Hospital Director of Nursing

Job Overview Reporting and functionally accountable to the Hospital Managing Director with a professional accountability to the Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer; the Hospital Director of Nursing (HDoN) will provide strong and effective clinical leadership and professional development to all nurses, midwives, AHPs and direct care staff across the Hospital.

The post holder will provide strong and effective clinical leadership and provide expert clinical advice to the Hospital Managing Director and Hospital Management Team members on all hospital clinical issues regarding nursing, midwifery and AHP professional matters.

In conjunction with the Hospital Managing Director and Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer the postholder will work to strengthen culture and collaboration across Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. As an inspirational leader, they will be instrumental in making a clear and visible difference to staff employed across the Trust, enabling the effective delivery of ‘group clinical services’ (GCS) and Joint corporate services for the benefit of our patients and staff. The HDoN will support the embedding of a one service approach for across the two Hospital Operating Units to ensure delivery of a high quality and professional service, working collaboratively across the organisation.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role include but are not limited to:

• Work alongside the Hospital Medical Director to provide strategic leadership to clinicians across the Trust and in supporting and contributing to the development of Joint Clinical Strategy.
• Provide strong and effective clinical leadership and clinical advice to the Hospital Managing Director and Hospital Management Team on all clinical issues.
• Drive effective engagement of the nursing, midwifery and AHP workforce with transformational change and improvement programmes.
• Support colleagues with the development and engagement of clinicians and ensure that positive and productive relationships are built with across the Trust.
• Support the development of appropriate structures and arrangements for the Nursing, Midwifery and AHPs and Continuous Improvement functions.
• Identify opportunities to scale clinical services across the Trust, ensuring opportunities for de-duplication and economies of scale are optimised and benefits are realised.
• Provide professional leadership advice, support and coaching to the Divisional Directors of Nursing.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) formed on 1 July 2026, bringing together North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

BFT looks after people in Bristol, Weston, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and across the South West. By working as one team, we can give better, more joined-up care.

We are one of the largest NHS hospital trusts in the UK. More than 28,000 staff care for over 1.5 million people each year, providing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Educated to Level 7 (MSc) in a health-related subject or equivalent level of experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of management leadership/training and continuous professional development