Service Development Manager

Job summary

This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work, or the location attracts an Inner Higher Cost Area Supplement, and you are employed by the NHS and would transfer to the pay point at the top of Band 8a. OTDT is implementing changes to the donation and retrieval pathway, elements of which are underpinned by the UK Commissioning Team and their contracts/agreements with Providers. This role offers an opportunity to a passionate individual to support the implementation of these changes, while also gaining experience of Commissioning and Service Development.

A key part of the role is to implement the key deliverables in the SCORE Programme: initially leading the defining, planning and implementation of the roll out of the SCORE recommendations as outlined in the Business Case, ensuring that all strands of work are aligned.

The role requires an understanding of project management, clinical pathways and requires organisational and planning skills as this is a dynamic and challenging role where the post holder will be given broad objectives and the ability to respond to new initiatives and projects is paramount.

Note: This role provides a hybrid-working option. You will be assigned a base location which could be one of NHSBT main centres/blood centres, which will be confirmed after the final interview and mutually agreed upon with the line manager during the verbal offer stage.

Main duties of the job

In this role within the Commissioning Team, you will work alongside the Assistant Director UK Commissioning and Service Development, Heads of Commissioning and Service Development, Integration, Transplant Development, the Associate Medical Director (Retrieval), and senior OTDT staff to deliver SCORE Programme objectives. You will:

• Lead and manage projects aligned with the Organ Donation and Transplantation 2030: Meeting the Need Strategy, including strengthening NORS capacity.
• Exercise autonomy and sound judgement, balancing multiple priorities and ensuring timely delivery.
• Provide expert advice and problem-solving support, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Apply strong knowledge of service development and organ donation and retrieval systems.
• Plan and implement SCORE Business Case recommendations and coordinate workstreams effectively.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders, adapting approach to build engagement.
• Produce high-quality reports, briefings, and analysis across functions and specialties.
• Work proactively and independently, managing competing demands and taking initiative.
• Build productive relationships to support objectives and ensure performance accountability.

The role requires flexibility to travel and occasional overnight stays with prior notice.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.