Service Manager Oncology

Transformation Unit; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Onsite fitness classes

Car schemes

Job summary

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 7 Oncology Service Manager to support the senior management team across the Business Unit and oversee administrative functions. The role involves line management, budget responsibility, and delivering key performance targets.

The post is offered as a fixed-term maternity cover/secondment, with closing date 27 October 2026 and interview on 10 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent knowledge gained through experience) with management experience, preferably in an operational environment.
• Eligibility to reside & work in the UK.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS policy and key changes in the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Line Management and Budget holder for the administrative function across the Business Unit.
• Co-ordinating the delivery of key performance management targets.
• Lead on specific areas of service development and transformation, supporting the General Manager, ensuring proposals and solutions concerning key national and local initiatives are taken forward.
• Plan and implement programmes of service improvement, taking the lead on projects as appropriate.
• Lead responsibility for the administration staff to ensure effective workforce utilisation across the Business Unit.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Service development

Change management

Staff development

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Tools

Excel

NHS systems

Job description

Main area Oncology Service Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover/Secondment) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 320-CDCS-4412

Employer University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Derby Hospital Town Derby Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 27/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 10/11/2026

Band 7

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

With over 14,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services. The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.

As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds. All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.

The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.

Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme

To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities. This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.

if you are blind or visually impaired and require application material in an alternative format- such as Braille, large print, audio or accessible electronic formats oryou require support/adjustments with your application please contact the recruitment team on 01332 788466

The Trust is proud to be a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant and is committed to supporting care-experienced people into employment.

Applicants who identify as a care leaver and who meet the essential criteria for the role, as detailed in the person specification, will be guaranteed an interview.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this within your application.

Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.

Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for;

Job overview

The Oncology Service Manager is a key member of the Business Unit and is responsible for supporting the senior management team over the range of their responsibilities as follows:

Line Management and Budget holder for the administrative function across the Business Unit

Co-ordinating the delivery of key performance management targets

Lead on specific areas of service development and transformation, supporting the General Manager (and wider team), ensuring proposals and solutions concerning key national and local initiatives are taken forward.

This position is offered as a secondment. Accordingly, you are required to consult with your manager and obtain approval prior to submitting your application.

Main duties of the job

Work closely with the Deputy General Manager and General Manager on issues of service planning, finance, information and Human Resources, deputising for them both at relevant meetings.

Ensure the effective delivery of services by providing leadership, support and guidance on operational issues relating to clinical and non-clinical staff. Support the organisation and, where appropriate, take the lead role in the management and delivery of key performance targets.

Plan and implement programmes of service improvement, taking the lead on projects as appropriate, that are consistent with the Business Unit’s service development plans and incorporate, where appropriate, patient input and feedback.

Lead responsibility for the administration staff to ensure effective workforce utilisation across the Business Unit, taking delegated responsibility for the management of Disciplinary, Grievance, Appraisal and Health & Attendance issues.

Working collaboratively with other managers across the Division and the Trust to ensure effective utilisation of administrative resources. Ensure that staff are appropriately trained and developed to carry out their roles.

Work closely with the senior management team on the financial issues of the service, identifying and, as appropriate, leading on maximising income generating opportunities.

Has delegated authority to approve financial expenditure.

Closing date of applications: 27 October 2026

Interview date: 10 November 2026

If you are considering applying for an internal secondment, please ensure you have discussed this with your line manager and obtained their support prior to submitting your application.

Working for our organisation

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Please note this position is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants must be able to demonstrate an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract without sponsorship from the Trust.

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

Person specification

Education and Training

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent knowledge gained through experience) with management experience, preferably in an operational environment.
• Eligibility to reside & work in the UK.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS policy and key changes in the NHS.

Expereince and Knowledge

• Excellent communications skills, written and oral
• Evidence of being a team-player with a clear ability to stand back and view the big picture when necessary.
• Ability to motivate staff to deliver challenging targets
• Ability to present complex data in a meaningful way to a range of professional groups.
• Excellent problem-solving skills using team when appropriate.
• Able to analyse, understand and present complex financial, activity and clinical data.
• Proven record of robust performance management with evidence of experience of working in an operational manager post
• Experience working in an acute hospital and/or cancer services.
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS policy and key changes in the NHS.
• Experience of undertaking strategic planning

Skills and Ability

• Experience within the Healthcare sector at senior manager level including operational responsibility for complex specialities and services.
• 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

Values and Behaviours

• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, nurses & other agencies.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish priorities and identify areas for concern.

Our Trust aims to provide the highest quality care to patients within Derbyshire and South East Staffordshire and we want the very best people to work with us.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

At UHDB , we offer different ways to work flexibly to each and every one of our colleagues, many of whom already work flexibly at all sites of the Trust.

For our roles we are open to discussing the possibility of part-time/ reduced hours/ compressed hours/ flexible start and finish times/ fixed/flexible shifts/annualised hours/ term time hours/ hybrid working – working partly in the trust/partly at home.

Why don’t you talk to us at interview about the flexibility you would like to explore and what it means to you, and we will discuss what’s possible for the job and team, and the opportunities we might be able to create together.

We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise to work with you to look at all the available options.

Most of our posts are subject to a DBS check, however having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from obtaining a position. Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent to you via our trac.system account. Please ensure that you regularly check your emails; this includes junk/spam, as your security settings may not recognise the sender.

Anyone from outside of the UK (excluding from the Republic of Ireland) will need permission from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to work in the UK and may also need entry clearance before travelling here.

UKVI is responsible for managing migration. To obtain a visa or entry clearance, you will need to meet certain requirements and demonstrate you have the right the work in the UK via:

• the points-based immigration system
• the EU settlement scheme
• eVisa

During the course of its employment activities, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust collects, stores and processes personal information about prospective, current and former staff.

Our Privacy Notice includes applicants, employees (and former employees), workers (including agency, casual, honorary and contracted staff), volunteers, trainees and those carrying out work experience – please refer to our Privacy Notice available on our Trust website: https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/information-governance

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

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.

Application numbers

If we receive a high number of applications for this position we reserve the right to withdraw the post before the closing date, therefore it is advisable that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please ensure that you had read the Job Description and Person Spec and that you meet the criteria before applying.

Name David Cousins Job title Deputy General Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07519329034 Additional information

In the first instance please email to organise a conversation

We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions about the role, team, or working environment, feel free to get in touch for an informal chat. Speaking with us before applying is completely optional, but it can help you decide if this opportunity is the right fit for you.