Job overview

Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is pleased to offer a rewarding opportunity to join one of England's leading health innovation organisations as a Programme Manager -HealthTech Innovation at a pivotal moment for the NHS, life sciences sector and the wider health and care system.

This is a 12 -month secondment or fixed-term vacancy to cover maternity leave.

We are seeking an ambitious, strategic and inspirational individual with a track record of delivering operational success in complex environments.
As Programme Manager you will contribute to our support for health innovators, managing a range of projects to:

•    Understand the needs of NHS and care services, articulating these with appropriate innovators, and developing market appraisals for presentation to health and care stakeholders, leading to implementation
•    Support innovative health and life science innovators to prepare for scale and adoption through appropriate development of their product, market understanding, evidence base and implementation plan.

You will bring:
•    Experience of the UK health and life sciences sector 
•    Understanding of the health innovation landscape 
•    Critical appraisal and product evaluation skills
•    Good influencing, networking and presentational skills 
•    A well-organised, inquisitive approach to work 
•    A proven track record in delivering measurable outcomes, 
•    Ability to work effectively across organisational boundaries, whilst being self-directed
•    A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for patients, populations and communities.

This is an interesting and varied role with the ability to influence the development and uptake of innovation at a local, regional and national level. 

At Health Innovation Wessex, you will have the opportunity to influence some of the most important challenges facing health and care today while helping shape the future of innovation across the NHS. You will join a highly regarded organisation with a national reputation for collaboration, delivery and impact.

Health Innovation Wessex is a company limited by guarantee, owned by the NHS and University Members with staff hosted by University Hospital Southampton.

We offer:
•    A unique opportunity to work at the forefront of health innovation and healthcare transformation.
•    Flexible and hybrid working arrangements - a minimum of 2 days in office or out visiting partners/stakeholders and home working aligned to the role and business needs.
•    Commitment to professional development, leadership growth and continuous learning.
•    A collaborative, ambitious and supportive culture.
•    An organisation committed to inclusion, diversity and wellbeing. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace 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.

The Opportunity

The Programme Manager - HealthTech Innovation delivers a series of projects supporting our “Innovation Exchange” commission from the UK government Office for Life Sciences, which sets out to improve patient outcomes, value for the NHS and social care, and to generate economic growth in the health and life sciences sector.

This work bridges the gap between the needs of NHS and social care services, and innovators who are developing (or have developed) new products or ways of working. The postholder accelerates new solutions from commercial, academic and NHS innovators which meet NHS and social care needs, are scalable, financially sustainable and in line with the priorities of these organisations.

In particular, the role delivers projects to communicate health and social care system needs to innovators, and address specific needs through a longitudinal market-appraisal process covering:

•    early engagement with stakeholders
•    problem discovery and definition
•    user-requirements specification
•    market appraisal
•    options analysis and presentation
•    showcasing art-of-the-possible solutions
•    implementation support (post-procurement)
•    evaluation of impact.

What You'll Be Responsible For

The Programme Manager is responsible for managing a number of simultaneous projects including, but not limited to, horizon-scanning for existing solutions to local/regional problems and direct innovator support.

Delivering project management principles throughout, using corporate project documentation, actively seeking appropriate funding, managing the projects and promoting dissemination of the project outcomes.
The role sits within a dynamic wider team of programme managers supporting the development, health-system validation, implementation and evaluation of cutting-edge health and medical technologies, and works closely with these specialists.  

The role also contributes to teaching and training in aspects of health innovation through our programme of courses and accelerators.

You will:

•    Manage horizon scanning projects from scoping through appraisal to presenting reports of findings to NHS services,
•    Formally assess the readiness of specific innovations for adoption in NHS and Social Care services,
•    Lead the planning, promotion and delivery of show-casing events, presenting the most impactful of innovations identified in horizon scans to NHS leaders,
•    Support innovators, including those identified in scans to become ready for adoption, advising and facilitating their route through development, market analysis, market access, implementation and evidence generation,
•    Contribute to teaching and mentoring on courses and accelerators delivered by HIW related to health innovation,
•    Represent HIW at conferences and stakeholder events. 

Join Us

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced and motivated individual who wants to make a lasting difference to health outcomes, healthcare transformation and economic growth.

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

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