About this role
Job summary
The Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group are seeking an exceptional Executive Business Manager to join our Group Executive Office. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will provide strategic and operational support to the Group Chair, Group Chief Executive and Group Director of Governance, helping to ensure the smooth and effective running of the Group's most senior leadership functions.
This is an influential role at the heart of decision-making, requiring excellent judgement, political awareness and the ability to manage highly sensitive issues with professionalism and discretion. You will work across all three hospital sites, supporting senior leaders as they shape the future of healthcare across Norfolk and Waveney and helping to establish new ways of working within a large, complex and ambitious organisation
Main duties of the job
As Executive Business Manager, you will lead the day-to-day management of the Group Executive Office, ensuring the Group Chair, Group Chief Executive and Group Director of Governance are effectively supported, briefed and prepared for their responsibilities. You will oversee complex diary management, coordinate high-profile meetings and visits, manage executive correspondence, and act as a key point of contact for stakeholders including regulators, MPs, system partners and Board members.
Working closely with the Chief of Staff, you will coordinate executive and Board business, prepare high-quality briefings, oversee governance processes, and ensure actions and commitments are delivered to schedule. You will also provide leadership to the Executive Office support function, line managing staff, overseeing budgets, leading projects and developing consistent processes across the Group Executive Office.
The role operates in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly, requiring decisive action, resilience and the ability to balance competing demands while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
About us
The newly formed Norfolk & Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWUHG) is placing people and culture at the heart of its transformation.
By working as one system, the Group is strengthening workforce development, improving staff experience, and creating consistent, supportive leadership across all three hospitals. This unified approach enables better training, enhanced well-being support, and a stronger culture rooted in compassion, flexibility, and continuous learning.
Focusing on people also supports national priorities--ensuring the workforce is skilled, adaptable, and ready for future models of care--and strengthens NWUHG's overall performance by improving quality, resilience, and sustainability.
Together, this creates a Groupwide commitment to making NWUHG a great place to work, with clear benefits for staff including:
Flexible working hours
Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
Discounted gym memberships
Generous pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
Support in career development
Flexible staff bank
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be responsible for -
Providing senior executive support to the Group Chair, Group Chief Executive and Group Director of Governance.
Leading the management of complex executive diaries, correspondence and stakeholder engagement.
Prepare and quality assure briefings, reports and information for meetings, visits and external engagements.
Coordinate Board, executive and governance business, including agendas, papers, minutes and action tracking.
Act as the first point of contact for sensitive, complex and often contentious enquiries.
Assess risks and escalate political, reputational or regulatory issues appropriately.
Lead the operational management of the Group Executive Office, ensuring high-quality and consistent support services.
Line manage and develop Executive Office staff, supporting performance and service delivery.
Manage delegated budgets and oversee compliance with financial, governance and information governance requirements.
Lead projects and initiatives on behalf of the Chief of Staff and support business continuity and emergency planning arrangements.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and contribute to the continued development of NWUHGs leadership and governance arrangements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree plus postgraduate diploma, or equivalent specialist knowledge gained through experience
Desirable
- Management, governance or project management qualification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of providing executive support at Chief Executive, Chair or Board level
- Experience of administering Board or committee meetings, including agenda setting, Board pack preparation and minute-taking
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the NHS environment and roles and responsibilities within it, including Board and executive structures
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written communication, including drafting correspondence for senior leaders, briefings and formal minutes
- Ability to communicate highly complex and contentious matters using persuasion and negotiation; ability to analyse information and prioritise across several senior leaders
Other
Essential
- Able to travel across all three Group sites
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
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Address
NWUHG Group Offices
Centrum Building
Norwich
NR4 7UG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)