Operational Business and Performance Lead - Surgery

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Northampton is seeking an Operational Business and Performance Lead to drive operational excellence and service transformation. The role focuses on service planning, project management, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure effective service delivery. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills and a robust understanding of healthcare policies, joining an organization committed to high-quality services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a management/leadership role.
• Identifying and implementing changes based on national policy.
• Delivering service changes to improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly reports for the Divisional Board.
• Collaborate with Directorate operational teams on plans.
• Support project and service redesign initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Masters level or equivalent experience

Management/Leadership qualification

Job description

Overview

Join us in a role that shapes the future of our services and delivers measurable impact for patients and teams. We are recruiting for the role of Operational Business and Performance Lead. This role is at the heart of driving operational excellence and transformation within the division. You will lead business and service planning, develop and manage robust business cases with clear financial insight, and identify opportunities for cost improvement and efficiency. Working closely with Directorates, you will oversee projects from planning to delivery, tackle risks and delays, and ensure measurable benefits are achieved through proactive change management. You will also support high-impact initiatives, including national submissions and clinical transformation programs, helping the division deliver innovative, sustainable, and high-quality services.

The role requires strong collaboration with a wide network of stakeholders, including the Trust Executive, Divisional Clinical Directors, Heads of Operations and Nursing, Heads of Transformation, Access, and Business Development, Matrons, Clinicians, Finance Managers, People Partners, and external partners. Success demands exceptional leadership, project management, and analytical skills, along with the ability to influence, challenge, and inspire teams.

About us: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey with all divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We may require working across multiple sites depending on service needs. UHN indicates our collaboration across sites and organisations.

Our Excellence Values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Courage. We aim to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help unlock everyone’s full potential. UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups and promotes an inclusive and collaborative environment. We recognise the contribution of the Armed Forces community and have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

Details Date posted: 30 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change. Band: Band 8a. Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year. Contract: Fixed term. Duration: 18 months. Working pattern: Full-time. Reference number: 264-7505674-SUR. Job locations: University Hospitals of Northamptonshire - Cross Site, Kettering / Northampton, NN16 8UZ.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly reports for the Divisional Board, providing updates on progress of business plan milestones and tracking identified business cases and those in the pipeline.
• Collaborate with Directorate operational teams to formulate operational plans aligned with divisional objectives, capacity planning models, and benchmarking data.
• Analyse complex information, interpret national policy, and support capacity and demand modelling to inform decision-making.
• Manage and deliver Cost Improvement Programmes (CIPs): project manage opportunities, track tasks and milestones, and close CIP gaps with Directorate input.
• Challenge staff at all levels to deliver actions, maintain focus on outcomes, and communicate complex information with internal and external stakeholders at senior levels.
• Collaborate with Finance to keep CIP trackers and pipelines up to date; conduct regular progress reviews with Directorate leads.
• Support project and service redesign across the division, including clinical transformation programmes and elective care recovery initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Masters level or equivalent level of experience, or senior level experience in a specialist area. Management/Leadership qualification or equivalent post-graduate experience.
• Experience: Proven experience in a management/leadership role; identifying and interpreting national policy and implementing required changes; leading and motivating a team; delivering service changes to improve performance; development and monitoring of business plans.
• Knowledge: Financial planning, management, monitoring, budget control and income; understanding NHS agenda and healthcare policy; understanding NHS data sets and their application.

Additional Information

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required. Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. Other guidance documents regarding criminal records checks for overseas applicants apply as part of the process.

Employer details

Employer: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address: University Hospitals of Northamptonshire - Cross Site, Kettering / Northampton, NN16 8UZ

Employer's website: https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/working-for-us