Programme Manager (Cataract Immersion Surgical Training)
Join to apply for the Programme Manager (Cataract Immersion Surgical Training) role at NHS Scotland
About NHS Scotland Academy
The NHS Scotland Academy is a partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland funded by the Scottish Government to offer accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions. The Academy provides an opportunity for staff to improve their skills in specific areas, using mixed methods including immersion, simulation, and distance learning. It offers attractive training programmes linked to recruitment and career progression.
The Academy draws on the strengths of both parent organisations. It uses the state‑of‑the‑art clinical and simulation facilities at NHS Golden Jubilee, and the educational expertise and technology‑enabled learning offered by NHS Education for Scotland. The Academy supports NHS Scotland to develop additional capacity and new capabilities, adding to existing educational programmes and responding to evolving workforce needs. Since our launch in October 2021, we have established many successful training programmes, including immersive training experiences for residents and consultants in endoscopy and ultrasound.
About The Cataract Surgery Immersive Training Programme
In response to funding that has been made available to a number of Boards to reduce waiting times for cataract surgery, the NHS Scotland Academy has been funded to increase the number of immersive training opportunities for resident doctors and/or SAS doctors who are working towards the RCOpth EPA in running an independent cataract list.
The training programme will run on a six‑month cycle, with new placements each February and August. Each week residents will have at least five immersive cataract theatre sessions. When deemed competent by the trainer, resident doctors will operate independently with the trainer working in an adjacent theatre. Residents will also have independent clinic sessions and RSTAC time (Research, Study, Teaching, Audit and Curriculum), including non‑technical skills and change management. By the end of a six‑month placement, residents will have achieved the competencies for their EPA in running an independent cataract list.
Faculty needed for the programme are experienced in delivering cataract surgical lists of a minimum of eight cataracts per list, and have enthusiasm for training. Faculty will be appointed on a sessional basis within a National Treatment Centre in either Clydebank or Inverness.
Job Role
In addition to recruiting faculty, we are seeking a Programme Manager who will be the faculty’s primary point of contact within the Academy and will ensure appropriate cover for training lists in each Board. The Programme Manager will also support the development and delivery of non‑technical skills training for residents across any Board, harnessing expertise from the ophthalmology community.
Key Purpose and Tasks
* Oversee the implementation of the cataract immersive training programme as outlined in the approved business case, translating the idea into practice and working with services to support training lists, monitoring delivery and managing variances to ensure overall quality meets defined standards.
* Manage relationships with lead clinicians and service managers in Boards where immersive training lists are delivered, initially in NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Highland, with close links with all Boards and supporting an ambition for access to immersive training to be available across Scotland in the long term.
* Identify, define, evaluate, plan and track the benefits realisation from the programme. Use feedback from residents, trainers and patients to assess and improve different elements of the programme, applying NHS Scotland Academy principles and methodologies.
* Prepare and maintain schedules of programme activity, events and courses.
* Listen to and support stakeholders, taking account of their particular interests within the context of implementing change. This may also involve identifying, addressing and resolving differences between individuals and/or interest groups.
The role is initially available for six months full time, then for thirty months part time at 0.3 WTE, with potential extension if the programme still requires this role up to three years. The first residents will start in February 2026, with faculty appointed to that timeframe. Flexibility is available for the right candidate; if you cannot join full time for the first six months, please let us know in your application.
Interview date for this post will be held 10th December 2025.
NHS Golden Jubilee is open to considering flexible working options for this role.
This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
As a disability‑confident leader we are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition covered by the Equality Act 2010 and need support for any stage of the recruitment process, please refer to the job pack for more information.
NHS Golden Jubilee encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of our diverse workforce.
Job Details
* Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
* Employment type: Contract
* Job function: Project Management and Information Technology
* Industries: Hospitals and Health Care
#J-18808-Ljbffr