Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for substantive recruitment to the post of General Service Manager within the Division of Medicine, based at Aintree University Hospital.
There is one full-time (1.0 WTE) post available within the following Care Group:
The post holder will be an integral member of the Care Group Management Team, working closely with clinical and operational leaders to support the delivery of specialty-specific operational and strategic objectives. The role will contribute directly to the achievement of the Division's wider priorities, performance standards, and improvement programmes.
The successful candidate will provide operational leadership, performance management, and service delivery oversight, supporting safe, effective, and sustainable services within a complex and high-pressure acute environment.
Main duties of the job
The General Service Manager will be accountable for:
-
Supporting the delivery of service strategies, taking operational responsibility for delegated programmes of work.
-
Providing operational leadership for the delivery of services, ensuring systems and processes are in place to support safe, and efficient patient care.
-
Leading and line managing administrative teams as appropriate, promoting high performance, staff engagement, and development.
-
Overseeing delegated budgets, ensuring effective financial control, and compliance with governance arrangements.
-
Support operational performance improvement, including delivery of key performance indicators.
-
Contributing to the development, review, and implementation of local policies, procedures, and operational frameworks.
-
Working closely with the Head of Operations, Clinical Director(s), Nursing/AHP leadership, and wider Care Group colleagues to support service planning, transformation, and delivery.
-
Supporting business planning, service improvement, and change programmes, ensuring plans are underpinned by robust data, quality considerations, and affordability.
-
Deputising for the Head of Operations as required.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.
The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.
To hear more about our achievements click herehttps://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook - Liverpool University Hospitals Careers
Instagram - @LUHFTcareers
Twitter - @LUHFTcareers
Job description
Job responsibilities
The General Service Manager is a senior operational leader within the Care Group and an integral member of the Care Group Management Team. Reporting to the Head of Operations, the post holder will support the delivery of specialty-specific strategies and contribute to the achievement of Divisional and Trust objectives.
Operational Leadership and Service Delivery
- Take operational responsibility for delegated programmes of work, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with agreed objectives, quality standards, and resource constraints.
- Lead the operational delivery of clinical and administrative services, ensuring systems and processes support patient flow, access standards, and high-quality care.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational performance, planning and implementing service changes that enhance patient outcomes and service efficiency.
- Act as a visible and accessible leader within the service, providing day-to-day operational oversight and assurance.
Performance Management and Planning
- Monitor and manage service performance against local and national targets, including access, quality, and regulatory standards.
- Analyse complex operational and performance data to identify risks, pressures, and opportunities, proposing and implementing solutions in collaboration with clinical and operational colleagues.
- Support the development and delivery of business and workforce plans, ensuring alignment with Care Group priorities and financial controls.
Financial Management
- Oversee delegated revenue budgets within the service, ensuring effective financial management, cost control, and value for money.
- Monitor expenditure against budget and take corrective action where variances arise, working closely with the Head of Operations and finance colleagues.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of business cases and service improvement plans, balancing quality, performance, and affordability.
Leadership and People Management
- Provide line management to Band 7 and below staff within the service, including administrative and clinical teams as appropriate.
- Promote a values-led, inclusive, and supportive culture, ensuring staff are engaged, developed, and managed in line with Trust policies.
- Ensure compliance with appraisal, mandatory training, workforce governance, and people management requirements.
- Support the development of operational managers and team leaders, building capability and resilience within the service.
Governance, Quality, and Risk
- Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of local policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
- Support effective risk management, incident review, and complaint handling within the service, ensuring learning is embedded and actions are delivered.
- Provide assurance to the Care Group leadership team through reports, briefings, and presentations to internal governance forums.
Partnership Working and Deputising
- Work collaboratively with clinical leaders, nursing/AHP leadership, corporate teams, and external partners to deliver service objectives.
- Maintain effective communication links between specialties and Care Group leadership.
- Deputise for the Head of Operations as required.
Further details are provided in the attached Job Description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The General Service Manager is a senior operational leader within the Care Group and an integral member of the Care Group Management Team. Reporting to the Head of Operations, the post holder will support the delivery of specialty-specific strategies and contribute to the achievement of Divisional and Trust objectives.
Operational Leadership and Service Delivery
- Take operational responsibility for delegated programmes of work, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with agreed objectives, quality standards, and resource constraints.
- Lead the operational delivery of clinical and administrative services, ensuring systems and processes support patient flow, access standards, and high-quality care.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational performance, planning and implementing service changes that enhance patient outcomes and service efficiency.
