Employer Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Wythenshawe Hospital Town Manchester Salary £91,342 - £105,337 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 17/12/2025 23:59
Associate Director of Performance and Operations
Band 8d
Job overview
The Associate Director of Operations will support the Clinical Head of Division, and the Clinical GroupsManagement Team to lead on matters relating to the operational delivery of the Hospital’s clinical and
support services. Working within the Divisional triumvirate, they will advise on all operational matters to drive through the delivery of ambitious targets to continually improve performance within the Clinical Group. Working with the Clinical Head of Division, they will contribute to the development of the Clinical Group strategy and delivery of objectives.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring effective systems, processes and performance management arrangements are in place to deliver high standards of performance and quality of patient
services. This includes supporting both the Clinical Leaders and the Operational Managers to hold service lines to account, ensuring there is effective managerial support at all levels of the Clinical Group and
coordinating the effective day to day functioning of the Clinical Group. Driving service development, modernisation and innovation across the Clinical Group, promoting a culture of continuous service
improvement is key to the success. They will provide strong visible leadership within the Clinical Group in support of the Clinical Head of Division.
Working for our organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is a leading, integrated healthcare provider, the largest of its kind in specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, serving over 1 million people per year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are at the forefront of system leadership, innovation, and transformation across Greater Manchester.
As a senior manager, you will play a critical role in shaping and delivering our strategic objectives. You will lead complex programmes, drive operational excellence, and influence Trust-wide transformation, working collaboratively with or through Executive and Clinical Leaders to deliver sustainable improvements for our patients, staff, and communities.
MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, vision, and expertise are valued.
You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, develop future talent, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and a commitment to professional development.
Join us to make a lasting impact—help shape the future of our Trust, drive innovation, and deliver outstanding care for the people of Manchester, Trafford and beyond.
Detailed job description and main 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 ‘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.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
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
* Education to a minimum of master’s degree level or equivalent post graduate qualification or equivalent senior level experience
* Evidence of a demonstrable commitment to Continual Professional Development
* Evidence of Management and Leadership Development geared towards very senior posts
Skills and Experience
* Proven experience of working and contributing at a very senior level in a similarly complex organisation or system
* A proven ability to deliver consistently to NHS standards of operational performance
* A commitment to system excellence as well as organisational excellence
* Experience of operational and capacity planning to meet organisational performance targets
* Experience of establishing and applying robust performance management systems and accountability frameworks
* Evidence of setting ambitious attainable targets and of leading an implementing innovative solution, and complex change and modernisation programmes designed to improve quality and services within tight financial constraints
* Having the ability to understand the longer term or widespread implications of decisions.
* Outstanding reputation and demonstrable successes at director/very senior level, with a proven track record of producing high quality results in the management and leadership of operations in a large organisation, preferably within the NHS
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
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