East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Divisional Director of Operations

The closing date is 31 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Divisional Director of Operations for our newly merged Medicine and Urgent Care Division.

You need to be an experienced operational leader who will take specific responsibility for the day-to-day management of the division, including the operational and financial performance of the Division across all hospital sites.

Reporting directly to the Chief of the Division, the Divisional Director of Operations will work in partnership with the Chief of Division and Divisional Director of Nursing across all Trust sites, taking joint accountability for the management and leadership of the multi-site Division, including delivery of safe and high quality clinical care that provides the best possible patient experience and delivers against agreed local and national performance targets and standards (e.g. waiting times, productivity targets and activity levels) within budget and resource availability.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for:

Providing an appropriate infrastructure to support the clinical activity of the Division

Developing a clear, detailed understanding of the Divisions performance and profitability The Divisional Director of Operations will

Leading relevant bids for services and contract negotiations within the Trust's corporate framework

Collaborating as needed with Trust colleagues and other health care providers to promote innovation and the development of services

About us

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Details

Date posted

20 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

374-LL0112-A

Job locations

Cross Site

ESHT

East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust

BN21 2UD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree relevant to role or equivalent knowledge and experience or equivalent professional level
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Post graduate management qualification
  • Project management / Prince 2
  • MBA or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive senior level manager experience within a complex health care organisation including management of multiple specialties
  • Experience of multi-agency planning and service delivery
  • Demonstrable recent experience as a senior manager within an NHS organisation managing multiple clinical services (8d or above)
  • Sound knowledge base of the NHS, current issues and developments, its structure, organisation and targets
  • Experience of project management and change management

Desirable

  • Knowledge of emergency planning and business continuity processes

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
  • Skilled in negotiation and influencing techniques including the ability to challenge and reality test others' positions constructively
  • Effective and strategic influencing skills at all levels of the organisation including influencing the Trust Board at 8d or above
  • Highly developed collaborative working skills - ability to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and multi-professional staff groups
  • Ability to present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at all levels (board level to junior staff) both internally and externally and through a variety of media

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing Lean methodologies

other

Essential

  • Frequent involvement (both direct and indirect) in emotionally distressing process such as managing significant change including redeployment and redundancy, performance management, complex disciplinary, grievance and appeal procedures as well as responding to complaints
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters degree relevant to role or equivalent knowledge and experience or equivalent professional level
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Post graduate management qualification
  • Project management / Prince 2
  • MBA or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive senior level manager experience within a complex health care organisation including management of multiple specialties
  • Experience of multi-agency planning and service delivery
  • Demonstrable recent experience as a senior manager within an NHS organisation managing multiple clinical services (8d or above)
  • Sound knowledge base of the NHS, current issues and developments, its structure, organisation and targets
  • Experience of project management and change management

Desirable

  • Knowledge of emergency planning and business continuity processes

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
  • Skilled in negotiation and influencing techniques including the ability to challenge and reality test others' positions constructively
  • Effective and strategic influencing skills at all levels of the organisation including influencing the Trust Board at 8d or above
  • Highly developed collaborative working skills - ability to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and multi-professional staff groups
  • Ability to present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at all levels (board level to junior staff) both internally and externally and through a variety of media

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing Lean methodologies

other

Essential

  • Frequent involvement (both direct and indirect) in emotionally distressing process such as managing significant change including redeployment and redundancy, performance management, complex disciplinary, grievance and appeal procedures as well as responding to complaints

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).

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.

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

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Cross Site

ESHT

East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Cross Site

ESHT

East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Exec Assistant to COO

Zoe Urban

zoe.urban@nhs.net

07770678389

Details

Date posted

20 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

374-LL0112-A

Job locations

Cross Site

ESHT

East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust

BN21 2UD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)