National Speciality Advisor (Phys Science)NHS

Job summary

The Diagnostics Recovery & Transformation Programme is the largest single investment programme in the NHS in terms of capital and revenue combined (second largest after New Hospital Programme in terms of capital only).

It is delivering twin priorities:

• A significant transformation in the NHS diagnostic model
• Recovery of diagnostic services as a key element of overall elective recovery and cancer performance.

The national diagnostics programme has four key Diagnostic Disciplines, and each team is made of subject matter experts including clinicians and implementation leads who each lead work across a priority area:

• Imaging
• Pathology
• GI Endoscopy
• Physiological Sciences

The physiological science transformation focus of this work seeks to boost the productivity, quality, resilience and profile of physiological science services. The programme develops and implements strategic improvement approaches including national data collection and analysis, development of physiological science networks, improvement support alongside coordination of national investments in digital and capital equipment.

Main duties of the job

The National Specialty Adviser is responsible for providing clinical advice to the Diagnostics Programme in the area of Physiological Science, with expertise in one or more of the following disciplines: Neurophysiology, Ophthalmic Science, Vascular Science, GI Physiology and Urodynamics.

Main duties of the job

The role of the National Specialty Advisor (NSA) is to support senior leaders including Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), National Clinical Directors and Medical Directors to provide clinical advice in four respects:

• Clinical advice to drive transformation of services
• Clinical advice to support identification and delivery of our corporate clinical priorities (at national and regional level);
• Clinical advice to support the commissioning of services;
• Clinical advice on ad hoc issues to support parliamentary accountability.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holders will support senior leaders with the provision of clinical advice and leadership through: -

Clinical advice to drive improvement of the performance of physiological Science Services, including supporting productivity through digital transformation of services.

Clinical advice and support to front line units / systems as needed, complementing the work of regional Clinical Leads in this area.

Clinical advice on the development and delivery of improved models of service delivery.

Clinical advice on the achievement of an effective and sustainable workforce.

Ensuring benefits to population health and addressing health inequalities.

Securing buy-in and removing barriers to project success, including working with trusts and relevant national bodies and societies.

The NSA is responsible for supporting senior leaders and national programmes with the provision of clinical advice including on improving population health outcomes and narrowing health inequalities within the field.

The ability to build excellent collaborative networks and develop effective and mutually supportive relationships with key partners within and throughout organisations.

Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is due to funding.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.