Principal Lead - Optometry

*** COVID-19 – Please note that during this time all interviews will be conducted remotely.  If successful, you will also initially be working remotely in line with the guidance from the Scottish Government***

Fixed term/Secondment until 31/03/2023

SLA or secondment only for NHS staff in the first instance*

Flexible Location NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office, remote and hybrid working.  We’re happy to talk about how you want to work.

Who We Are

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations. 

NES Optometry primarily supports the provision of General Ophthalmic Services in Scotland.  It supports up-skilling of eyecare practitioners, to facilitate delivery of safe, effective eyecare to the population of Scotland.   

NES Optometry strives to provide education:  

• that is patient focused and improves patient care.
• that is high quality and effective.  
• that Optometry team members want to, and can, attend. 

What you'll do

The post holder will be leading on a major change initiative in Scotland – the movement of the pre-reg year for optometrists, with NES being proposed as the new lead employer. The postholder will work closely with across the four nations. The postholder will be expected to provide recommendations to NES and Scottish Government.

Key tasks will include but are not restricted to;

• The Pre-registration project must be fully scoped by the postholder with robust stakeholder identification (requiring robust knowledge of all possible parties) and engagement.
• The postholder will have to present written reports to high level stakeholders (such as Scottish Government (SG)), so experience is required in academic/report writing skills.
• The post holder will be required to access and review all details around current optometry pre registration delivery, as well as those trainee periods already delivered via NES, such as dental and pharmacy.
• The postholder is also in charge of ongoing quality improvement and assurance of the agreed scheme: this will require robust impact measurement, with performance indicators identified.

• The postholder will be responsible for the detailed management of budget associated with this new workstream. This will include close working with financial colleagues, as well as regular reporting to SG around spend and deliverables.

What you'll bring

These will include but are not restricted to;

• Educated to Masters degree level with a postgraduate management qualification
• Significant leadership experience working with executive and senior management teams in complex environments.
• Experience in developing and delivering a range of training programmes.
• Experience in providing advice and consultancy on a range of educational issues including quality assurance and enhancement, methodology evaluation and curriculum design and development
• Experience of budget management, financial forecasting and control.
• In-depth knowledge and practical experience of Quality Improvement and leading QI.
• Experience of presentation and publication of records.
• Significant experience of managing large and complex projects/programmes.

Informal enquiries may be directed to Lesley Rousselet, Programme Director - Optometry lesley.rousselet@nhs.scot

*Applicants who wish to apply on a secondment basis are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current employer at the earliest opportunity.

For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.

Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date.

Closing date: 4^th October 2021

Interview date: 20^th October 2021

We actively encourage applicants from a range of backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief. https://www.careers.nhs.scot/about/who-we-are/

If you have any queries regarding the application portal or the recruitment process, please contact us at:  NES HR Recruitment: recruitment.hr@nes.scot.nhs.uk