Senior Operational Manager Sterile Services and Medical Engineering

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

Strategic Leadership and Service Development

Deliver highly developed planning, organisational and analytical expertise to ensure timely and effective delivery of high-quality services across SWFT and associated Trusts.

Work autonomously to anticipate and respond to emerging national policy, legislation and guidance, supporting the development of strategies, policies and procedures to support compliance with national standards and Trust objectives.

Align policies, strategies and operational best practices across sites to ensure standardisation and consistency of service delivery.

Support development and implement qualitative and quantitative performance measures to monitor compliance with Head of service strategies and national requirements.

Present performance updates, KPI reports and strategic recommendations at senior management forums, committees and Boards.

Ensure organisational strategies are effectively cascaded and implemented across all operational teams.

Promote innovation, service improvement and adoption of emerging healthcare technologies to enhance patient care and operational productivity.

Operational Management

Oversee and align operational activities across both EBME and Sterile Services departments, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and prioritisation of workloads.

Ensure effective management of medical device servicing, maintenance, repair and calibration activities in accordance with national standards and operational requirements.

Oversee the management and continual development of externally accredited quality systems, including ISO 13485:2016 and 9001:2015 compliance, ensuring all audits, corrective actions and non-conformities are appropriately managed

Ensure robust systems are in place for monitoring maintenance plans, project milestones, risks and operational performance.

Support and oversee equipment replacement programmes and medical equipment capital replacement planning across both Trusts.

Ensure all procurement activities relating to medical devices and sterile services are aligned across both Trusts, promoting standardisation and value for money.

Clinical and Technical Governance

Provide specialist scientific, technical and operational expertise relating to medical devices, sterile services and decontamination processes.

Advise clinical, scientific, technical and managerial staff on risks associated with medical devices and decontamination services, ensuring appropriate risk assessments and mitigation measures are implemented.

Develop detailed technical specifications, conduct product evaluations and provide evidence-based recommendations to clinicians and senior managers.

Represent both Trusts on relevant national safety networks and professional groups, including the National Medical Devices Safety Network.

Ensure full compliance with MHRA, NHS England and Central Alerting System (CAS) requirements relating to medical devices and decontamination standards.

Oversee the investigation and management of all medical device and sterile services safety incidents, ensuring robust investigations, corrective actions and reporting processes are completed.

Provide Trust-level assurance regarding the safe use, management and governance of medical devices and sterile services.

Continually review high-risk and complex medical devices and decontamination practices to ensure best practice standards are maintained.

Financial and Commercial Management

Hold budgetary responsibility for EBME and Sterile Services functions across both Trusts.

Monitor departmental expenditure and ensure services operate within agreed financial limits while maintaining high-quality standards.

Evaluate value for money in relation to equipment procurement, service contracts and operational delivery.

Support development and deliver annual cost improvement and efficiency programmes.

Ensure procurement and contract management activities align with contractual obligations, budgetary controls and service expectations.

Identify and implement opportunities for income generation and commercial service provision to external organisations where appropriate.

Lead initiatives to maximise joint Trust savings through collaborative procurement and service alignment.

Leadership and Workforce Development

Provide visible, effective and inspirational leadership to multidisciplinary healthcare engineering and sterile services teams.

Develop and maintain a highly skilled workforce through training, mentoring, succession planning and professional development.

Promote strong working relationships between EBME, Sterile Services, clinical teams and wider NHS professionals to support high-quality patient care.

Manage staff performance, conduct, welfare and development in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Lead on recruitment, appraisal, workforce planning and disciplinary processes as required.

Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, collaboration and patient safety.

Communication and Stakeholder Management

Lead complex projects and present progress updates, risks and outcomes to a wide range of stakeholders including Executive Directors and external organisations.

Communicate highly complex, sensitive and technical information clearly and effectively to staff at all levels.

Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders internally and externally to secure service improvements and strategic objectives.

Chair and oversee relevant operational and governance groups, including the Medical Devices Group.

Promote and disseminate best practice methodologies, standards and procedures throughout both Trusts.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Masters level qualification in a relevant area to this role and/or a long term equivalent level of senior management experience in a related field
• Must have in-depth professional specialist knowledge across multiple disciplines acquired through training and experience over a significant period

Desirable

• Member of professional body or equivalent to fulfil lead professional roles, Good standard of education including good literacy and numeracy skills

Experience

Essential

• Significant proven and demonstrated experience at a senior level within Healthcare or similar environment for a minimum of 5 years. Experience of operational and technical interpretation, negotiation and service development across a range of service functions including Facilities, Estates, Medical Engineering and Sterile Services.
• Experience of implementing corporate systems, policies and procedures and ensuring organisation wide compliance
• Experience of reporting to/working with Corporate Management Team(s) and Boards or Committees on a regular basis
• Proven experience and track record of commercial activities; identifying developing and realising business growth opportunities
• Successful experience in leading and managing transformational change in the workplace, including services redesign to review and improve service delivery and policy development
• Specialist knowledge over more than one Services function and proven freedom to act and make decisions at a senior level on behalf of the organisation
• Providing board-level advice and guidance on service management strategic and operational issues including Risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Experienced in monitoring highly complex contracts and projects and auditing and compiling corporate documentation and reports
• Successful track record of effective people management including possessing excellent leadership qualities, staff engagement and development and performance management to deliver goals and targets
• High level budget management, with extensive revenue, pay and non-pay budget experience within large complex environments, including the delivery of cost improvement programmes, forecasting and financial expertise

Desirable

• Understanding of clinical services, health services design guidance, health service procurement guidance and regulatory standards

Skills

Essential

• Ability to evidence/demonstrate key values and behaviours in line with the Organisational framework
• Progresive Diverse Supportive
• Extensive evidence of a collaborative and inclusive leadership style with a strong emphasis on employee engagement
• Skilled at analysing and presenting highly complex and contentious data at executive level
• Skilled at handling complex external relationships with commercial providers which will include challenging where appropriate, areas which impact on service quality
• Skilled at managing multiple projects and services simultaneously with conflicting priorities to ensure service delivery and deadlines are met
• Advanced interpersonal skills including proven ability to work as an individual level or in groups comprised of a variety of stakeholders
• The ability to assimilate and analyses highly complex and sometimes contentious information and to present at executives forums
• Able to think analytically, anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead, using analytical techniques to identify options and solutions
• Able to work independently where required or as a team and to provide expert advice in matters relating Service line management
• Computer skills with the significant proficiency in the use of MS office packages and other IT systems including broad knowledge of database systems

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Can demonstrate initiative, creativity, flexibility and a personal ethos of continuous improvement
• Able to significantly influence others without any direct authority
• Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to actively listen, analyse, interpret and report complex data and promote discussion of views
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills and bale to effectively articulate a coherent vision to motivate others
• Knowledge of NHS procedures including standing financial instructions
• Recognises how their role contributes to the care of patients and others
• Ability to prioritise
• Self-motivate

Desirable

• Can demonstrate evidence of Trust values

Other

Essential

• Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of the role
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
• To be part of the Trusts Manager On-call team

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).