Programme Assistant – Industry and Innovation – NAS

Job Overview

As one of 15 Health Innovation Networks (HINs) across England, we connect and support academics, the NHS, industry, and others to bring fresh energy to old problems, inspired thinking to new ones, and to adopt innovative practice at scale.

You will be working with progressive startups, clinicians, and innovators from across the UK and potentially globally, with innovative ideas, products, and solutions for the NHS and patients. You will play a role in curating opportunities for them to navigate the health innovation ecosystem through various NHS, NIHR, and national bodies.

Main duties of the job

As one of 15 Health Innovation Networks (HINs) across England, we connect and support academics, the NHS, industry, and others to bring fresh energy to old problems, inspired thinking to new ones, and to adopt innovative practice at scale.

You will be working with progressive startups, clinicians, and innovators from across the UK and potentially globally, with innovative ideas, products, and solutions for the NHS and patients. You will play a role in curating opportunities for them to navigate the health innovation ecosystem through various NHS, NIHR, and national bodies.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England\’s largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs, and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. Personalizing 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.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Your Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What You’ll Do

You will assess incoming Innovation Records in the NHS Innovation Service to understand the innovation, its use and purpose, evaluate the stage of development it has achieved, and identify outstanding needs. Using your skills, knowledge, and expertise, you will allocate to 25 partner organisations such as the NIHR, NHS Supply Chain, and NICE to support the innovator in closing developmental gaps. This includes monthly reporting of KPIs and coordinating periodic reviews with each organisation to review support criteria and recent allocations. You will delegate assessments to others in the team, manage service flow, and prioritize tasks. You will work as part of a dynamic, progressive team working with the innovations of tomorrow. You will support innovators to navigate the local healthcare ecosystem, collaborating with NHS providers, academic institutions, research organisations, and local businesses.

What We’re Looking For

We are an ambitious organisation seeking passionate and motivated individuals with a proven track record of delivery. You will need tenacity, excellent communication and project management skills, the ability to build relationships quickly, and a capability to drive innovation in practice. We welcome applications from those with diverse backgrounds—clinical, NHS management, or industry—especially those familiar with innovation deployment challenges in the NHS. Experience in product development, commissioning, transformation, and project management is advantageous.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Gemma Snell.

Additional Information

Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 06 August 2025.

If you have queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training Required

• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience in a relevant discipline or project management.
• Knowledge of specialist work practices and/or professional guidelines relevant to the HIW programme area.
• Knowledge and experience of the NHS and local health and social service functions or of healthcare sector work within a commercial setting.
• Project Management training (e.g., PRINCE II).

Desirable criteria

• Relevant clinical/healthcare degree or qualification.

Previous or relevant experience

• Project management experience.
• Programme or project support experience in NHS or care service settings or within the healthcare sector.
• Experience of integrated working.
• Change management or quality improvement experience.
• Experience organizing and managing events.
• Technical note-taking of meetings.

Desirable experience

• Experience with CRM software.
• Participation in innovation development pathways.
• Reviewing innovations in development, evidence gathering, or deployment.

HIW and the Trust’s Values

• Innovative
• Inclusive
• Collaborative
• Achieving
• Trustworthy
• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

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