Director of Education and Commercial Activity - University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Director of Education and Commercial Activity - University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Location

Plymouth

N/A

Closing Date

August 16, 2026

Reference

UHP-DECA-0726

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is seeking a Director of Education and Commercial Activity to lead the strategic development of education, workforce capability and commercial growth.

As the region's major trauma centre and largest teaching hospital, UHP provides comprehensive acute and specialist services to a population of 475,000 people across Plymouth and the surrounding area, alongside specialist care for almost 2 million people across the South West peninsula. With more than 10,000 staff and volunteers, strong partnerships with the University of Plymouth, Plymouth Marjon University and regional education providers, and an Outstanding CQC rating for Caring, the Trust combines excellent patient care with research, innovation and education at scale.

Education is central to UHP's ambition to deliver outstanding care, develop its workforce and create a culture of continuous improvement. This newly established Board-facing role reflects the Trust's commitment to bringing education, training, apprenticeships and professional development together within a single integrated directorate, while strengthening commercial activity that supports long-term organisational sustainability.

Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer, you will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's Education Strategy, providing executive leadership for a significant education portfolio worth approximately £40 million. You will oversee commissioned education, placements, apprenticeships and professional development, while identifying ethical and sustainable opportunities to grow education-related commercial income. Working closely with the Executive Team, universities, regulators and system partners, you will position UHP as a recognised leader in education, workforce development and innovation across the NHS.

We're looking for an accomplished, values-driven leader with the credibility, commercial acumen and strategic insight to operate confidently at executive level within a large and complex organisation. You will bring significant leadership experience in education, workforce development and/or commercial activity, alongside a strong track record of leading large-scale programmes, managing substantial budgets and influencing across organisational boundaries.

Experience within the NHS, higher education or the wider public sector would be advantageous, although we are equally keen to hear from exceptional candidates from other complex sectors who bring fresh thinking, commercial expertise and a passion for developing people and organisations.

If you're inspired by the opportunity to shape the future of education, workforce development and commercial innovation within one of the NHS's leading teaching hospitals, we'd love to hear from you.