North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job overview
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is developing an ambitious innovation function to help staff turn ideas into improvements for patients, colleagues and communities. We are seeking an Innovation Programme Manager to join the team on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity cover.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape innovation across one of the South West's largest NHS organisations. You will support the processes, partnerships and programmes needed to identify, evaluate, adopt and scale innovations that improve outcomes, productivity and organisational performance.
Working with clinical and non-clinical teams, senior leaders, patients, industry and academic partners, you will support innovators through evaluation, funding, governance, intellectual property and implementation. You will also contribute to business cases, reports, policies and assurance processes that support effective decision-making and demonstrate impact.
We welcome applications from individuals with experience in innovation, improvement, technology adoption, partnerships or programme delivery. Candidates may come from the NHS, industry, academia, start-ups, innovation hubs or other relevant sectors. Most importantly, you will be collaborative, proactive and able to translate ideas into practical change.
If you are passionate about improving health and care through innovation and confident working with diverse stakeholders, we would welcome your application.
Advert
The Innovation Programme Manager will support the development and delivery of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust's innovation function, helping turn ideas into improvements in patient care, staff experience and organisational performance.
Working with staff, clinical teams and external partners, the postholder will support innovations through evaluation, adoption and implementation, providing advice on governance, funding, intellectual property, procurement, commercialisation and delivery.
The role will manage a portfolio of innovation projects and programmes, developing plans, monitoring risks and benefits, preparing reports and business cases, and providing updates to senior leaders and governance groups. The postholder will work closely with colleagues across clinical services, research and development, improvement, finance, procurement and communications, alongside external partners.
The successful candidate will contribute to innovation policies, reporting and assurance processes, ensuring activity is evidence-based, well governed and aligned with Trust priorities. They will also help foster a positive innovation culture through staff engagement, learning activities and network development.
This is an opportunity to help shape innovation across the Trust, working with a wide range of stakeholders to translate ideas into measurable impact. The role requires a proactive, collaborative individual who can manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the detailed job description for the main duties and responsibilities, along with the highlighted areas in the 'main duties of the job section'.
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
· As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
· The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
· BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
· To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
· If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
· The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
· By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
· Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
IMPORTANT:
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.
Innovation Programme Manager - Innovation Policy and Delivery in Bristol employer: BFT
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