Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and strategic General Manager to oversee and drive the operational and financial performance of key services within our Surgical Division.
Covering designated specialty portfolio's -Audiology, Head and Neck (ENT, Oral Surgery and Orthodontics) and Urology. This role will require close collaboration with clinical and operational teams to ensure high-quality patient care, operational efficiency, and the achievement of key performance targets.
This is a new role and part of the senior leadership team within the respective divisions - the successful candidate will play a key role in driving the delivery of the division's objectives and development of service strategies for the forthcoming year.
This position involves working across multiple sites: Watford General Hospital, St Alban's City Hospital and occasionally Hemel Hospital.
This post will have direct line management responsibility for a number of staff and reports to the Deputy Director of Operations for the Surgical Division.
*This role requires regular time on site (80%) and cannot be fully remote.*
We are supportive of flexible working arrangements but are not able to consider anything less than 0.8 WTE given the service requirements of this role.
Interviews will be held in person at the Watford site.
Main duties of the job
Lead the development of service improvement and business plans aligned with divisional goals.
Introduce innovative management strategies to optimise efficiency across services.
Collaborate with community, social care, and academic partners to support broader healthcare objectives.
Track and report performance against national and local targets, driving improvements.
Ensure that departments within your portfolio are meeting key service and quality standards.
Lead weekly PTL meetings and support escalations to ensure smooth operations.
Oversee budgets, ensuring financial targets are met and income is optimised.
Contribute to cost improvement initiatives and business case development for service reconfigurations.
Ensure the workforce is effectively planned and resourced with the right skills to meet service demands.
Lead, motivate, and develop teams to support continuous performance improvement.
Oversee recruitment, appraisals, and staff development.
Regularly engage with clinical teams, staff, and senior management to ensure transparency and align objectives.
Address sensitive issues, manage complaints, and ensure effective communication throughout the team.
Proven experience in a senior operational or managerial role within healthcare.
Strong understanding of financial management, performance targets, and budget oversight.
Ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Excellent communication skills and experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Post Holder will work with the Deputy Director of Operations, Associate Director of Operations and Divisional Management Team to lead and manage the services assigned to them.The post holder will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership and management of the assigned service area supporting the Divisions overall strategy and objectives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Post Holder will work with the Deputy Director of Operations, Associate Director of Operations and Divisional Management Team to lead and manage the services assigned to them.The post holder will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership and management of the assigned service area supporting the Divisions overall strategy and objectives.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level or equivalent qualification.
- Studying for/plans to study management qualification
- Operational management experience in an Acute NHS organisation
- Evidence of continuing professional development including regular attendance on internal and external study programmes.
Desirable
- Higher professional or management degree (Masters Level) or equivalent knowledge acquired by experience.
- Project Management / quality improvement qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on services.
- Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
Desirable
- Knowledge of current issues in the NHS.
- Understanding the principles of risk management, health and safety legislation
Experience
Essential
- Good experience of managing several complex NHS services, preferably within the Acute Sector
- Demonstrable experience at a senior management level, with clear evidence of responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget responsibility and successful delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
- Evidence of managing in a busy, complex and dynamic environment.
- Understanding of principles of budgetary management.
- Experience of using numerical analysis in problem solving.
- Experience of budgetary management.
- Experience of and familiarity with business planning and preparation of business cases.
- Understanding of and experience of managing elective waiting times (RTT, PTL, Diagnostic etc)
Desirable
- Experience working or managing within medical or surgical speciality services.
- Experience leading capital development or service development projects
- Understanding of medical staffing and rota issues.
- Knowledge and or experience of working closely with integrated care partners, integrated service
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level or equivalent qualification.
- Studying for/plans to study management qualification
- Operational management experience in an Acute NHS organisation
- Evidence of continuing professional development including regular attendance on internal and external study programmes.
Desirable
- Higher professional or management degree (Masters Level) or equivalent knowledge acquired by experience.
- Project Management / quality improvement qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on services.
- Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
Desirable
- Knowledge of current issues in the NHS.
- Understanding the principles of risk management, health and safety legislation
Experience
Essential
- Good experience of managing several complex NHS services, preferably within the Acute Sector
- Demonstrable experience at a senior management level, with clear evidence of responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget responsibility and successful delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
- Evidence of managing in a busy, complex and dynamic environment.
- Understanding of principles of budgetary management.
- Experience of using numerical analysis in problem solving.
- Experience of budgetary management.
- Experience of and familiarity with business planning and preparation of business cases.
- Understanding of and experience of managing elective waiting times (RTT, PTL, Diagnostic etc)
Desirable
- Experience working or managing within medical or surgical speciality services.
- Experience leading capital development or service development projects
- Understanding of medical staffing and rota issues.
- Knowledge and or experience of working closely with integrated care partners, integrated service
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).
