About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced NHS operational leader looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in Urgent and Emergency Care?
We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative General Manager to join the Acute Medicine Business Unit at Royal Derby Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a fast-paced and evolving service, leading operational delivery, driving improvement and shaping the future of acute and urgent care pathways.
As part of the Business Unit triumvirate leadership team, you will work in close partnership with the Clinical Director and Matron to provide visible, compassionate and effective leadership across the service. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring our patients receive safe, high-quality and timely care, while supporting staff to deliver their best every day.
This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead transformational change and work alongside multidisciplinary teams to improve patient experience, performance and outcomes.
Whether delivering operational excellence, improving patient flow or supporting innovative models of care, you will be empowered to make a significant impact across one of the Trust's most important clinical services.
Main duties of the job
As General Manager, you will support the Divisional Director in providing strategic and operational leadership across the Acute Medicine Business Unit, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services that meet both local and national priorities.
Working collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues, you will:
Lead the day-to-day operational performance of the Business Unit, ensuring delivery of key quality, activity and financial objectives. Drive improvements in urgent and emergency care pathways, supporting patients to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Provide strong, visible leadership to multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. Support the development and delivery of strategic service plans that respond to the evolving needs of our patients and communities. Work closely with clinical leaders to implement service improvements, redesign pathways and deliver transformational change. Ensure robust performance management and governance arrangements are in place to support sustainable service delivery. Build strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust and wider health system to support integrated approaches to urgent and acute care. Champion staff engagement, development and wellbeing, creating an environment where individuals and teams can thrive. Closing date of applications : 13 September 2026
Interview date: 23 September 2026
About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
Development opportunities, including both professional and leadership development On-going support through every step of the way from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond. A variety of other staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes Key Facts about our Trust:
We see on average 4810 OP appointments per day. We are the 4thbusiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week. An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country. Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily. Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres. We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres. We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
Job description Job responsibilities
We are looking for a credible and inspirational operational leader with substantial experience within NHS Urgent and Emergency Care, Acute Medicine or Unscheduled Care services.
You will bring:
A proven track record of delivering operational performance and service improvement within complex healthcare environments. Significant experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and managing change in fast-paced clinical settings. Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire others. Experience of performance management, financial management and delivering against demanding operational targets. A collaborative approach and a commitment to working in partnership with clinical colleagues to achieve outstanding patient care. The strategic thinking and operational expertise needed to support both immediate service priorities and longer-term transformation programmes. Most importantly, you will be passionate about improving services for patients, developing high-performing teams and helping shape the future of Acute Medicine at Royal Derby Hospital.
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Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant experience working in a senior management position Experience of leading and directing senior clinical and non clinical teams Successful track record of managing change in a complex environment Significant operational management experience in Urgent and emergency Care
Qualifications Essential
Degree or equivalent knowledge gained through experience or professional qualification Professional management qualifications or equivalent
Desirable
Masters qualification in a management discipline
Skills Essential
Financial management and business management skills Highly developed problem solving analytical skills
Knowledge Essential
Experience and knowledge of the current NHS challenges Experience and knowledge of the current NHS challenges specific to Urgent and Emergency Care
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.
Employer details Employer name University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address University Hospitals of Derby and Burton
Royal Derby Hospital
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)