Senior Portfolio Director

Health Innovation South West is at an exciting point in its development. Serving a region defined by its rural geography and extensive coastline, it works at the intersection of health, care and economic development, tackling some of the most complex challenges facing communities across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Through innovation, partnership and evidence-led improvement, it seeks to improve health and care services, health outcomes and economic growth. Licensed and commissioned by NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences, and working as part of the national Health Innovation Network, the organisation has established a strong track record in finding, testing and scaling innovation that delivers meaningful impact for people and places across the South West Peninsula.

We are now seeking an exceptional Senior Portfolio Director to join the Senior Management Team. This is a significant leadership role, responsible for translating strategic ambitions into high-impact portfolios of work that address regional priorities and system-wide challenges. Leading the design, development and delivery of complex, multi-partner programmes, the postholder will bring together colleagues from across the NHS, local government, academia, industry and national bodies to co-design, fund and implement transformative innovation initiatives. Working closely with the Commercial Director, they will build a strong business development pipeline, secure investment and funding opportunities, oversee a portfolio budget of £2m to £3m, and ensure that programmes deliver measurable outcomes for commissioners, customers and communities.

The successful candidate will bring substantial experience of leading innovation, improvement or transformational change within health and care, academia and/or industry. They will have a proven track record of designing and delivering large-scale, cross-system portfolios in complex environments, coupled with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build enduring partnerships across multiple sectors. Commercially astute and financially confident, they will demonstrate success in generating income, securing investment and managing diverse programmes of work. An accomplished and collaborative leader, they will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, motivating high-performing teams and communicating with clarity and influence. Above all, they will share a commitment to improving lives through innovation and to addressing the distinctive challenges and opportunities of rural and coastal communities.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Health Innovation South West on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit using reference ABXNC. Alternatively email . Applications should be received by noon on Friday 11 September 2026.