Job summary
Fixed term: 12 months | Full-time |
Interview date: Friday 3rd October 2025
We're looking for someone to join the Medicine Care Group at Sheffield Children's, offering the chance to develop your leadership skills while supporting several medical specialties that deliver both secondary and tertiary services.
As Operational Manager, you will be part of a wider management team supporting a diverse range of services for children and young people. You will provide operational management to clinical teams, working with both clinical and clerical staff, including consultants.
About You:
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Experience in operational management or service management
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Ability to influence and negotiate with colleagues at all levels, both internally and externally
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Enthusiastic, dedicated, and ready to take the next step in your NHS career
Main duties of the job
You will report to the Service Manager, and your responsibilities will include:
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Support service development, redesign, and business planning
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Draft business plans through appropriate internal and external channels
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Communicate with Trust partners, commissioners, and clinical teams
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Collaborate with clinical teams to meet performance and quality targets
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Manage daily operational issues and ensure smooth service delivery
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Analyse and present data on activity, waiting times, and performance metrics
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Work with Information, Finance, and commissioning teams to support service delivery
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Coordinate divisional meetings and internal communications
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Line manage designated staff and support team development
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Contribute to clinical governance and risk management processes
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Monitor service performance and provide quality-related insights
About us
At Sheffield Children's, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children's Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We're proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children's as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England -- and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire -- in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values -- Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence -- to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts -- helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.
#LI-Onsite
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at scn-tr.recruitment.team@nhs.net. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.
#LI-Onsite
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Basic Degree or proven graduate level ability or equivalent
- Training evidence of on-going professional development
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of service management
- Proven track record of delivering service improvement
- Experience of successful working with external agencies
- Proven track record of service planning
- Ability to successfully motivate and lead colleagues in a managerial capacity
Desirable
- Experience of clinical governance
- Experience of successful operational management in a healthcare setting
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Understanding of the NHS and of the management of health care services
- Good understanding of clinical governance and related matters
- Possess interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Experience of making presentations, negotiation and influencing skills
- Ability to use information to effectively support the improvement of performance
- Commitment to maintaining and developing further the Trust's role as a Centre of Excellence for Teaching, Education and Research
Desirable
- Understanding of the health needs of children and of the health and social care issues influencing care provision
- Project management skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment
- Ability to communicate effectively - in both oral and written forms
- Ability to convert agreed plan into key operational objectives and ensure that these are achieved
- Ability to work under pressure, rapid pace, change and uncertainty
- Ability to demonstrate unimpeachable honesty and professional integrity
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Basic Degree or proven graduate level ability or equivalent
- Training evidence of on-going professional development
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of service management
- Proven track record of delivering service improvement
- Experience of successful working with external agencies
- Proven track record of service planning
- Ability to successfully motivate and lead colleagues in a managerial capacity
Desirable
- Experience of clinical governance
- Experience of successful operational management in a healthcare setting
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Understanding of the NHS and of the management of health care services
- Good understanding of clinical governance and related matters
- Possess interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Experience of making presentations, negotiation and influencing skills
- Ability to use information to effectively support the improvement of performance
- Commitment to maintaining and developing further the Trust's role as a Centre of Excellence for Teaching, Education and Research
Desirable
- Understanding of the health needs of children and of the health and social care issues influencing care provision
- Project management skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment
- Ability to communicate effectively - in both oral and written forms
- Ability to convert agreed plan into key operational objectives and ensure that these are achieved
- Ability to work under pressure, rapid pace, change and uncertainty
- Ability to demonstrate unimpeachable honesty and professional integrity
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).
