About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic General Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across our Paedatrics and Neonatal Units within UHN. Working in close partnership with Clinical Directors and the Deputy Head of Nursing, you will play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.
The successful candidate will bring a proven track record in leading complex projects within an acute healthcare setting, along with exceptional attention to detail, resilience under pressure, and a commitment to continuous improvement. You will be responsible for day-to-day operational delivery, financial performance, and long-term planning to ensure business continuity and service resilience.
This is a six month secondment opportunity. You must have explicit approval from your current line manager to be released immediately to take up this role. The interview will be dependant upon this agreement.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
Provide operational leadership across designated service lines, ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of clinical services.
Collaborate with clinical leads to develop and implement service strategies with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
Lead robust financial and capacity planning to meet performance targets and support long-term sustainability.
Ensure business continuity and maintain resilient service delivery frameworks.
Drive service improvements, foster a culture of innovation, and uphold high standards of patient care and staff engagement.
Who We're Looking For
Substantial experience at a senior operational level within an acute NHS setting.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage complex challenges and competing priorities.
Demonstrated success in delivering large-scale change and service improvement.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Job description Job responsibilities
We are seeking an experienced and driven General Manager to provide strong leadership and operational oversight for key specialty areas within the Division. Reporting to the Head of Operations, you will be responsible for strategic planning, service delivery, financial performance, workforce leadership, and continuous improvement across your designated services.
As a senior member of the Directorate Management Team, you will work closely with clinical and corporate colleagues to ensure the highest standards of patient care, safety, and performance. You will also contribute to cross-organisational and system-wide transformation initiatives.
Main Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead the operational and strategic development of designated specialties within the Division.
Develop and deliver business plans aligned to Trust priorities and the Integrated Business Plan.
Promote innovation and share best practices to improve service effectiveness and quality.
Ensure Trust policies and service improvement initiatives are successfully implemented at directorate level.
Service Delivery & Transformation
Oversee high-quality, patient-centred services that are safe, efficient, and evidence-based.
Lead on service redesign and improvement programmes to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce waiting times, and increase operational efficiency.
Interpret national and local guidance to anticipate service demands and develop strategic responses.
Performance & Financial Management
Ensure services meet national standards, KPIs, and constitutional targets.
Implement systems to monitor performance and develop solutions for underperformance.
Manage budgets for specific service areas, support delivery of CIPs, and contribute to divisional financial planning.
Governance & Risk
Embed a strong culture of clinical governance, patient safety, and risk management.
Ensure services meet CQC and licensing standards and maintain robust systems to handle complaints and incidents.
Support the development and implementation of the Divisions annual governance plan.
Workforce & Staff Development
Lead on workforce planning to ensure the right staffing, skills, and training are in place.
Support managers in delivering effective HR practices including appraisals, sickness absence, and staff engagement.
Promote a culture of accountability, development, and continuous improvement.
Research, Education & Teaching
Promote research, audit, and clinical education within service areas in alignment with Trust strategies.
Ensure compliance with mandatory training and promote lifelong learning across teams.
Communication & Partnership Working
Maintain effective two-way communication within services and with key stakeholders internally and externally (e.g., ICBs, local authorities, universities).
Foster collaborative working relationships with clinical leaders, service users, and partner organisations.
Additional Responsibilities
Participate in the Trusts senior management on-call rota.
Travel between hospital sites (e.g., Kettering and Northampton) as required.
Person Specification
Education, Training and Qualifications Essential
Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent experience Extensive up to date knowledge of the NHS Evidence of CPD
Desirable
Evidence of other specialist knowledge at higher degree or masters level
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Experience within the Healthcare sector at senior manager level including operational responsibility for a directorate level service Proven track record of achieving challenging healthcare targets Experience of delivering programmes of change within an NHS setting Experience of managing and hearing performance issues Well-developed IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information
Desirable
Experience of working in an Acute Teaching hospital
Skills Essential
Excellent communications skills, written and oral Evidence of being a team-player but able to stand back when necessary Ability to motivate staff tAbility to interpret, analyse and present highly complex data/information at Directorate Levelo deliver challenging targets Proven influencing skills Ability to manage conflict Logical thinker with evidence of implementation of ideas and solutions Excellent problem solving skills using team when appropriate Business focused Sensitive to clinical and political demands Ability to cut through barriers to change Demonstrable organisational skills Ability to concentrate frequently whilst dealing with interruptions and moving quickly from one priority to another Proven record of robust performance management
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Northampton General Hospital
Address University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northampton
NN1 5BD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)