Service Manager

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare organization is seeking a General Service Manager for Head and Neck at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool. This permanent role requires a Master’s degree and recent operational management experience. You will drive improvements in service delivery, manage budgets, and lead teams to achieve clinical quality targets. Strong communication and analytical skills are essential. Competitive salary between £55,690 and £62,682 per annum.

Qualifications

• Recent experience in operational management with clinical quality responsibilities.
• Experience accountable for a clinical service is desirable.
• Knowledge of NHS governance and management systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering service strategy and managing programmes.
• Oversee performance and monitor patient-centred operational strategies.
• Provide operational delivery support and manage clinical service budgets.

Skills

Coaching

Strong communication skills

Problem solving

IT literacy

Education

Masters Degree or equivalent

Management qualification or equivalent

Job description

Overview

General Service Manager for Head and Neck. Band 8a. Permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week). Location: Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool. Salary: £55,690 - £62,682 per annum. Closing date: 20/10/2025 23:59.

Reporting to the Head of Operations, the post holder will be a member of the Care Group's Management Team and will support the delivery of speciality-specific strategic plans, contributing to the Division\'s overall strategies and objectives. The General Service Manager will drive improvements in operational performance and planning within the service and advise the Head of Operations, Clinical Director/Clinical Leads and Lead/Senior Nurse/AHP as necessary.

Main duties of the job

• Assist with the delivery of the service strategy and take operational responsibility for delegated programmes of work. This includes leading an administration team, overseeing one or several small budgets, and contributing to writing local policies.
• As a subject matter expert, analyse complex data/situations to proactively provide solutions to resolve operational issues in line with Care Group objectives, targets, quality standards and resource constraints.
• Oversee performance of teams, applying personal qualities and skills to deal competently with operational issues.
• Monitor patient-centred clinical operational strategies and ensure systems and processes are in place and adhered to.
• Lead and be accountable for the operational delivery of clinical services; plan and implement operational change and strategies within the service and provide support across the care group.
• Support the strategic direction and policy setting for the service within the Care Group leadership context, maintaining communication between the speciality/specialities and the Care Group leadership team.
• Maintain oversight of service budgets and manage financial requirements; manage workstreams to achieve QEP targets for the speciality/specialities.
• Line management responsibility for staff at Band 7 and below within the speciality area (administrative and clinical teams).

Working for our organisation

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. The Trust is part of the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed from LUHFT and Liverpool Women\'s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group serves over 600,000 people in Merseyside with general, emergency and highly specialised regional services. Aintree University Hospital is the regional site for adult major trauma and hosts regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital provides elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services and rehabilitation; Liverpool Women\'s Hospital is a major maternity facility; The Royal Liverpool University Hospital focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

Notes: Certain roles may be internal staff postings within the group; check eligibility in the application. Flexible working requests are welcomed and will be considered from day one where possible. This description includes safeguarding, DBS, and sponsorship notes as applicable to the role. New NHS entrants commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Masters Degree level or equivalent
• Desirable: Management qualification or equivalent

Experience

• Essential: Recent demonstrable experience of operational management with responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget understanding and delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
• Desirable: Experience accountable for a clinical service.

Knowledge

• Essential: Understanding and appreciation of diversity; awareness of NHS national and local change affecting services.
• Desirable: Knowledge of NHS Constitution, governance and management systems, and budgetary/ workforce information systems.

Skills

• Coaching, values-led leadership, and ability to engage and empower staff and stakeholders.
• Strong communication, mediation, negotiation, consultation, facilitation, presentation and training skills.
• Problem solving with a solution-focused approach; ability to analyse data and information and prepare responsive actions within tight timescales.
• Ability to support business planning for the speciality and coordinate activity plans to meet performance targets within financial controls.
• IT literate with proficiency in standard office software and bespoke systems; ability to manage multiple priorities in a demanding environment.
• Desirable: Competent project management skills; ability to operate in a political environment.

Additional information

Please check the email account you use for application correspondence (including junk/spam) for updates. This vacancy may close early if a high number of applications is received. The Trust is committed to equality, diversity and safeguarding, with guidance on DBS checks, safeguarding training, and flexible working arrangements where possible.

All applicants should note the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and Disclosure requirements; a disclosure check will be required for this post. Applicants requiring sponsorship should assess likelihood of sponsorship via gov.uk guidance.