Service Administrator

Royal Devon; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Staff discounts

Salary sacrifice options

Car lease schemes

Flexible working

Job summary

Royal Devon is seeking an enthusiastic Service Administrator to join our busy Ophthalmology Department. The role requires strong organisation, excellent communication and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

You will provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to consultants and nursing teams, manage patient attendance, and ensure timely responses to enquiries in line with NHS targets and Trust standards. 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Previous administration experience, preferably in secretarial or healthcare setting.
• Highly organized with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to prioritise and manage workload under pressure in a busy environment.
• Positive, flexible and proactive approach to delivering high-quality admin support.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to patients, colleagues, and teams.
• Coordinate and organise patient attendance for surgeries and appointments.
• Manage administrative processes and patient inquiries to timescales.
• Deliver secretarial and admin service to consultants and nursing teams.
• Produce accurate, high-quality documentation with proofreading.
• Monitor waiting lists and ensure NHS targets compliance.
• Manage telephone, email and written correspondence professionally.
• Support service continuity with colleagues and cover during leave.
• Adhere to governance, compliance and mandatory training.

Skills

Customer service

Secretarial skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Proofreading

Governance

Job description

• Providing excellent customer service to patients, colleagues, and multidisciplinary teams in line with Trust values and standards.
• Coordinating and organising patient attendance for surgeries, pre-ops and outpatient appointments.
• Ensuring all administrative processes and patient enquiries are managed efficiently and within required timescales.
• Delivering a comprehensive secretarial and administrative service to Consultants, nursing teams, and the wider team.
• Producing accurate, professional documentation to a high standard with strong attention to detail and proofreading skills.
• Monitoring patients waiting lists (outpatient and surgical) and ensuring compliance with NHS targets and Trust standards.
• Managing telephone, email, and written correspondence professionally and effectively.
• Supporting service continuity by working collaboratively with colleagues and ensuring adequate cover during periods of leave.
• Adhering to governance, compliance, and mandatory training requirements in line with Trust policies.

About the Role

More detail about the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and dedicated Service Administrator to join our busy Ophthalmology Department.

The successful candidate will be highly organised and motivated, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You will be able to prioritise and manage your workload effectively, work calmly under pressure, and thrive in a busy and varied working environment. A positive, flexible and proactive approach is essential, along with a commitment to providing a high-quality administrative service to patients and colleagues.

The post holder will ideally have previous administrative experience, preferably within a secretarial or healthcare setting. However, we also welcome applications from candidates with experience in other sectors who can demonstrate relevant and transferable skills.

This is a challenging yet rewarding role, offering the opportunity to become an integral part of a dedicated Ophthalmology team. If you feel you have the skills, enthusiasm and commitment to meet the demands of the role, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Visits to the department are warmly welcomed and encouraged. If you would like to arrange a visit or find out more about the role, please contact the Team Leader using the details provided below.

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00 - 37.5 hours

This is a fixed term contract for 12 months. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation TrustandNorthern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

About Us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more

It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.

• Salary Band 3: £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata
• Frequency Annual
• Vacancy Reference 185-122514-14331
• Contract Type Fixed Term
• Closing Date 8 October, 2026
• Job Category Administration