Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are seeking an experienced and driven General Manager to provide strong leadership and operational oversight for key specialty areas within the Division. Reporting to the Deputy Head of Operations, you will be responsible for strategic planning, service delivery, financial performance, workforce leadership, and continuous improvement across your designated services.
As a senior member of the Directorate Management Team, you will work closely with clinical and corporate colleagues to ensure the highest standards of patient care, safety, and performance. You will also contribute to cross-organisational and system-wide transformation initiatives.
Main Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
* Lead the operational and strategic development of designated specialties within the Division.
* Develop and deliver business plans aligned to Trust priorities and the Integrated Business Plan.
* Promote innovation and share best practices to improve service effectiveness and quality.
* Ensure Trust policies and service improvement initiatives are successfully implemented at directorate level.
Service Delivery & Transformation
* Oversee high-quality, patient-centred services that are safe, efficient, and evidence-based.
* Lead on service redesign and improvement programmes to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce waiting times, and increase operational efficiency.
* Interpret national and local guidance to anticipate service demands and develop strategic responses.
Performance & Financial Management
* Ensure services meet national standards, KPIs, and constitutional targets.
* Implement systems to monitor performance and develop solutions for underperformance.
* Manage budgets for specific service areas, support delivery of CIPs, and contribute to divisional financial planning.
Governance & Risk
* Embed a strong culture of clinical governance, patient safety, and risk management.
* Ensure services meet CQC and licensing standards and maintain robust systems to handle complaints and incidents.
* Support the development and implementation of the Division's annual governance plan.
Workforce & Staff Development
* Lead on workforce planning to ensure the right staffing, skills, and training are in place.
* Support managers in delivering effective HR practices including appraisals, sickness absence, and staff engagement.
* Promote a culture of accountability, development, and continuous improvement.
Research, Education & Teaching
* Promote research, audit, and clinical education within service areas in alignment with Trust strategies.
* Ensure compliance with mandatory training and promote lifelong learning across teams.
Communication & Partnership Working
* Maintain effective two-way communication within services and with key stakeholders internally and externally (e.g., ICBs, local authorities, universities).
* Foster collaborative working relationships with clinical leaders, service users, and partner organisations.
Additional Responsibilities
* Participate in the Trust's senior management on-call rota.
* Travel between hospital sites (e.g., Kettering and Northampton) as required.
Person specification
Education, Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Educated to Masters degree level or equivalent experience
* Extensive up to date knowledge of the NHS
* Evidence of CPD
Desirable criteria
* Evidence of other specialist knowledge at higher degree or masters level
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience within the Healthcare sector at senior manager level including operational responsibility for a directorate level service
* 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
* Well-developed IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working in an Acute Teaching hospital
Skills
Essential criteria
* Excellent communications skills, written and oral
* Evidence of being a team-player but able to stand back when necessary
* Ability to motivate staff tAbility to interpret, analyse and present highly complex data/information at Directorate Levelo deliver challenging targets
* Proven influencing skills
* Ability to manage conflict
* Logical thinker with evidence of implementation of ideas and solutions
* Excellent problem solving skills using team when appropriate
* Business focused
* Sensitive to clinical and political demands
* Ability to cut through barriers to change
* Demonstrable organisational skills
* Ability to concentrate frequently whilst dealing with interruptions and moving quickly from one priority to another
* Proven record of robust performance management
* Standard keyboard skills
* Interpret highly complex information concerned with professional, operational and clinical activities to inform decisions and make judgments on recommendations relating to future actions
* Establish appropriate working relationships with colleagues in other directorates with whom their service interacts and with external bodies, such as Service managers and General Managers within other specialties, General Practitioners and/or Primary Care Trusts for the fulfilment of particular service issues.
Important Information
Applications will be transferred to TRAC system, by completing an application your are giving authorisation for the transfer of your data.
Correspondence regarding your application will be sent to you via a TRAC system account.
We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.
We welcome applications from members of our black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, especially in relation to senior posts within at KGH.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.
Appointments will be made on merit.
In submitting an application form, you authorise Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process. Including factual reference, occupational health clearance and statutory and mandatory training record.
If you need to have a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, as a requirement of the role, you will be required to repay the cost of obtaining a DBS check (£49.50) and this amount will be reclaimed from your first salary. From 1st February 2019 all new starters to the Trust are required to join the DBS update service as per Trust DBS Re-checking Policy which has an annual cost of £16. New employees who do not join the update service will be required to pay £49.50 for a new DBS check in 3 years time.
Please note that news starters with KGH are subject to a six month probationary period.
Please ensure that the information you provide on your application form is correct, accurate and that nothing has been omitted. Any information that is stated in your application form in relation to qualifications/training courses/work/education experience/references must be able to be evidenced. Failure to do so may result if your offer being withdrawn.
"Safeguarding is everyone's business. KGH considers Safeguarding a priority amongst its citizen's and a key value for all employed to the service."
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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
This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.
Documents to download
* General Manager JD and PS (PDF, 401.2KB)
* Staff Privacy Notice (PDF, 300.3KB)
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