Director of Medical Education

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Director of Medical Education

Start Date: ASAP

Contract Type: Fixed term

Duration: 36

Purpose for Fixed Term: Internal secondment

This post is appointed on a fixed-term basis for the primary purpose of providing structured training and supervised clinical development. While the postholder will contribute to service delivery, the overarching purpose of the post is to provide defined educational opportunities, supervised clinical practice, and experience aligned to the relevant specialty training curriculum

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced consultant to lead the delivery of post graduate medical education in University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust.

Education and training are core NHS responsibilities and require robust governance, policies and procedures. The Director of Medical Education (DME) is strategically responsible for the delivery of excellent training for non-consultant grade Postgraduate Doctors across the Trust in line with the requirements of the postgraduate medical education contract.

The DME provides leadership, strategic direction and vision for the assurance, management and delivery of postgraduate medical education. They are responsible for the quality of the learning environment provided and are required to ensure the training programmes meet the requirements set out in the GMC Quality Management Framework. The DME will also be concerned with the appraisal and revalidation processes and continuing professional development of all Doctors.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The Director of Medical Education should be a senior consultant in the Trust with extensive experience in education leadership. You will have a close working relationship with the Postgraduate Dean (NHS-E Wessex), Director of Education and Workforce, Chief Medical Officer and Divisional Clinical Directors.

You will directly manage the Divisional Directors of Education, Foundation and Tust Fellowship Programme Directors, as well as the leads for locally employed doctors and portfolio pathway training and the postgraduate clinical teaching fellow. You will have a close working relationship with the College Tutors and Education Leads across the Trust.

You will oversee the management of the medical placements and overall medical workforce, supported by the medical education management team and human resources.

You are accountable to the Director of Education and Workforce for medical leadership and professional standards.

Further details are provided in the attached document.

Informal enquiries about the role can be made to Dr Kathryn Nash, Director of Education and Workforce: kathryn.nash@uhs.nhs.uk

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for. It outlines the essential criteria for the role and is designed to support you in preparing your application by helping you evaluate how your skills, experience, and professional background align with the requirements of the role.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be employed under the terms and conditions of service for Consultants (England) 2003.

Proposed interview date: 11th May 2026

This vacancy closes on or before 28th April 2026

Person specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential criteria

Medical or Dental practitioner with postgraduate qualifications GMC approved trainer as an Educational or Clinical Supervisor

Desirable criteria

Masters in Medical Education or equivalent A minimum of 5 sessions employment within UHS Experience of managing doctors or students in difficulty or supporting supervisors with challenging trainees or students

Aptitudes and skills

Essential criteria

Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional teams Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients and colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English). Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

Desirable criteria

Understanding of use of simulation and technology-enhanced learning in medical education

Living Trust Values

Essential criteria

Patients First Always Improving Working Together