Assistant General Manager - Dental Services

Assistant General Manager (Band 8A)

Division of Surgery | Bristol Foundation Trust

Are you an ambitious operational leader looking for your next challenge in one of the NHS's most dynamic surgical divisions?

We are seeking an exceptional Assistant General Manager to join our Division of Surgery, supporting a diverse portfolio of services and working alongside Specialty Leads, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver outstanding patient care, operational performance and service transformation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager to join Bristol Dental Hospital on a 12-month secondment. You will play a pivotal role in achieving access, quality, workforce and financial objectives while supporting innovation and continuous improvement across your specialties.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Do

• Provide visible operational leadership across your portfolio of services.
• Lead performance, access, capacity and workforce planning.
• Work closely with clinicians and senior nursing colleagues to deliver high-quality, compassionate care.
• Drive service improvement, transformation and modernisation initiatives.
• Manage budgets and deliver financial recovery and efficiency programmes.
• Build strong relationships with commissioners, partner organisations and stakeholders across the healthcare system.
• Lead complex projects including service developments, transfers and capital schemes where required.

What We're Looking For

You will be an experienced healthcare manager with:

• Degree-level education and postgraduate management qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Significant operational management experience within healthcare or complex public services.
• Strong leadership, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Experience of performance management, service improvement, workforce planning and budget management.
• The ability to work confidently in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple priorities and delivering results through others.

About us

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Details

Date posted

12 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

pro rota

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time,

Part-time

Reference number

387-S1122-MF

Job locations

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS12LY

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership and support for all staff in allocated portfolio of specialties Ensure the highest possible quality of patient care (clinical and non-clinical) through the development of effective teamwork and in particular through the empowerment of the Lead Clinicians, Heads of service and Senior Nurses (Matrons) and specialist nurses. Maintain and develop communication networks with key stakeholders, linking across Trusts/ICBs and all other agencies. Lead job planning within area of responsibility. Maintain clear strategic direction for each clinical service that is both owned by all staff groups and consistent with the overall aims of the Division and Trust. Work with commissioners to plan, develop and provide joint services with multi-agencies to maximise service effectiveness and efficiency. Participate in service development and the creation of robust service level agreements as part of the commissioning process. Contribute to the Divisional Clinical Governance agenda and ensure that robust arrangements are maintained. Focus on addressing key workforce issues, including recruitment and retention, training and development and flexible working. This will involve workforce planning and role redesign to incorporate common core competencies and skills to meet changing multi-agency service delivery models. Ensure patient and user involvement in the evaluation and redesign of services Ensure that appropriate systems are in place to closely monitor and deliver relevant performance targets. Exert tight financial control over the budget using effective delegation of responsibility to ward/department budget holders and the engagement of clinicians in financial issues. Deliver significant financial turnaround for areas of responsibility. Deliver designated Division wide savings project/s. Provide clear direction on modernisation and improvement of patient services. Investigate and respond to comments/complaints in line with Trust policy and take appropriate action to address any issues arising.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership and support for all staff in allocated portfolio of specialties Ensure the highest possible quality of patient care (clinical and non-clinical) through the development of effective teamwork and in particular through the empowerment of the Lead Clinicians, Heads of service and Senior Nurses (Matrons) and specialist nurses. Maintain and develop communication networks with key stakeholders, linking across Trusts/ICBs and all other agencies. Lead job planning within area of responsibility. Maintain clear strategic direction for each clinical service that is both owned by all staff groups and consistent with the overall aims of the Division and Trust. Work with commissioners to plan, develop and provide joint services with multi-agencies to maximise service effectiveness and efficiency. Participate in service development and the creation of robust service level agreements as part of the commissioning process. Contribute to the Divisional Clinical Governance agenda and ensure that robust arrangements are maintained. Focus on addressing key workforce issues, including recruitment and retention, training and development and flexible working. This will involve workforce planning and role redesign to incorporate common core competencies and skills to meet changing multi-agency service delivery models. Ensure patient and user involvement in the evaluation and redesign of services Ensure that appropriate systems are in place to closely monitor and deliver relevant performance targets. Exert tight financial control over the budget using effective delegation of responsibility to ward/department budget holders and the engagement of clinicians in financial issues. Deliver significant financial turnaround for areas of responsibility. Deliver designated Division wide savings project/s. Provide clear direction on modernisation and improvement of patient services. Investigate and respond to comments/complaints in line with Trust policy and take appropriate action to address any issues arising.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in managing clinical services
• Evidence of management training

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification, preferably in healthcare management

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Relevant managerial experience
• Operational and strategic planning and management
• Performance management of key access targets
• Management of budgets
• Experience of managing waiting lists, capacity planning and service improvement methodologies

Desirable

• Management of change, with an interest in culture change D

Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Political acumen
• Credible with staff at all levels
• Ability to work well as part of a team (s)
• Flexibility
• Work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Effective communication at all levels
• Leadership skills
• Influencing and negotiating in multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to quickly establish credibility with senior staff and maintain good working relationships
• Empowering others
• Computer literacy

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in managing clinical services
• Evidence of management training

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification, preferably in healthcare management

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Relevant managerial experience
• Operational and strategic planning and management
• Performance management of key access targets
• Management of budgets
• Experience of managing waiting lists, capacity planning and service improvement methodologies

Desirable

• Management of change, with an interest in culture change D

Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Political acumen
• Credible with staff at all levels
• Ability to work well as part of a team (s)
• Flexibility
• Work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Effective communication at all levels
• Leadership skills
• Influencing and negotiating in multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to quickly establish credibility with senior staff and maintain good working relationships
• Empowering others
• Computer literacy

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

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS12LY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bristol Dental Hospital

Lower Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS12LY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities Provide leadership and support for all staff in allocated portfolio of specialties Ensure the highest possible quality of patient care (clinical and non-clinical) through the development of effective teamwork and in particular through the empowerment of the Lead Clinicians, Heads of service and Senior Nurses (Matrons) and specialist nurses. Maintain and develop communication networks with key stakeholders, linking across Trusts/ICBs and all other agencies. Lead job planning within area of responsibility. Maintain clear strategic direction for each clinical service that is both owned by all staff groups and consistent with the overall aims of the Division and Trust. Work with commissioners to plan, develop and provide joint services with multi-agencies to maximise service effectiveness and efficiency. Participate in service development and the creation of robust service level agreements as part of the commissioning process. Contribute to the Divisional Clinical Governance agenda and ensure that robust arrangements are maintained. Focus on addressing key workforce issues, including recruitment and retention, training and development and flexible working. This will involve workforce planning and role redesign to incorporate common core competencies and skills to meet changing multi-agency service delivery models. Ensure patient and user involvement in the evaluation and redesign of services Ensure that appropriate systems are in place to closely monitor and deliver relevant performance targets. Exert tight financial control over the budget using effective delegation of responsibility to ward/department budget holders and the engagement of clinicians in financial issues. Deliver significant financial turnaround for areas of responsibility. Deliver designated Division wide savings project/s. Provide clear direction on modernisation and improvement of patient services. Investigate and respond to comments/complaints in line with Trust policy and take appropriate action to address any issues arising.

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in managing clinical services
• Evidence of management training

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification, preferably in healthcare management

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Relevant managerial experience
• Operational and strategic planning and management
• Performance management of key access targets
• Management of budgets
• Experience of managing waiting lists, capacity planning and service improvement methodologies

Desirable

• Management of change, with an interest in culture change D

Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Political acumen
• Credible with staff at all levels
• Ability to work well as part of a team (s)
• Flexibility
• Work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Effective communication at all levels
• Leadership skills
• Influencing and negotiating in multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to quickly establish credibility with senior staff and maintain good working relationships
• Empowering others
• Computer literacy