the School and Education Providers to deliver the changing curriculum in an evolving service landscape.

To support the Postgraduate Dean, the Foundation School Director works across the spectrum of health and, where relevant, social care, within a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.

Oversee and lead the Foundation School and Education Providers in delivering a high‑quality training programme that meets national standards and meets the needs of learners and the workforce.

Develop and implement strategies to improve educational quality, including supervision, assessment and faculty engagement.

Drive workforce transformation initiatives, foster multi‑professional collaboration, and promote innovative curriculum delivery and staff well‑being strategies.

Represent the Foundation School in national and local meetings, maintain relationships with teaching hospitals, specialty colleges, and professional bodies, and ensure alignment with the NHS workforce strategy.

• Ability to make decisions autonomously when required on difficult issues
• Academic interest in training and education across primary and secondary care
• Transformation leadership style and experience of managing change
• Sensitivity, tolerance and acceptance of criticism
• Commitment to equal opportunity and inclusive practice
• Safeguarding health and safety of staff, trainees and colleagues, including risk assessment
• Continual pursuit of personal and professional development

• Demonstrable leadership skills and ability to influence and motivate others
• Political astuteness and ability to manage complexity and uncertainty
• Strong vision and capacity for innovation
• Problem‑solving skills and objectivity
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills
• Commitment to personal development and support of others’ development

• Current clinical commitment in the region
• Considerable experience working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
• Clinical and educational leadership and innovation experience, including managing a multi‑professional team
• Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
• Understanding of developments involving relevant colleges, faculties, professional bodies, and regulatory bodies
• Recent experience of recruitment, selection, equality and diversity (last 3 years)
• Active involvement in appraisal processes
• Knowledge of NHS structures and processes, and workforce matters
• Applicants who are doctors require a licence to practise
• Understanding of the workforce transformation agenda

• Considerable and current experience at consultant level in a relevant speciality
• Primary clinical healthcare qualification
• Membership/fellowship of a college, faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body
• Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development (e.g., educator courses, Train the trainer)

Depend on experience; in line with HoS sessional payments.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Visa sponsorship is not available for any vacancies.