Operations Centre Manager

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

We are recruiting an Operations Centre Manager to join and lead our established clinical site team, providing clinical, professional and managerial leadership to the Clinical Site Managers (CSMs).

The CSM team operates 24/7, and you will work alongside an existing Operations Centre Manager in leading this team. Our CSMs are Band 7's with a wide range of clinical experience from across the Trust.

This position requires close collaboration with all departments across UHS and staff at every level, while reporting directly to the Associate Director of Operations. Strong communication skills, compassion, and a proactive approach are essential qualities for the successful applicant.

This post requires a Thursday and Friday working as essential, so there will be some flexibility in how the remaining hours can be arranged.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

As an Operations Centre Manager, you will work alongside your fellow manager to lead and support the Clinical Site Managers, overseeing the daily running of the Operations Centre and ensuring safe, effective patient flow across the hospital.

You will also hold responsibility for compliance of the delivery of the Mental Health Act and act as the Helipad Manager. This post requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week, with Thursday and Friday as essential working days. There is flexibility in how the remaining hours can be arranged.

We’re looking for someone with experience in an acute hospital environment who understands patient flow and thrives in a fast‑paced, people‑focused role. You bring positivity, resilience, and a sense of humour to challenging days, along with the confidence to make informed decisions and the judgement to know when to seek more information. You work collaboratively, stay calm under pressure, and enjoy building relationships across the hospital.

This is an active, hands‑on role—ideal for someone who likes being out and about on site.

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

Registered Nurse/AHP on relevant part of the NMC/HPC Register Specialist Clinical/Operational qualification at postgraduate or relevant equivalent experience Leadership training or relevant equivalent experience Management training or relevant equivalent experience Extensive experience in the acute healthcare setting in clinical leadership/clinical management position Formal and informal teaching experience Staff and resource management experience Extensive knowledge of National and Local NHS N&M agenda

Desirable criteria

Understanding of specialist area