The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Operational Service Manager

The closing date is 31 August 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced Operational Service Manager to join The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust within the Surgical and Specialised Services Clinical Board, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary .

The post holder will be responsible for the Newcastle Eye Centre, a large, tertiary ophthalmology department based at the RVI, but also delivered from a number of outreach sites across the north east. The service includes a large outpatient service (with over 2,400 attendances per week though the service), theatre activity (both daycase and inpatient) and an Emergency Department.

The role would include the day-to-day operational management of the services within the Directorate, working closely with the Associate Director of Operations, Matron, Clinical Director and other operational managers within the clinical board, whilst taking the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets and quality and safety. Experience of a managing large and complex outpatient service is desirable.

Interview Date: 11 September 2025
37 hours 30 minutes/week
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate would be responsible for influencing the delivery of care to patients by managing and controlling waiting lists, ensuring adequate capacity within area(s) of responsibility, deal with queries and complaints including from patients who may be distressed. and involvement in the investigation of incidents within area(s) of responsibility.

You would be responsible for the development and implementation of policies, within the sphere of your responsibility. There would be an expectation that you would support the clinical board management team to ensure a culture that eliminates discrimination, promotes inclusion and values diversity.

The role would include developing business and strategic plans in conjunction with the senior management team and supporting service improvement projects.

You would be the budget holder for a delegated area of responsibility, supporting the senior management team with the budget setting process.

Responsible and accountable for line management of delegated non-clinical groups of staff. including recruitment and selection, monitoring and management of sickness absence, handling disciplines and grievance and managing poor performance as required.

Support the senior management team in reducing sickness absence by monitoring attendance, conducting return to work interviews and reviewing performance in conjunction with the Human Resources Department.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospital

o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

o Newcastle Dental Hospital

o Newcastle Fertility Centre

o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

o Northern Genetics Service

o Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Date posted

18 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-33-40-DR

Job locations

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Clinical Board management team with the management of all aspects of their area(s) of responsibility and take the lead in specific delegated areas.
Take the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets within area(s) of responsibility.
Deputise for members of the Clinical Board management team (as appropriate) when required.
Contribute to the day-to-day operational management of area(s) of responsibility.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Clinical Board management team with the management of all aspects of their area(s) of responsibility and take the lead in specific delegated areas.
Take the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets within area(s) of responsibility.
Deputise for members of the Clinical Board management team (as appropriate) when required.
Contribute to the day-to-day operational management of area(s) of responsibility.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

Degree level education or on established pathway supplemented by post graduate diploma level specialist training, management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience

Desirable

Recognise leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of operational, people and financial management; service strategy; business planning; and performance management
Demonstrate leadership ability at a senior level

Desirable

Recent managerial experience in related speciality
Project management experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Change management and practice development skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Demonstrable negotiation skills
Effective report writing skills
Effective organisation and time management skills
Change management and practice development skills
IT skills - significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite and other IT systems

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

Degree level education or on established pathway supplemented by post graduate diploma level specialist training, management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience

Desirable

Recognise leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of operational, people and financial management; service strategy; business planning; and performance management
Demonstrate leadership ability at a senior level

Desirable

Recent managerial experience in related speciality
Project management experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Change management and practice development skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Demonstrable negotiation skills
Effective report writing skills
Effective organisation and time management skills
Change management and practice development skills
IT skills - significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite and other IT systems

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