Operational Service Manager

Newcastle Hospitals as an organisation seeks to continuously improve our services, we have moved to a strengthened clinically led structure of Clinical Boards, bringing together a range of clinical directorates and specialties and focused on the needs of our patients and staff.

Each Service within the Clinical Board is managed by Operational Service Managers, which are key senior roles that will support in driving delivery and transformation to enable the Trust to remain a recognized centre of clinical, teaching and research excellence.

We are recruiting three Operational Service Managers across two clinical boards:

x 2 in Medicine and Emergency Care

x 1 in Peri Operative and Critical Care

Interview date: 29 October 2026

Main duties of the job

The appointed candidate will fulfil the role of Operational Service Manager, reporting into the Associate Director of Operations.

This will entail:

• Assume day to day responsibility for the operational management of all aspects within their specific portfolio
• Managing and controlling waiting lists, breach lists and ensuring adequate capacity within area(s) of responsibility to ensure patients are seen in a timely manner, as per the agreed constitutional and organisational wait targets
• Deal with queries and complaints including from patients who may be distressed and to respond in a timely manner
• Involvement in the investigation of incidents within area(s) of responsibility
• Ensuring a safe, respectful culture whereby all staff patients and visitors are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion

About us

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospital

o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

o Newcastle Dental Hospital

o Newcastle Fertility Centre

o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

o Northern Genetics Service

o Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Details

Date posted

21 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2026-38-33-DR

Job locations

Freeman Hospital, RVI Hospital

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7DN

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To assist the Clinical Board management team with the management of all aspects of their area(s) of responsibility and take the lead in specific delegated areas.
• Take the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets within area(s) of responsibility.
• Deputise for members of the Clinical Board management team (as appropriate) when required.
• Contribute to the day-to-day operational management of area(s) of responsibility.

The POCC Clinical Board is responsible for 74 Operating Theatres, 64 Adult Critical Care Beds, Anaesthetic Departments, Preassessment Services at RVI and Freeman, Chronic and Acute Pain Management, Home Ventilation Service, Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and Sterile Services Departments. Whilst the role is recruiting to a generic OSM job description and there is an expectation that, over time, the role post holder may be deployed in any speciality, the current vacant portfolio is within our theatre services. The successful candidate will lead and support multidisciplinary scrub, anaesthetic, and recovery teams working closely with the Matron and Clinical Head of Department to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of theatre activity driving theatre productivity and service improvement, and staff development.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job responsibilities

• To assist the Clinical Board management team with the management of all aspects of their area(s) of responsibility and take the lead in specific delegated areas.
• Take the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets within area(s) of responsibility.
• Deputise for members of the Clinical Board management team (as appropriate) when required.
• Contribute to the day-to-day operational management of area(s) of responsibility.

The POCC Clinical Board is responsible for 74 Operating Theatres, 64 Adult Critical Care Beds, Anaesthetic Departments, Preassessment Services at RVI and Freeman, Chronic and Acute Pain Management, Home Ventilation Service, Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and Sterile Services Departments. Whilst the role is recruiting to a generic OSM job description and there is an expectation that, over time, the role post holder may be deployed in any speciality, the current vacant portfolio is within our theatre services. The successful candidate will lead and support multidisciplinary scrub, anaesthetic, and recovery teams working closely with the Matron and Clinical Head of Department to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of theatre activity driving theatre productivity and service improvement, and staff development.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Degree level education or on established pathway supplemented by post graduate diploma level specialist training, management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Recognise leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of operational, people and financial management; service strategy; business planning; and performance management
• Demonstrate leadership ability at a senior level

Desirable

• Recent managerial experience in related speciality
• Project management experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Change management and practice development skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable negotiation skills
• Effective report writing skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Change management and practice development skills
• IT skills - significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite and other IT systems

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Degree level education or on established pathway supplemented by post graduate diploma level specialist training, management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Recognise leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of operational, people and financial management; service strategy; business planning; and performance management
• Demonstrate leadership ability at a senior level

Desirable

• Recent managerial experience in related speciality
• Project management experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Change management and practice development skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable negotiation skills
• Effective report writing skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Change management and practice development skills
• IT skills - significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite and other IT systems

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).

Additional information

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

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital, RVI Hospital

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7DN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital, RVI Hospital

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE7 7DN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

• To assist the Clinical Board management team with the management of all aspects of their area(s) of responsibility and take the lead in specific delegated areas.
• Take the lead in ensuring the delivery of agreed performance targets within area(s) of responsibility.
• Deputise for members of the Clinical Board management team (as appropriate) when required.
• Contribute to the day-to-day operational management of area(s) of responsibility.

The POCC Clinical Board is responsible for 74 Operating Theatres, 64 Adult Critical Care Beds, Anaesthetic Departments, Preassessment Services at RVI and Freeman, Chronic and Acute Pain Management, Home Ventilation Service, Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and Sterile Services Departments. Whilst the role is recruiting to a generic OSM job description and there is an expectation that, over time, the role post holder may be deployed in any speciality, the current vacant portfolio is within our theatre services. The successful candidate will lead and support multidisciplinary scrub, anaesthetic, and recovery teams working closely with the Matron and Clinical Head of Department to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of theatre activity driving theatre productivity and service improvement, and staff development.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Degree level education or on established pathway supplemented by post graduate diploma level specialist training, management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• Recognise leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of operational, people and financial management; service strategy; business planning; and performance management
• Demonstrate leadership ability at a senior level

Desirable

• Recent managerial experience in related speciality
• Project management experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Change management and practice development skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrable negotiation skills
• Effective report writing skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Change management and practice development skills
• IT skills - significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite and other IT systems