Job overview
NHS England funds the Internal Medicine Strategic Network (IMSN). We are in the early stages of building a skilled, multidisciplinary team to lead transformation across specialised services. This is a formative phase that offers the opportunity to help shape how the Strategic Network operates and delivers impact across Cardiac, Renal, and Vascular Operational Delivery Networks.
This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and deliver high-impact transformation across specialised services. As an Operational Delivery Network (ODN) Manager, you will lead the strategic development care across Cardiac, Renal and Vascular services. We anticipate appointing more than one ODN Manager and actively encourage multiple applications from candidates with complementary strengths.
Main duties of the job
• Provide system-level leadership for ODN programmes, ensuring delivery against national specifications, quality metrics and agreed outcomes.
• Drive whole-pathway improvement through collaboration with clinicians, operational leaders, commissioners, analysts and patient representatives.
• Lead complex, multi-stakeholder programmes from initiation to benefits realisation; manage interdependencies, risks, issues and change control.
• Establish robust governance, reporting and performance frameworks, including benchmarking and audit across providers.
• Produce Board-level briefings, options appraisals and business cases; present highly complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Support capacity, activity and demand planning; manage delegated budgets and resources with a clear focus on value.
• Deputise for senior network leadership and represent the programme at regional and national forums as required.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria
Refer to the attached documentation to review the job description, responsibilities, and person specification.
Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can’t be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval, you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in a specialist area.
2. Healthcare-related management training or equivalent experience to senior manager level.
3. Leadership Training or qualification.
4. Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable criteria
5. Healthcare clinical background with current or previous professional registration with a relevant professional body.
6. Project or programme management qualification such as PRINCE 2 or MSP
7. NHS Leadership Academy graduate or equivalent programme qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
8. Experience in managing acute healthcare services in a service delivery or commissioning role.
9. Experience working within a managed clinical network service or in establishing clinical network arrangements.
10. Operational experience in managing groups of services at least to Band 8a or equivalent.
11. Experience in reporting to Clinical Directorate/ Divisional Board level or equivalent in a commissioning organisation.
12. Experience in leading successful service development projects.
13. Experience in working within a multi-professional health service environment.
14. Experience in managing and leading teams.
15. Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through a postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience or training, plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent.
16. Experience in managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, delivering on time and to budget.
17. Must understand the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
18. Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and individual providers, ICSs and commissioning organisations.
19. Evidence of planning and delivering programmes, projects, and services on time.
20. Previously responsible for a budget, involved in budget setting and working knowledge of financial processes.
21. Skilled in budgetary management and ensuring value for money.
Desirable criteria
22. Experience as a Care Group Manager/ equivalent or Commissioning Manager for acute provider specialised health services.
23. Experience working within or directly with responsibilities for a tertiary healthcare provider.
24. Experience as a responsible manager for completing external audit, review, or healthcare quality monitoring returns.
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
25. Demonstrates an adaptable approach to challenges and in reviewing priorities.
26. Ability to develop operational plans from strategic objectives and national standards.
27. Skilled in identifying relevant information from healthcare policy documents and ensures briefed on relevant health services guidance.
28. Able to swiftly respond to unexpected changes in strategic policy and review operational plans accordingly.
29. Demonstrable ability in the production of successful service proposals and Business Cases
30. Skilled in working across organisational boundaries.
31. Ability to develop Quality Improvement schemes and to develop metrics to support local/national commissioning policies.
32. Abilities for financial and staff management.
33. Ability to give direction and managerial support to the network Clinical Forum.
34. Excellent Project and Programme Management ability.
35. Skilled in leading, developing and managing people and effective teams.
36. Team working skills.
37. Ability to hold the confidence of senior managers and clinicians as a highly credible manager.
Desirable criteria
38. A good understanding of current NHS England Specialised Services policy for ODN and related services.
Behavioural Skills
Essential criteria
39. High verbal and written communication skills, routinely adapting communication style to the situation.
40. Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts.
41. Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others.
42. Skilled at communicating directly with Provider Trust Directors, including Medical Directors, Directors of Commissioning organisations and a range of senior medical and clinical staff.
43. Tactful and sensitive communicator.
44. Provides a positive role model to their peer group, team and network.
45. Demonstrates a commitment to innovation and engenders creativity in others.
46. Takes a consistent and thoughtful approach to tasks or instructions.
47. High degree of self-awareness and will review tactical approach to issues, seeking advice and support appropriately.
48. Ability to develop strong, effective partnerships and a collaborative culture.
49. Ability to remain calm under pressure and lead the ODN through changes to operational plans or in escalating situations.
Technical & Analytical Skills
Essential criteria
50. Excellent up-to-date IT skills, including the use of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Social Media for educational purposes and other web-based systems.
51. Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery.
52. Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and make appropriate inferences.
53. Ability to work in various locations.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
54. Evidence of having undertaken one's own development to improve understanding of equality issues.
55. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications