Band 9 Group Director of Education (Clinical): Sponsorship Available

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Working directly to the Group Chief People Officer, the Group Director of Education (Clinical) will play a critical role in the strategic leadership of the Royal Free London and its clinical partners in the achievement of the trust’s tri-partite mission for excellence in clinical care, research and education.

The postholder will work in partnership alongside a Group Director of Education (Operations), jointly providing group-wide leadership of education, training, learning and development. Together they form a single point of leadership for all education, training and development across our group.

They will lead the development and implementation of an ambitious and transformative strategy for education, training and development in line with our vision: world-class learning for world-class care. They will also lead the establishment of a multi-professional, multi-disciplinary Royal Free London Academy as the vehicle through which this vision will be delivered.

The Group Director of Education (Clinical) will be the senior responsible officer (SRO) — alongside the Group Director of Education (Operations) — for education and training across all professional groups and all stages of the career pathway: from entry-level and unregistered roles and apprenticeships, through undergraduate and postgraduate education, to continuing professional development.

Main duties of the job

Lead the development, refinement and communication of a long-term vision and strategy for education, training and development for the Royal Free London group, securing belief and buy-in from clinical, operational and corporate colleagues at all levels.

Lead the establishment of the multi-professional, multi-disciplinary RFL Academy as: a new organisational form within the group model; a vehicle for a step-change in the breadth and quality of education, training and development; and a focal point for collaboration with academic, charitable and ICS partners.

Lead the integration of education, training, learning and development functions across the enlarged Royal Free London group ensuring harmonisation of structures, governance, processes, quality standards and organisational culture.

Work with divisional and site-level leaders to embed education and training into the governance and operating models of each business unit, ensuring it has equivalent standing to clinical care and research within the trust’s tri-partite mission.

Create and sustain a learning environment and culture that is safe, open, inclusive and multi-disciplinary, reinforcing the trust’s values – Our Shared Commitments.

Person Specification

Education and professional qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Master’s degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field
  • Current professional registration with a relevant clinical regulator (e.g., GMC, NMC, HCPC, GPhC)
  • Experience of handling sophisticated internal and external stakeholder engagement, influencing across organisational and professional boundaries

Desirable

  • Experience of working at ICS or system level on education and workforce matters
  • Experience of leading at regional or national level in an education or professional body context
  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (or equivalent recognition as an educator)

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of developing and implementing multi-professional and/or multi-disciplinary approaches to education and training
  • Significant senior leadership experience in education, training, learning and development within a healthcare context

Desirable

  • Experience of leading at regional or national level in an education or professional body context

Royal Free shared commitments

Essential

  • Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust shared commitments.

Personal qualities and attributes

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills; proven track record in engaging colleagues and stakeholders at all levels and at scale
  • Strong strategic perspective; ability to translate organisational mission, vision and objectives into a compelling and deliverable strategy
  • Expert at influencing, building partnerships and networks, and skilled in negotiation across professional and organisational boundaries

Desirable

  • Experience of working at ICS or system level on education and workforce matters

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 14 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.