- Act as a visible and accessible leader within the service, providing day-to-day operational oversight and assurance.
Performance Management and Planning
- Monitor and manage service performance against local and national targets, including access, quality, and regulatory standards.
- Analyse complex operational and performance data to identify risks, pressures, and opportunities, proposing and implementing solutions in collaboration with clinical and operational colleagues.
- Support the development and delivery of business and workforce plans, ensuring alignment with Care Group priorities and financial controls.
Financial Management
- Oversee delegated revenue budgets within the service, ensuring effective financial management, cost control, and value for money.
- Monitor expenditure against budget and take corrective action where variances arise, working closely with the Head of Operations and finance colleagues.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of business cases and service improvement plans, balancing quality, performance, and affordability.
Leadership and People Management
- Provide line management to Band 7 and below staff within the service, including administrative and clinical teams as appropriate.
- Promote a values-led, inclusive, and supportive culture, ensuring staff are engaged, developed, and managed in line with Trust policies.
- Ensure compliance with appraisal, mandatory training, workforce governance, and people management requirements.
- Support the development of operational managers and team leaders, building capability and resilience within the service.
Governance, Quality, and Risk
- Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of local policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
- Support effective risk management, incident review, and complaint handling within the service, ensuring learning is embedded and actions are delivered.
- Provide assurance to the Care Group leadership team through reports, briefings, and presentations to internal governance forums.
Partnership Working and Deputising
- Work collaboratively with clinical leaders, nursing/AHP leadership, corporate teams, and external partners to deliver service objectives.
- Maintain effective communication links between specialties and Care Group leadership.
- Deputise for the Head of Operations as required.
Further details are provided in the attached Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Management qualification or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Recent demonstrable experience of operational management, with clear evidence of responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget understanding and successful delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
- Experience of being accountable for a clinical service
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding and appreciation of diversity
- Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on services.
Desirable
- Principles and impact of the NHS Constitution
- Knowledge and understanding of computerised financial, management, budgetary management and workforce information systems
- Knowledge of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
Skills
Essential
- Coaching & values led leadership style, encouraging engagement and empowerment amongst staff and stakeholders, and in developing high performing teams
- Developed communication skills, to include but not exclusively, mediation, negotiation, consultation, facilitation, presentation, training and coaching skills using well developed interpersonal skills to influence, inform, reconcile differences and resolve conflicts.
- Solve problems, using a solution focused approach demonstrating competent persuasive and influencing skills
- Analyse data and information, including preparing responses to issues often within tight timescales.
- Ability to support business planning processes on behalf of the speciality
- Coordinate speciality activity plans to meet challenging performance targets within tight financial controls
- Implement agreed policy on behalf of the speciality and ensure successful implementation
- IT literate and able to use standard office software and bespoke systems.
- Cope with competing priorities and a demanding workload
- Work in an environment with frequent interruptions, and within stressful, unpredictable situations including responding to and solving urgent and emergency situations day to day.
Desirable
- Demonstrate competent project management skills
- Deal with uncertainty and complexity in a political environment
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Management qualification or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Recent demonstrable experience of operational management, with clear evidence of responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget understanding and successful delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
- Experience of being accountable for a clinical service
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding and appreciation of diversity
- Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on services.
Desirable
- Principles and impact of the NHS Constitution
- Knowledge and understanding of computerised financial, management, budgetary management and workforce information systems
- Knowledge of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
Skills
Essential
- Coaching & values led leadership style, encouraging engagement and empowerment amongst staff and stakeholders, and in developing high performing teams
- Developed communication skills, to include but not exclusively, mediation, negotiation, consultation, facilitation, presentation, training and coaching skills using well developed interpersonal skills to influence, inform, reconcile differences and resolve conflicts.
- Solve problems, using a solution focused approach demonstrating competent persuasive and influencing skills
- Analyse data and information, including preparing responses to issues often within tight timescales.
- Ability to support business planning processes on behalf of the speciality
- Coordinate speciality activity plans to meet challenging performance targets within tight financial controls
- Implement agreed policy on behalf of the speciality and ensure successful implementation
- IT literate and able to use standard office software and bespoke systems.
- Cope with competing priorities and a demanding workload
- Work in an environment with frequent interruptions, and within stressful, unpredictable situations including responding to and solving urgent and emergency situations day to day.
Desirable
- Demonstrate competent project management skills
- Deal with uncertainty and complexity in a political environment
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
