Job overview
hours per week Fixed Term (until 30/04/27)
General Manager in Neurosciences - Stroke
The Neurosciences CSU (CSU 9) is looking to recruit a General Manager, for a 12 month fixed term, to support the Stroke directorate across the acute sites. The General Manager will support the Management team in providing professional management and leadership to the Directorate, working with the various teams to develop and implement strategic and operational plans aligned to the overall Clinical Service strategy.
Main duties of the job
The General Manager will support the Head of Operations in developing a culture of high performance, ownership and accountability. The post holder will manage the delivery of services in which safety, quality and excellence are the priorities. The post holder will work in line with not only national and locally agreed standards but also the higher standards of performance the Trust sets itself.
As part of the UHT horizonal integration, and wider national developments in stroke care, the Stroke directorate is embarking on significant changes to how care is delivered across the region. The General Manager is expected to act as a change agent, and be highly visible to frontline staff, demonstrating strong personal leadership and direction. Additionally, the post holder will be essential in supporting the building of an effective leadership and management team within the Directorate to ensure organisation sustainability.
This role of the General Manager forms part of the Directorate management team, working alongside the Clinical Director and matron for stroke. This role works with the Head of Operations in the development and delivery of underpinning Directorate annual operating plans, which should in turn integrate with the Clinical Service overall clinical and business development strategy and overarching Trust strategy.
Working for our organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to:
1. Explore leadership within the NHS
2. Promote Trust Values and Behaviours
3. Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills
4. Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role
After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bitesize programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. First degree or suitable equivalent experience.
6. Postgrad diploma in leadership qualification or equivalent experience
7. Project Management experience and/or qualifications
8. Masters qualification in relevant area
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Experience of successfully managing significant change/project management.
10. Experience and evidence of creative strategic thinking
11. Recent evidence and experience of positive leadership skills and the ability to transform and lead a team to work effectively together
12. Experience of translating strategic goals into effective operational plans and objectives
13. Substantial and relevant management experience, including line management in an operational role
14. Demonstrate achievements in managing and meeting targets through finance and commissioning frameworks
15. Demonstrable experience in management, including direct line management responsibility
16. Evidence of continuing professional development
17. Proven track record of achievement in: Achieving healthcare targets; Partnership working; Pro-active performance management; Delivering challenging objectives to a deadline
Desirable criteria
18. Experience in capacity and service planning within an acute health care setting
19. Experience of writing Service Level Agreements
20. Attendance at the leadership and development and improvement programme ( days)
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
21. Proven ability to be intellectually flexible and to be able to look beyond existing processes and ways of working to produce more effective service delivery
22. Evidence of a sound understanding in operational management, lean manufacturing, six sigma etc or comparable service improvement methodologies. A strong knowledge of change and project management processes
23. A sound understanding of the NHS current legislation and national strategy
24. Comprehensive knowledge of financial and commissioning framework and experience of workforce and capacity planning. Knowledge of budgetary planning and cost improvement planning processes.
25. Ability to establish credibility and develop and maintain effective working relationships at operational and senior management levels.
26. Ability to form and maintain successful working relationships with commissioners, service providers and third party suppliers
Desirable criteria
27. Experience of having used Centre patient administration system and SystemOne community booking & results software
28. Experience of using Choose & Book
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.
At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.
We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.
We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Supporting disabled people and people with longterm conditions
We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.
This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at or call us on 01642 854610
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.