Care Group Operational Manager
The closing date is 29 April 2026
Following the Trust’s organisational redesign programme we have an exciting opportunity for the recruitment of a number of substantive 8b posts across our two newly formed divisions. We are looking for inspirational, driven and motivated leaders. You will be part of the Directorate’s Leadership team, working in a busy and fast paced environment and assisting with the leadership, performance and strategic direction.
The role will support the Trust’s commitment to delivering high quality, safe and effective care and will have a bespoke portfolio of services that will be led by the Triumvirate for each care group.
If you feel you have the qualities required for this high profile post and would like the opportunity to work within a Division that will help to secure the future success of the Trust, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Candidates must be able to participate in the Trust senior manager on call (SMOC) as required through the Trust on call rota.
* Ageing and Complex Medicine
* Surgical Specialities
* Speciality Medicine 2
* Emergency Care
Please see additional documents for the details of the portfolios.
Main duties of the job
This operational role supports the Deputy Divisional Director of Operations who in turn supports the Divisional Director in the management and leadership of the Division. They are responsible for delivering day-to-day operational performance across the care group ensuring compliance with divisional and Trust-wide targets, and supporting workforce and financial objectives. The Care Group Operational Manager will deputise for the Deputy Divisional Director when required and works closely with the care group operational and clinical teams, including Clinical Directors and senior nursing staff, to ensure high-quality and efficient patient care.
Job responsibilities
* Planning and Organisational Duties: Ensure the efficiency and performance of the Division in relation to the management of contractual and performance targets, including the delivery of key operational performance targets.
* Manage the Care Group effectively through active involvement of clinical staff on a daily basis.
* Prioritise patient experience, fostering a culture where all patients are treated with dignity and respect and ensuring the services are modern and responsive to individual patient needs.
* Develop and implement Care Group policies, procedures and standards to facilitate the best possible care within available resources.
* Implement quality standards, monitor performance, quality assurance and audit procedures, and manage complaints procedures.
* Collaborate with clinical leaders to ensure implementation of Trust policies and that staff are aware of their responsibilities and have appropriate training, including health and safety, risk management, and assurance framework compliance.
* Develop strategies to ensure a robust activity and income model is in place across the Care Group.
* Maintain effective communication channels within and across Care Groups and foster working relationships with relevant colleagues in other organisations.
* Manage specific projects as agreed with the Divisional Director of Performance, ensuring transparent decision-making processes related to funding provision and financial probity.
* Supervise accurate booking and recording of all activity across the Care Group.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree or equivalent qualification
* Evidence of further study in leadership, project management, or related areas
Experience
* Demonstrable experience of operational management including responsibility for service development
* Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and achieving key service improvement outcomes in a challenging environment
* Experience in performance management of a service with delivery of associated outcome improvements
* Experience producing business cases
* Experience in budgetary management
* Experience managing change within a health care environment
Skills
* Excellent communication skills, able to lead discussion and negotiation with staff at all levels and across multiple disciplines
* Ability to interpret and communicate highly complex issues from multiple sources both orally and in writing with authority and credibility to key stakeholders
* Ability to prioritise and meet pressing deadlines
* Ability to make difficult decisions and communicate them to key stakeholders, ensuring maximum buy‑in to support objective delivery
* Data manipulation and analysis skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate, influence and persuade staff and clinicians, including those for whom the role holder does not have direct line management responsibility
* Political awareness and understanding of local and national agendas
Knowledge
* Knowledge of current health policy
* Good IT skills with evidence of ability to access and use complex health‑related data
* Proficient in MS Office – Excel, Access, Word & PowerPoint
* Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues
Additional
* Holds a current valid driving licence or can demonstrate the ability to travel as required using own or public transport in the most effective manner
* Speak English to an appropriate standard, with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
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.
Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£66,582 to £77,368 a year, pro rata
#J-18808-Ljbffr