Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

We offer a 12‑month secondment for an experienced and motivated individual to join our Clinical Engineering team as Deputy Head of Clinical Engineering. This senior leadership role provides operational oversight of medical device services across the Trust and deputises for the Head of Clinical Engineering during planned absences.

You will lead multiple technical service teams and the business & administration function, ensuring safe, effective and efficient delivery of medical device management in line with Trust policies, ISO 9001 standards, and MHRA guidance. The role includes responsibility for governance, risk and quality systems, as well as implementing medical device connectivity and cybersecurity initiatives in collaboration with Digital/IT and Information Governance teams.

We are one of England’s largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities. 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.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day senior oversight of planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and corrective maintenance across technical teams and external contracts.
• Line‑manage section manager leads (Band 7), overseeing recruitment, appraisals and workforce development.
• Monitor service KPIs (PPM compliance, response times, backlog) and agree remedial actions.
• Implement ISO 9001 QMS processes, including internal audits, document control and CAPA tracking.
• Lead incident investigations and root‑cause analysis within reporting lines.
• Manage delegated budgets and act as authorised signatory within agreed limits.
• Coordinate medical device connectivity and cybersecurity workstreams.
• Represent Clinical Engineering at meetings, projects and committees.
• Support capital planning and equipment replacement programmes.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost‑efficiency initiatives.

Essential Requirements

• Honours degree (minimum 2:1) in Engineering, Physical Sciences or equivalent relevant experience.
• Substantial post‑qualification experience at Band 7 level or above in Clinical Engineering within an acute healthcare setting.
• Proven experience managing medical equipment service contracts and budgets.
• Knowledge and practical experience of ISO 9001 systems, medical device connectivity and cybersecurity.
• Demonstrated leadership and people‑management skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with multidisciplinary teams.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Honours degree (minimum 2:1) in Engineering, Physical Sciences or equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Substantial post‑qualification experience at Band 7 level or above in Clinical Engineering within an acute healthcare setting.
• Proven experience managing medical equipment service contracts.
• Experience with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 systems.
• Knowledge and practical experience of medical device connectivity and cybersecurity.
• Experience of managing trainees up to Scientist Training Programme level.
• Demonstrated leadership and people‑management skills, including performance management.
• Experience in risk management and incident investigation within medical device governance.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria

• MSc or higher in a relevant field.
• HCPC Clinical Scientist or RCT registration; IPEM membership; Chartered Engineer/Scientist status.
• Experience contributing to capital planning and business case development.

Please refer to the person specification when completing your application and include clear examples demonstrating how you meet both the essential and desirable criteria. We look forward to hearing from you!

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

Hospitals and Health Care