General Manager - Theatres, Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Pain

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Kettering General Hospital seeks an experienced General Manager to oversee Theatres, Anaesthetics, Critical Care, and Pain. The role includes operational leadership, strategic planning, and service improvement, ensuring high-quality patient care. Ideal candidates will have significant NHS experience, strong leadership abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience at a senior operational level within the NHS.
• Extensive knowledge of the NHS.
• Demonstrated success in delivering large-scale change.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership across service lines.
• Develop and implement service strategies.
• Oversee performance and financial management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Masters degree or equivalent experience

Job description

General Manager - Theatres, Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Pain

Band 8b

Main area Theatres, Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Pain Grade Band 8b Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 264-7259094-SUR

Site University Hospitals of Northamptonshire - Cross Site Town Kettering Salary £64,455 - £74,896 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 25/06/2025 23:59

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic General Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple high-profile service lines, including Theatres, Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Pain. Working in close partnership with Clinical Directors and the Deputy Head of Nursing, you will play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.

The successful candidate will bring a proven track record in leading complex projects within an acute healthcare setting, along with exceptional attention to detail, resilience under pressure, and a commitment to continuous improvement. You will be responsible for day-to-day operational delivery, financial performance, and long-term planning to ensure business continuity and service resilience.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

Provide operational leadership across designated service lines, ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of clinical services.

Collaborate with clinical leads to develop and implement service strategies with clear goals and measurable outcomes.

Lead robust financial and capacity planning to meet performance targets and support long-term sustainability.

Ensure business continuity and maintain resilient service delivery frameworks.

Drive service improvements, foster a culture of innovation, and uphold high standards of patient care and staff engagement.

Who We're Looking For

Substantial experience at a senior operational level within an acute NHS setting.

Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage complex challenges and competing priorities.

Demonstrated success in delivering large-scale change and service improvement.

Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Working for our organisation

**Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications**

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Northampton General Hospital NHSTrust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and driven General Manager to provide strong leadership and operational oversight for key specialty areas within the Division. Reporting to the Deputy Head of Operations, you will be responsible for strategic planning, service delivery, financial performance, workforce leadership, and continuous improvement across your designated services.

As a senior member of the Directorate Management Team, you will work closely with clinical and corporate colleagues to ensure the highest standards of patient care, safety, and performance. You will also contribute to cross-organisational and system-wide transformation initiatives.

Main Responsibilities

Lead the operational and strategic development of designated specialties within the Division.

Develop and deliver business plans aligned to Trust priorities and the Integrated Business Plan.

Promote innovation and share best practices to improve service effectiveness and quality.

Ensure Trust policies and service improvement initiatives are successfully implemented at directorate level.

Service Delivery & Transformation

Oversee high-quality, patient-centred services that are safe, efficient, and evidence-based.

Lead on service redesign and improvement programmes to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce waiting times, and increase operational efficiency.

Interpret national and local guidance to anticipate service demands and develop strategic responses.

Performance & Financial Management

Ensure services meet national standards, KPIs, and constitutional targets.

Implement systems to monitor performance and develop solutions for underperformance.

Manage budgets for specific service areas, support delivery of CIPs, and contribute to divisional financial planning.

Governance & Risk

Embed a strong culture of clinical governance, patient safety, and risk management.

Ensure services meet CQC and licensing standards and maintain robust systems to handle complaints and incidents.

Support the development and implementation of the Division’s annual governance plan.

Workforce & Staff Development

Lead on workforce planning to ensure the right staffing, skills, and training are in place.

Support managers in delivering effective HR practices including appraisals, sickness absence, and staff engagement.

Promote a culture of accountability, development, and continuous improvement.

Research, Education & Teaching

Promote research, audit, and clinical education within service areas in alignment with Trust strategies.

Ensure compliance with mandatory training and promote lifelong learning across teams.

Communication & Partnership Working

Maintain effective two-way communication within services and with key stakeholders internally and externally (e.g., ICBs, local authorities, universities).

Foster collaborative working relationships with clinical leaders, service users, and partner organisations.

Additional Responsibilities

Participate in the Trust’s senior management on-call rota.

Travel between hospital sites (e.g., Kettering and Northampton) as required.

Person specification

Education, Training and Qualifications

• Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent experience
• Extensive up to date knowledge of the NHS
• Evidence of CPD
• Evidence of other specialist knowledge at higher degree or masters level

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience within the Healthcare sector at senior manager level including operational responsibility for a directorate level service
• Proven track record of achieving challenging healthcare targets
• Experience of delivering programmes of change within an NHS setting
• Experience of managing and hearing performance issues
• Well-developed IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information
• Experience of working in an Acute Teaching hospital

Skills

• Excellent communications skills, written and oral
• Evidence of being a team-player but able to stand back when necessary
• Ability to motivate staff tAbility to interpret, analyse and present highly complex data/information at Directorate Levelo deliver challenging targets
• Ability to manage conflict
• Logical thinker with evidence of implementation of ideas and solutions
• Excellent problem solving skills using team when appropriate
• Business focused
• Sensitive to clinical and political demands
• Ability to cut through barriers to change
• Ability to concentrate frequently whilst dealing with interruptions and moving quickly from one priority to another
• Proven record of robust performance management
• Interpret highly complex information concerned with professional, operational and clinical activities to inform decisions and make judgments on recommendations relating to future actions
• Establish appropriate working relationships with colleagues in other directorates with whom their service interacts and with external bodies, such as Service managers and General Managers within other specialties, General Practitioners and/or Primary Care Trusts for the fulfilment of particular service issues.

Applications will be transferred to TRAC system, by completing an application your are giving authorisation for the transfer of your data.

Correspondence regarding your application will be sent to you via a TRAC system account.

We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

We welcome applications from members of our black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, especially in relation to senior posts within at KGH.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

Appointments will be made on merit.

In submitting an application form, you authorise Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process. Including factual reference, occupational health clearance and statutory and mandatory training record.

If you need to have a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, as a requirement of the role, you will be required to repay the cost of obtaining a DBS check (£49.50) and this amount will be reclaimed from your first salary. From 1st February 2019 all new starters to the Trust are required to join the DBS update service as per Trust DBS Re-checking Policy which has an annual cost of £16. New employees who do not join the update service will be required to pay £49.50 for a new DBS check in 3 years time.

Please note that news starters with KGH are subject to a six month probationary period.

Please ensure that the information you provide on your application form is correct, accurate and that nothing has been omitted. Any information that is stated in your application form in relation to qualifications/training courses/work/education experience/references must be able to be evidenced. Failure to do so may result if your offer being withdrawn.

"Safeguarding is everyone's business. KGH considers Safeguarding a priority amongst its citizen's and a key value for all employed to the service."

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.