Chief Registrar
Go back University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 09 April 2026.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated senior doctor in training (ST4 or above, or equivalent) with an interest in leadership, management, and quality improvement to join University College London Hospital as a chief registrar. Successful applicants will work in a leadership role across one of the three Boards: Medicine, Specialist Hospitals, or Surgery and Cancer.
The chief registrar role is ideal for trainees who:
* Want to learn about leadership and gain senior leadership experience
* Are comfortable working in uncertain environments and across traditional boundaries
* Relish the opportunity to develop their own ideas and initiatives
* Are committed to and passionate about improving the NHS
The role provides senior trainees with 40‑50% protected time to develop skills and confidence in leadership, management, and quality improvement. Learning gained from the Royal College of Physicians’ bespoke development programme will be put into practice in a supported environment that provides autonomy, flexibility and support to develop and support projects that address key local challenges and priorities, including service improvement, engagement and morale, education and training, workforce, and sustainability.
Main duties of the job
The chief registrar will be mentored by a senior clinical leader within the organisation and gain a unique insight into NHS leadership and management processes, as well as deeper knowledge of NHS structures and stakeholders.
* Lead service improvement and quality improvement initiatives
* Use data to diagnose problems and evaluate change
* Deliver tangible operational and patient‑experience outcomes
* Regularly attend departmental and divisional meetings
* Represent resident doctor perspectives at Trust‑level forums
* Engage in reflective leadership development
* Complete the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Chief Registrar development programme
* Support an excellent training experience for resident doctors
* Help improve efficiency and reduce waste
* Mentor other resident doctors and engage with postgraduate medical education structures
* Act as a bridge between resident doctors, senior clinical leaders, and managers, improving communication, engagement, and morale across the medical workforce
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, including women’s health, cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease, and world‑class support services such as critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology. We are committed to sustainability, with an aim to become a carbon net‑zero health service by 2031 for direct emissions and by 2040 for indirect emissions.
Job responsibilities
Applications are open to senior trainees: National Training Number (NTN) ST4 level or above; locally employed doctors (LED) with equivalent experience of ST4 or above; full GMC registration required. The role is a fixed‑term 12‑month appointment. Clinical work remains within the individual's parent specialty, accounting for approximately 50‑60% of their time, with the remainder protected for chief registrar responsibilities. The postholder is expected to demonstrate leadership capability, professionalism, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, safeguarding, and continuous improvement. Duties may evolve in response to organisational needs, and performance is reviewed through appraisal and agreed objectives.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
* Full registration with General Medical Council
* Fit to practise
* NTN ST4 or above (or equivalent locally employed doctors)
* Not already hold a CCT or be expected to leave the programme before completion
* Approval of TPD to apply (for NTNs)
* Additional relevant degree (intercalated, masters or doctorate)
Experience
* Evidence of clinical competencies in their specialty appropriate for their stage in training (or equivalent)
* Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
Research
* Understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues
* Knowledge of research methodology and ability to use basic qualitative and quantitative methods
* Knowledge of evidence‑based practice
* Evidence of relevant academic achievements, including publications/presentations
Quality/Service improvement
* Understanding of clinical governance, including basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence‑based practice, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives
* Active involvement in quality improvement, audit, research or other activities that focus on patient safety and clinical improvement and innovation
* Interest in/knowledge of the delivery of safe, effective healthcare services
* Portfolio of audit/quality improvement projects with evidence that the audit loop has been closed and learning about the principles of change management
* Publications/presentations/prizes in quality improvement or audit
Education and teaching
* Interest in and experience of teaching
* Positive feedback on teaching approaches
* Development of teaching programmes
* Participation in teaching courses
* Participation in degree or diploma courses in education
* Action learning sets / simulation instructor experience
Team working, leading and managing others
* Ability to build effective teams and partnerships
* Work well in multidisciplinary teams
* Value contributions of others
* Show leadership, make decisions, organise and motivate others through, for example, quality improvement
Values
* Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improvement
Communication
* Clarity in written/spoken communication
* Leadership skills gained within the NHS or elsewhere
* Writing experience: clinical and/or non-clinical topics
* Writing experience: peer‑reviewed publications and/or other communication (e.g., blog, letters to journals)
Personal and People Development
* Effective team working and leadership, supported by multi‑source feedback or workplace‑based assessments
* Self‑awareness, with knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses, impact and areas for development
* Interest in and knowledge of the importance of leadership and management for clinicians
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
* Demonstrable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or knowledge of NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Salary: £65,048 to £73,992 per annum + London weighting.
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