East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Operations for Theatres, Anaesthetics, POA, Pain & ENT

The closing date is 17 August 2025

Job summary

The Head of Operations is responsible for Operational Management of Theatres, Anaesthetics, Perioperative Services, Pain Management and ENT on a Trustwide basis within the Care Group. This post is accountable to the Managing Director to ensure that the Care Group delivers on Trust key performance objectives for non-elective and planned care.

The predominant responsibilities of the role will be to lead the development of the Care Group, ensuring that the intended outcomes for quality, performance, finance, workforce, transformation and collaborative system working are delivered.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Operations is responsible for the operational management of Theatres, Anaesthetics, Perioperative Services, Pain Management and ENT on a Trustwide basis. The position requires the following attributes to be evidenced: Senior operational manager/clinician with experience of elective, acute and non-elective care: to have significant experience of Elective care systems and also to have been employed in a site/patient flow role or have commensurate senior operational management experience in an acute NHS provider hospital setting.

About us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with fivehospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have an innovative way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum - increment dependent upon experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-5222SAC

Job locations

William Harvey Hospital

Willesborough Road

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.

If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.

If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Masters or demonstration of equivalent substantial continuing professional development.
  • Management qualification or relevant experience

Desirable

  • Qualification in management coaching or improvement

Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience of senior management in a relevant healthcare provider, in a multi- disciplinary environment
  • Experience of developing and/or sustaining a culture consistent with Trust values
  • Proven track record of management of budgets, including development of cost efficiencies, income generation, capital planning and value for money service developments
  • Track record of achievement of objectives, including delivery of performance objectives
  • Experience of influencing at senior level within and across organisations to develop services and improve performance

Governance

Essential

  • Commitment to implementation and strengthening of clinical governance.
  • Extensive knowledge of clinical audit, Research and development and evidence-based practice

Personal/Professional attributes

Essential

  • Environmental and political awareness
  • Excellent written and verbal communications
  • Interpersonal and influence skills
  • High analytical and numeracy skills
  • High level of self-awareness and openness to self-improvement

Other requirements

Essential

  • Able to function in a multi-professional environment
  • Ability to cope under pressure and work to ambitious deadlines
  • Self-motivated, energetic and flexible, with well- developed interpersonal skills
  • Personal resilience, self- awareness, determination to succeed
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Masters or demonstration of equivalent substantial continuing professional development.
  • Management qualification or relevant experience

Desirable

  • Qualification in management coaching or improvement

Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience of senior management in a relevant healthcare provider, in a multi- disciplinary environment
  • Experience of developing and/or sustaining a culture consistent with Trust values
  • Proven track record of management of budgets, including development of cost efficiencies, income generation, capital planning and value for money service developments
  • Track record of achievement of objectives, including delivery of performance objectives
  • Experience of influencing at senior level within and across organisations to develop services and improve performance

Governance

Essential

  • Commitment to implementation and strengthening of clinical governance.
  • Extensive knowledge of clinical audit, Research and development and evidence-based practice

Personal/Professional attributes

Essential

  • Environmental and political awareness
  • Excellent written and verbal communications
  • Interpersonal and influence skills
  • High analytical and numeracy skills
  • High level of self-awareness and openness to self-improvement

Other requirements

Essential

  • Able to function in a multi-professional environment
  • Ability to cope under pressure and work to ambitious deadlines
  • Self-motivated, energetic and flexible, with well- developed interpersonal skills
  • Personal resilience, self- awareness, determination to succeed

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 Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

William Harvey Hospital

Willesborough Road

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

William Harvey Hospital

Willesborough Road

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

PA to Care Group Senior Management

L-J Thompson

lj.thompson@nhs.net

01227864304

Details

Date posted

05 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year per annum - increment dependent upon experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-5222SAC

Job locations

William Harvey Hospital

Willesborough Road

Ashford

TN24 0LZ


Supporting documents

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