Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellow - Optometrist
Main area: Welsh Clinical Leadership Training Fellow. Grade Band 8A. Contract: 12 months (secondment/fixed term). Hours: 37.5 per week with flexible working model.
* Full time
* Flexible working
Employer: Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). Location: Nantgarw. Salary: £58,379 - £65,723 per annum.
We are committed to promoting inclusion at HEIW and welcome applications from all who value diversity. Candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland nationals require sponsorship via a Skilled Worker Visa, unless they have permission to work via another route. HEIW does not hold a licence to sponsor skilled workers from overseas. If successful, applicants from outside the UK or ROI must obtain their own sponsorship or visa.
This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
Job overview
This exciting opportunity is open to Optometrists working in NHS Wales or within the primary care setting in Wales.
The Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship (WCLF) is a prestigious year-long programme that develops aspiring clinical leaders through immersive training and practical management experience. Fellows help drive improvement across NHS Wales, working with senior leaders at local, regional, and national levels to influence change and build strong professional networks.
This post is fixed term/secondment for 12 months due to meeting the needs of the service
If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying.
Main duties of the job
Each Fellow leads a strategic improvement project selected from proposals submitted by healthcare organisations across Wales, gaining hands‑on experience in delivering meaningful transformation with support from supervisors and colleagues.
Alongside project work, the Fellowship offers a rich academic and development curriculum—including a Postgraduate Certificate, workshops, site visits, expert‑led sessions, and formal teaching—to equip Fellows with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become credible, influential leaders in a modern NHS.
If you are motivated, forward‑thinking, and eager to contribute to transformative change, we encourage you to apply. Assessment centre will be held on 15 June 2026.
To learn more about the Fellowship, prospective candidates are invited to join a virtual drop‑in session from 12:30–13:30 on 22/05/2026 or 12:30–13:30 on 29/05/2026. To receive the link, email heiw.wcltf@wales.nhs.uk.
Working for our organisation
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales with statutory functions that include education and training, workforce planning, workforce development and transformation, leadership and succession planning, and careers. Our purpose is to develop a workforce that delivers excellent care to patients/service users and population health. We are a Special Health Authority working closely with partners such as Social Care Wales, education providers, professional and regulatory bodies, and the Welsh Government.
HEIW is committed to developing an internal culture of choice. Our values are:
* Respect for All in every contact we have with others;
* Ideas that Improve: harnessing creativity and continuously innovating, evaluating, and improving;
* Together as a Team: working with colleagues across NHS Wales and with partner organisations.
HEIW received the HPMA Award for Employee Engagement in 2019.
What you can expect:
* A corporate induction and 90‑day Welcome itinerary;
* A meaningful values‑based performance appraisal process;
* The opportunity to impact upon health and social care services and the lives and wellbeing of the people of Wales.
Person specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
* Employed in a clinical role in NHS Wales or working within primary care at A4C Band 7-8A or equivalent; ST3 or above (medical trainees), GPST2 or above (GP trainees), DCT2 or above (dental trainees) at time of application.
* Demonstrates clear understanding of the purpose of the programme and commitment to maximise this development opportunity.
* Demonstrates knowledge of effective problem‑solving approaches when plans do not go as expected.
* Evidence of reflective practice, including understanding of personal strengths and how these have been used to achieve positive results.
Experience
* Evidence of involvement and engagement in leadership and management development commensurate with grade and experience.
* Ability to reflect on personal impact and influence others.
* Demonstrable ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary settings and manage or motivate both in‑person and virtual teams.
* Understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policies with evidence of implementation.
* Managing teams through change.
* Positively contributes to team culture, helping create an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to deliver high‑quality care.
Aptitude and Abilities
* Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive, or contentious information with the ability to negotiate with stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues.
* Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference.
* Ability to prioritise own work effectively with the ability to produce results without continuous direct supervision.
* Ability to build, develop, and nurture key relationships and networks, showing adaptability in approach.
* Ability to speak Welsh.
* Reflects on past performance, seeks out feedback and applies learning to current practice.
Values
* Demonstrates integrity and ethical practice, including transparency, accountability, and patient‑centred decision‑making.
* Demonstrates a consistent commitment to compassionate and inclusive leadership, fostering psychological safety and respect within multi‑professional teams, and a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
* Actively role‑models NHS Wales values, contributing to a culture of kindness, openness, continuous improvement and shared purpose.
* Committed to collaborative, whole‑system working, engaging constructively with colleagues across professions, services and organisational boundaries.
Other
* Ability to travel to suit the requirements of the role.
It is essential that your application demonstrates how you meet the job description and person specification for this post.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Name: Moya Jenkins
Job title: NHS Wales Clinical Leadership Programme Manager
Email address: heiw.wcltf@wales.nhs.uk
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