About this role
Job summary
Managing Director (Fixed Term 12 Months)
An exceptional opportunity to lead two outstanding NHS organisations at a pivotal time.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) are seeking an outstanding, values-driven leader to join our Joint Executive Team as Managing Director on a fixed-term basis. This appointment follows the secondment of our substantive Managing Director to undertake a significant NHS leadership role.
As Managing Director, you will work alongside the CEO and Executive Team to provide visible leadership across both Trusts, ensuring delivery of our operational, quality, workforce, financial and strategic objectives. You will play a key role in maintaining organisational performance while supporting the continued alignment of GEH and SWFT.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced NHS executive leader to make a significant impact across two successful organisations with a strong track record of collaboration, innovation and high-quality patient care.
Further Information
The appointment is for a period of up to 12 months, with a formal review after 9 months.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce and warmly welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and communities.
Shortlisted candidates will participate in a formal interview with a panel comprising the Chief Executive Officer, Non-Exec Directors and NHS England.
Interview Date:6th October 2026
Main duties of the job
About the Role
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Director will:
Provide day-to-day leadership of both Trusts alongside the Executive Team. Support delivery of quality, operational, workforce and financial performance targets. Lead organisational improvement and transformation programmes. Foster strong relationships with clinicians, staff, partners and stakeholders. Represent the organisations across system, regional and national forums. Promote a culture of accountability, compassion, inclusion and continuous improvement. Contribute to the ongoing development of the Foundation Group and integrated models of care. About You
We are seeking an exceptional leader who can demonstrate:
Significant Board-level leadership experience within an NHS organisation or similarly complex environment. A track record of delivering operational performance, quality improvement and organisational transformation. Experience of leading large, diverse teams through change. Outstanding partnership-working skills and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. Strong strategic thinking coupled with a hands-on, delivery-focused approach. A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and reducing health inequalities. You will be an authentic and visible leader who can inspire confidence, build relationships quickly and maintain focus during a period of organisational transition.
About us
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Job description Job responsibilities
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT), George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH), Wye Valley NHS Trust and Worcester Acute Hospital NHS Trust have established a Foundation Group through the creation of a Committee in Common (the Group Strategy Committee). The purpose of the Group is to support the ongoing sustainability the Trusts and to facilitate the rapid development of integrated care in their localities.
SWFT and GEH have a shared, single executive team. The post-holder will therefore be a Board member representing both organisations.
The Managing Director will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible with other Chief Officers for achievement of performance, quality and financial standards and for the provision of high standards of regulatory activity and patient safety.
The Managing Director will be a voting member of the Board of Directors and Board Committees, and the Group Strategy Committee.
As Managing Director, the post holder must act as a role model for our people and ensure the development of a culture and core values which enable the Trusts to continuously improve and innovate. Maintaining and developing strong internal and external stakeholder relations is a key aspect of the role.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Trust Board
Foundation Group
Group Strategy Committee
Trusts Executive Team and Senior Managers
ICB, NHS England (and successor), Care Quality Commission, Health and Wellbeing Board, Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Local Authority and other local providers including Primary Care, Mental Health and Social Services
Local Voluntary and Representative Groups
KEY RESULT AREAS
Leadership and Strategy Implementation
To support the Chief Executive and be responsible with the Chief Officers and through them to manage all the Trusts resources, ensuring the Trusts comply with the requirements of regulators and meets their obligations in contracts with commissioners
To support the Chief Executive in development of a cohesive leadership team through the Chief Officers and together develop clear work plans for assurance and improvement within the Trusts
Provide leadership to develop a fully engaged workforce and an accountable, delivery focused culture
To support the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer in the development and engagement of clinicians in leadership
To progress the development of integrated care through close collaboration with partner organisations and communities To play lead role in the continued development of system, place and neighbourhood healthcare, including the establishment of Lead Provider / Integrated Healthcare Organisation status.
Performance and Governance
To ensure systems are in place to monitor the performance of the Trusts against business targets and plans and against standards for accreditation by external bodies such as the Care Quality Commission
To ensure that there is an effective system of governance and performance management in place within the Trusts to monitor how the sites effectively use their resources
Ensuring effective corporate management of resources, (people, organisation, structures and management systems), regularly reviewing and re-prioritising these to ensure effective utilisation
To identify and minimise key risks to the achievement of the Trusts objectives and ensure service continuity is maintained in the event of major disruption to normal service delivery
Represent the Trusts at a local level including ICS, Local Authority, and other appropriate meetings
Ensure the Trusts deliver quality, operational, financial and workforce performance against agreed plans and with the Chief Executive hold the relevant Executive Directors to account for the delivery of their plans and objectives
Nurture opportunities which improve service delivery and performance to the highest level possible thus contributing to the overall success of the Trusts and local health and care system
With the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer and other senior leaders in both Trusts, seek opportunities to challenge and improve practice in all areas including clinical quality, patient experience and operational effectiveness and put remedial actions in place to ensure and evidence improvement and demonstrate that quality and safety are of the utmost priority in the daily operation of the hospital sites.
On Call
To participate in the Trusts Executive on call rota and provide leadership, advice and guidance.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Expereince Essential
Please see detailed Job Description and Personal Specification
Desirable
Please see detailed Job Description and Personal Specification
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 South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Warwick Hospital/George Eliot Hospital
Warwick Hospital
Warwick
CV34 5BW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)