Head of Innovation | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Posting date:	27 April 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£66,582 - £77,368 per annum
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	27 May 2026
Location:	Coventry, CV2 2DX
Company:	UHCW NHS Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7963379/218-AC-B8B-7963379

Summary

Thepostholder will act as the lead for innovation development across the organisation, providing operational management and strategic leadership for the innovation agenda. They will be required to create, implement and lead the long-term Innovation Strategy for the Organisation and ensure it aligns with the Organisational Strategy, People Strategy, Research strategy and ICT strategy. The post holder will also work in synergy with our UHCWi programme to ensure the innovation and improvement priorities align.

Thepost-holderwillworkacrossclinicalspecialisms and operational functionsto lead, initiate, implement organise, and manage a broad programme of research and development activities related to innovation. This encompasses projects within development of internal ideas, adoption of external innovations, building an innovation community around the Hub and staff engagement. ThisworkwillleadtofundamentalchangesinservicesandpracticesthatensuretheTrustcontinuestodevelophighquality,sustainable services. The post holder will ensure these developments are based on research and evaluated appropriately.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
• Beresponsiblefor theservicesprovidedbytheteam,assessingandmonitoringresourcestoensurethattheappropriatecapability,capacity,structureandcultureisinplacetoenabletheteamtoprovideaproactiveandinfluentialcontributiontodeliveringtheTrust’sstrategicambitions around innovation.
• Workwithlocalandnationalacademic and businessleaderstopromoteandencouragenewcollaborations,attendingandpresentingatlocalmeetingsasrequired.
• Contributetothedeliveryofcorporateobjectivesbyprovidingprofessionalinternaldevelopmentopportunities;developingteamcredibilitywithintheTrustinordertopersuade,influenceandaffect changeatseniorexecutiveandmanagement levels.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
• Oversee the collection, assessment and evaluation of enterprising and innovative staff ideas
• Design, implement and maintain an innovation ideas pipeline, and project management approach to ideas
• Oversee and organise the management of a portfolio of staff enterprise innovation ideas, monitoring and reporting on progress of these and any associated Intellectual Property. Reacting to changes in priorities and plans.
• Apply specialist theoretical knowledge on innovation management, user-centred design and human factors principles to the development of ideas and the pipeline process. As well as employing research methodology knowledge to ensure evidence-based practice and appropriate evaluation.
• Oversee the development of procedures for the effective identification and management of Intellectual Property
• Hold responsibility for ensuring intellectual policy is protected and opportunities for commercialisation are exploited
• Oversee the delivery of the Midtech Ltd contract as part of the wider embedded WMAHSN membership.
• Use networks and specialist knowledge to seek third party companies and academic partners to develop, research and commercialise ideas
• Use specialist expert knowledge to design and implement strategies to resolve novel and unexpected actual/potential barriers to innovation-related activity
• Safeguard the interests of participants involved in innovation-related activity by ensuring that relevant legislation, guidance and policies are complied with. Work with senior stakeholders to develop and implement new governance processes where needed.
• Provide advice and support to other members of staff with regards to innovation management. Mentor and supervise more junior Innovation team staff, acting as a source of expertise.
• Maintain strong relationships and positive communication channels with other key personnel.
• Provide reports on staff enterprise and associated intellectual property management.
• Utilise networks to spread successful innovation research development to elsewhere within the NHS
• Design, use and maintain electronic systems for managing project status and ensuring all project data is entered and stored appropriately
• Use electronic systems for the design and development of innovative digital tools such as apps

For further details please see the attached job description.


This advert closes on Monday 11 May 2026