Programme Manager

We are seeking a proactive, strategic and highly capable Programme Manager to lead one or more Wessex Health Partners driver initiatives and support delivery of our ambitious annual and five-year plan.

You may already be an experienced Programme Manager, or you may be someone ready to take the next step into a more senior, complex and outward-facing role. If you have strong project or programme management experience, excellent stakeholder skills and a passion for innovation and transformation, we will support you to grow into the full breadth of this role.

As part of our team, you will be responsible for developing and managing project plans, coordinating multi-disciplinary stakeholders, evaluating impact, preparing reports and promotional materials, and ensuring effective dissemination of project outcomes. You will gather and analyse data, assess feasibility of plans, support funding applications, and contribute to the development of Wessex Health Partners' research and innovation pathway.

You will have experience of managing delegated budgets. You will demonstrate strong judgement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work autonomously while contributing to a collaborative, agile and high-performing team.

This role requires resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to improving health outcomes, accelerating innovation and supporting large-scale transformation across Wessex.

The Opportunity

Wessex Health Partners bring together 15 NHS and University partners and Health Innovation Wessex with stakeholders including local authorities, industry and national funders to accelerate research, innovation and transformation across Wessex and wider society. As Programme Manager, you will lead one or more Wessex Health Partners driver initiatives, establishing programme structures, coordinating stakeholders, securing funding and supporting the spread and adoption of innovation across the region.

In this role, your key responsibilities will include -

You will

Join Us

This is an exceptional opportunity for a skilled Programme Manager, or someone ready to take the next step into programme leadership, who wants to make a lasting difference to health outcomes, healthcare transformation and economic growth.

If you are passionate about research and innovation, inspired by the future of the NHS and excited by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of Wessex Health Partners, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can accelerate innovation, improve lives and create a healthier future for Wessex and beyond.

With Wessex Health Partners you will have the opportunity to influence some of the most important challenges facing health and care today while helping shape the future of research and innovation across the NHS.

You will join a highly regarded partnership with a national reputation for collaboration, delivery and impact. Wessex Health Partners is a partnership of 15 organisations, including 10 NHS, 4 Universities and Health Innovation Wessex, with staff employed by University Hospital Southampton.

We offer

A unique opportunity to work at the forefront of healthcare research, innovation, and transformation.

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements - typically a minimum of two days in the office or out visiting partners/stakeholders, with home working aligned to role and business needs.

Commitment to professional development, leadership growth and continuous learning, including supporting talented individuals stepping up into their first major programme leadership role.

A collaborative, ambitious and supportive culture.

An organisation committed to inclusion, diversity and wellbeing, where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.

Modern office facilities at Southampton Science Park in Chilworth, one of the UK's leading centres for science, technology and innovation.

Qualifications / training required

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Values and behaviours