We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience, and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues, and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities, and our partners.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• Identify, scope, and lead service improvement initiatives to optimise patient throughput, streamline referral-to-test pathways, and improve overall patient experience across all CDC modalities.
• Exercise delegated operational responsibility on behalf of the Service Manager to resolve day-to-day issues, ensuring timely escalation and effective problem-solving.
• Work collaboratively across specialties and divisions to support delivery of Trust activity plans, waiting time standards, and diagnostic performance targets.
• Plan, encourage, and facilitate continuous improvement, ensuring that operational processes align with Trust policies, strategic priorities, and available resources.
• Implement, monitor, and maintain standard operating procedures and operational policies to ensure safe, consistent, and high-quality diagnostic service delivery.
• Identify problems, risks, and emerging trends early, developing and implementing mitigation plans and escalating concerns to the Specialty Management Team where required.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for performance reporting, monitoring, and analysis, including accurate data collection for capacity and demand planning, utilisation tracking, and income variance monitoring.
• Drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness, ensuring that CDC capacity is used optimally and that operational barriers are addressed promptly.
• Ensure effective use of resources, recommending changes, initiating corrective actions, and contributing to divisional decision-making to support sustainable service delivery.
• Work as an integral member of the specialty and divisional operational teams, supporting shared objectives and contributing to Trust-wide diagnostic transformation.
• Act as the operational point of contact for estates and facilities issues affecting the CDC, ensuring timely escalation and resolution of building, maintenance, environmental, and equipment-related concerns.
• Work with Estates, Facilities, and Medical Engineering teams to ensure the CDC environment remains safe, compliant, and fit for purpose, including oversight of planned and reactive maintenance affecting service delivery.
• Support the coordination of estates-related works, ensuring minimal disruption to diagnostic activity and effective communication with clinical and operational teams.
• Monitor environmental risks, such as temperature control, ventilation, infection-prevention requirements, and space utilisation, escalating issues promptly through appropriate governance routes.
• Act as a key contributor to the Improving Together workstream, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, staff engagement, and operational excellence.
• Be able to deliver sensitive or contentious information to large groups of staff at Trust and Divisional board meetings.

Please see the attached JD for full responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Master's or equivalent level of ability gained through substantial NHS operational management experience
• Postgraduate qualification in healthcare management or equivalent experience
• Specialist knowledge across a range of operational and performance management procedures
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD)

Desirable

• Management qualification
• Experience using CVIS, CRIS, Medilogik, Power BI, or equivalent systems

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in operational or service management within the NHS at a senior level
• Experience of strategic planning, business planning, service development, and project implementation
• Experience of managing or monitoring budgets, income, activity plans, or financial performance
• Experience of handling patient complaints, incidents, or service issues at a senior operational level
• Experience of delivering training, briefings, or presentations to staff across a range of professions

Desirable

• Formal project management qualification or experience
• Experience of coordinating and chairing multi-disciplinary meetings

Skills

Essential

• Awareness of NHS policy, diagnostic transformation priorities, and national performance standards
• Understanding of the changing NHS environment and system-wide diagnostic pathways

Desirable

• Knowledge of clinical governance principles
• Understanding of patient safety, estates compliance, and risk management frameworks
• Desire to further develop career and leadership capability

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.

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.