The closing date is 21 January 2026
Are you looking for the next opportunity in your leadership journey? This interim opportunity could give you exposure to working at Band 9 Deputy Director of Nursing in Children and Young People (CYP) and in Adult settings, alongside a Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery in the Specialist Hospitals Clinical Group (SHCG) at Manchester University Hospital Foundation Trust (MFT). The opportunity is initially interim with potential for a permanent opportunity as other interim posts are recruited to in the organisation.
Applicants who are working at Agenda for Change Band 8d and are ready to progress to Band 9 will be considered. This is a pivotal role within the SHCG structure, designed to strengthen strategic nursing and allied health professional (AHP), leadership, champion clinical quality and drive continuous improvement.
Main duties of the job
Provide professional and strategic leadership across a multi professional workforce.
Lead on quality compliance, safety and patient experience, embedding governance and assurance at all levels.
Support the 'One MFT' clinical leadership approach by working collaboratively with senior medical, operational and corporate colleagues.
Act as a key decision maker and trusted deputy to the Clinical Group Director of Nursing.
Champion innovation, research, workforce development, and digital transformation.
Who should apply
We are seeking experienced leaders currently working at Band 8d who:
* Have a proven track record of delivering high standards of governance, safety and service improvement.
* Demonstrate inclusive, compassionate leadership and an ability to inspire high performing teams.
* Are ready to contribute to system level priorities and shape the future of nursing and AHP leadership within a leading NHS organisation.
About us
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe. We are an ambitious organisation, serving over 1 million patients and users annually through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are a driving force for innovation, clinical excellence, and system leadership across Greater Manchester. As a senior leader at MFT, you will shape strategy and transformation at scale, working alongside a diverse, high-performing executive team. Our £3bn plus turnover and leading-edge digital infrastructure, including the Hive EPR, enable us to deliver integrated, patient-centred care and drive continuous improvement. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, values-led culture where your expertise, vision, and leadership will directly influence organisational direction and population health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to lead complex change, champion research and innovation, and develop future talent in a supportive, collaborative environment. Join us to make a lasting impact—on our Trust, our communities, and the future of healthcare.
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* First Level RN or AHP degree
* Current NMC or HCPC registration
* Educated to degree / masters level or equivalent training and experience
* Evidence of recent and relevant continuous professional development
* Formal management or leadership qualification
Knowledge
* A clear appreciation of the context of acute healthcare provision within the modern NHS and understanding of the NHS Operating Framework.
* A strong understanding of national NHS policy and strategy as it relates to nursing staff, AHPs and broader clinical workforce, as well as current professional challenges.
* Extensive knowledge of clinical governance systems and risk management.
* Understanding of regulation and preparedness.
* A strong understanding of how MFT fits into the wider health and social care system.
Training and Experience
* Extensive senior level nursing/AHP leadership and managerial experience within an acute NHS Trust (or comparatively large and complex multi-disciplinary organisation).
* Extensive senior level nursing/AHP experience as a clinical practitioner.
* Extensive experience of leading and directing change and quality improvement in clinical practice, with evidence of successful outcomes and improvements in patient experience.
* Experience of developing and implementing transformation programmes, including the management of service change, operational process improvement and cost reduction.
* A successful track record of developing an organisational culture committed to high quality, people, financial and performance standards.
* Demonstrable success in building, developing and inspiring high performing multi-disciplinary teams, increasing staff engagement and innovation, and motivation to improve performance.
* Evidence of communicating successfully and working effectively in co-operation with a wide range of internal and external bodies, including statutory and non‑statutory organisations, senior managers, colleagues and their representatives.
* Evidence of undertaking clinical audit and contributing to research programmes / studies and quality improvement.
* A successful track record of delivering a long‑term vision whilst responding to short‑term challenges and opportunities and defining clinical strategies in a senior level nursing role.
Skills and Abilities
* Outstanding personal impact. Highly developed interpersonal, networking, advocacy, written and presentation skills that are persuasive and influential and develop relationships that inspire respect, trust and confidence.
* Ability to lead and work in a multi‑disciplinary team, motivating others to secure continuous service improvement and successful outcomes.
* Highly developed analytical skills with the ability to think and act strategically, tactically and creatively, while maintaining a clear view of the issues affecting the Clinical Group and MFT.
* Ability to translate a strategic vision into operational action, to communicate those objectives and ensure they are adhered to.
* Ability to deal positively and promptly with colleagues’ concerns and personal problems, challenge colleagues on any inappropriate behaviours or poor performance and investigate and deal with complaints as required.
* Ability to encourage multi‑disciplinary professional working and problem solving.
* A high level of political awareness.
* A successful track record of delivering a long‑term vision whilst responding to short‑term challenges and opportunities and defining clinical strategies in a senior level nursing role.
Attributes
* Able to actively engage with front‑line staff in order to innovate clinical practice and improve both workforce and patient care experience.
* Able to manage different projects simultaneously with a high degree of autonomy in terms of decision‑making and management of deadlines.
* Able to adapt to changing priorities, problem solve and re‑focus the work of self and others on new priority areas that may require urgent action.
* Can constructively challenge and effectively manage conflict to reach a positive conclusion.
* High level of personal resilience and ability to work and remain calm in a high‑pressure and/or challenging environment.
* A commitment to personal development and the development of colleagues, with the ability to develop a culture in which all individuals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging.
* Passionate commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusivity, internally and externally.
* Willingness and ability to travel between MFT's sites as required.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
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