Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to join our Women's & Sexual Health Services team as a Deputy General Manager.
This is a key senior operational leadership role, supporting the General Manager in delivering high-quality, safe, and effective services across a large and complex group of clinical service lines. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering service strategy, driving performance, and ensuring excellent patient and staff experience.
Working in close partnership with clinical leaders, you will lead service transformation, support delivery of corporate objectives, and ensure robust operational and financial management across the service lines. This role is based across three sites including Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedford Hospital, and Arndale House .
About You
You will be an experienced operational leader with:
- Proven experience at a senior management level within the NHS or a complex healthcare setting
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with clinical teams
- Demonstrable experience of delivering performance, financial and service improvements
- Sound knowledge of governance, risk management and NHS regulatory frameworks
- A collaborative, resilient and values-driven approach to leadership
Main duties of the job
The Deputy General Manager will work with senior clinical leaders to set clear goals for staff and ensure high-quality clinical care. They will be accountable for delivering delegated financial targets, maintaining strong financial controls, and driving continuous improvement.
The role includes managing human and financial resources, governance, and business planning. The post holder will support the GM in developing quality objectives and business targets for clinical service lines and will lead delivery of agreed priorities.
They will ensure the safe, efficient daily running of services, promoting positive staff and patient experience. The role requires maintaining business continuity and resilient service delivery through robust operational and capacity planning.
The post holder will work collaboratively across the organisation to support Trust objectives and transformation programmes, ensuring services work together to meet standards for quality, safety, performance, access, finance, and workforce.
They will lead by example, acting as an ambassador for the Trust and upholding its values with professionalism and compassion.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities Leadership & Operational Management
Provide visible, inclusive leadership and deputise for the General Manager when required
Work collaboratively with Clinical Leads, Heads of Midwifery and Matrons to deliver service objectives
Lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams to achieve performance, quality and access targets
Drive continuous improvement and support delivery of transformation programmes
Service Delivery & Improvement
Ensure safe, efficient day-to-day running of services, maximising capacity and productivity
Champion service modernisation and implement best practice pathways]
Lead service developments aligned with national standards (e.g. NICE, national frameworks)
Financial & Performance Management
Deliver financial targets and support development of robust business plans
Lead on performance management across key access, quality and operational standards (including RTT, cancer and diagnostics)
Work with finance teams to manage budgets, CIPs and productivity programmes
Governance & Risk
Ensure effective governance arrangements, risk management and regulatory compliance
Lead a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement across services
Workforce & Culture
Provide line management and support delivery of workforce strategies
Promote staff engagement, development, and an inclusive working environment
Ensure compliance with appraisal, training and performance frameworks
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent level of experience
- Specialist training to masters level or equivalent experience
- Formal management or business qualification or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification
Experience
Essential
- Budget management skills (1) Managing a diverse team (1)
- Negotiation and influencing skills at a senior management level (1)Evidence of delivering and implementing strategic plans (1)
- Presenting complex plans at Board level (1) Experience of project management roles (1)
Desirable
- NHS experience at a management level (1)
Knowledge / Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent organisational skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in complex settings
- Highly credible with senior clinicians and Executive Directors
- Confident and proactive style
- Ability to lead a number of projects and deliver to agreed timescales
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Lewsey Road
Luton
LU4 0DZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)
This listing was aggregated from publicly-available sources. The employer holds an A-rated sponsor licence at the time of this listing, but sponsorship of this specific role is not guaranteed — the employer's offer and UK Visas and Immigration are the final authority. Details may have changed since our last update — verify with the employer via the Apply link.