Job summary
This vacancy is open to medics and non-medics. Interview date is planned to take place the week commencing 13th October 2025.
We are seeking an exceptional leader to provide both strategic and clinical leadership for the Surgery Division. Delivering effective, efficient, and high-quality patient services while remaining within available resources. A key focus of this role is fostering strong clinical engagement, which is central to the Division's management. Additionally, the post-holder will play an integral role in the day-to-day management of the Trust and contribute to shaping its strategic direction.
The Chief of Service for Surgery, will have the support of a Divisional Director of Quality &Nursing (DDQN) and Divisional Director of Operations (DoPS), with accountability to the Chief Operating Officer and professional support from the Medical Director. They will also be supported by dedicated teams in Finance, Business Intelligence, Human Resources, and Quality Governance. The leadership structure within the Division includes one deputy Chief of Service, demonstrating their value to the Division and this role ensuring robust clinical engagement and accountability across each area.
Main duties of the job
Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities
- To lead and champion the Trusts and Integrated Care Systems (ICS) strategic direction.
- Ensuring that robust processes are in place to minimise risks to patients and staff whilst optimising clinical effectiveness. This includes working within the Division's financial allocation.
- Provision of effective and efficient patient services, of a high quality, responsive to patient and commissioner needs whilst achieving key access and other targets
- Establishment of a culture of, and effective processes to achieve, continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of services, with appropriate involvement from patients and the public. This should be undertaken in by linking with the Trust Quality Academy
- Demonstrate clinical support to the delivery of statutory performance targets
- Clinically supporting the Division to deliver financial balance.
About us
The Surgery Division is one of the four divisions within our Trust, leading and managing core operational clinical services through a divisional structure. We provide a comprehensive range of services, covering both planned and unplanned care, from emergency care to planned treatments. Our division boasts an excellent array of services, headed by the most talented professionals in the field based in our Acute Trust and community settings.
With a variety of opportunities, the Surgery Division offers a wide range of services situated at Gloucester Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital and within our community hospitals. The role of Chief of Service will present challenges, but following significant work over recent years, the Surgical division is shaping up to be an ideal place for a clinical leader looking to expand their experience in clinical and operational leadership. We champion an improvement approach that supports ongoing changes and development of our services. You will work closely with an excellent divisional leadership team and their deputies.
The Surgery Division maintains key relationships not only with other core divisions but also with corporate functions and partner organizations across Gloucestershire. You will receive the support not only of Divisional Leadership colleagues, but also of the other Divisional Leadership teams and the Trust executive Tri and executive teams in addition to your professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Thank you for your interest in this role.
Please see comprehensive job description for further details
Job description
Job responsibilities
Thank you for your interest in this role.
Please see comprehensive job description for further details
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Registered with a nationally recognised clinical authority
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Highly developed political awareness and demonstrable leadership, negotiation and influencing skills combined with the ability to motivate, challenge and engage individuals and teams
- Strong and effective engagement and communication skills
- Setting out a clear vision and strategic direction, inspiring others and assuming command according to the situation
- Actively seeking, establishing and developing effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Analysing, interpreting and presenting complex data
- Ability to contribute to effective Trust Management Team working and an understanding of organisation and risk management and the monitoring of compliance with legal, ethical, clinical, social, regulatory and environmental requirements
- Understanding of the requirements of good financial management
- Broad understanding of the NHS policy context
Desirable
- Ability to work with academic partners e.g. universities and colleges and promoting research
Clinical/Work Experience
Essential
- Leadership of clinical staff and services
- Track record of innovation and delivery
- Evidence of service improvement
- Experience in consultation and negotiation
- Personal and professional credibility with directors, clinicians, managers and staff
- Understanding of operational management of clinical services
- Health system-wide experience
Desirable
- Experience of clinical strategy development
- Experience of developing new models of care and implementing service redesign inside and across directorate/organisational boundaries
- Service and business planning
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Registered with a nationally recognised clinical authority
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Highly developed political awareness and demonstrable leadership, negotiation and influencing skills combined with the ability to motivate, challenge and engage individuals and teams
- Strong and effective engagement and communication skills
- Setting out a clear vision and strategic direction, inspiring others and assuming command according to the situation
- Actively seeking, establishing and developing effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Analysing, interpreting and presenting complex data
- Ability to contribute to effective Trust Management Team working and an understanding of organisation and risk management and the monitoring of compliance with legal, ethical, clinical, social, regulatory and environmental requirements
- Understanding of the requirements of good financial management
- Broad understanding of the NHS policy context
Desirable
- Ability to work with academic partners e.g. universities and colleges and promoting research
Clinical/Work Experience
Essential
- Leadership of clinical staff and services
- Track record of innovation and delivery
- Evidence of service improvement
- Experience in consultation and negotiation
- Personal and professional credibility with directors, clinicians, managers and staff
- Understanding of operational management of clinical services
- Health system-wide experience
Desirable
- Experience of clinical strategy development
- Experience of developing new models of care and implementing service redesign inside and across directorate/organisational boundaries
- Service and business planning
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
