Job summary
- Main area
- General Surgery
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-SUR25-102A-B8A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Surgery Division Triumvirate (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Operational Manager
Band 8a
Job overview
Operational Manager
Department Musculoskeletal Clinical Support Unit
Band 8a £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
Hours 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you currently in an operational role and looking for your next challenge? Team Surgery are looking for a driven, self-motivated individual with aspirations of achieving Associate Director status within the next 3- 5 years
You will be joining a high achieving, fast paced team, with a can-do attitude. You, in conjunction with the Clinical Director will manage the Musculoskeletal Clinical Support Unit (CSU), consisting of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Pain Management and Rheumatology
You will be skilled with analytics along with delivering service developments to drive improvements in patient care and performance. Your interpersonal skills will need to be well developed, to ensure that collaborative and inclusive approaches are taken
You will be expected to engage with key stakeholders both at CSU level and across the wider Division to improve performance and service delivery. Whilst identifying cost improvement plans and other transformational projects that delivering quality improvements and saving benefits. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operational elements are managed and reported effectively
For more information please contact:
Claire McGillycuddy – Associate Director of Operations for Surgery & Elective Care , [email protected]
Main duties of the job
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
The division of surgery is looking to recruit a driven, self-motivated individual who has aspirations of achieving divisional general manager status within the next 3- 5 years. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in service development together with illustrating the ability to lead and manage a team to maximum productivity. This successful candidate will need to demonstrate a number of interpersonal skills alongside having experience within human resources, finance, and staff management whilst also being able to develop and maintain an environment of trust, diversity, and inclusion within the division.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall management of the MSK CSU at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The departments include Trauma & Orthopaedics, Pain Management & Rheumatology. The postholder will be required to lead, contribute and deliver on the development of clinical service interventions to achieve both Trust and national targets on a consistent basis. Furthermore, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the quality, performance, CIP and budgetary targets set out by the Trust. Candidates must hold a level 7 qualification (MSc, MBA, MA or equivalent) and have a minimum of 2-years’ experience within operational management.
Working for our organisation
Join #TeamSurgery at Milton Keynes University Hospital
The surgery division at MKUH, which covers specialties including theatres and the Intensive Care Unit, offers a variety of roles and opportunities, both clinical and non-clinical. The division are looking for passionate, enthusiastic and forward-thinking professionals to join the team.
MKUH is one of the leading hospitals in Europe for implementing robotics to assist in surgery, becoming the first in the continent to use the CMR Versius robot for gynaecological surgery. Since its introduction in 2019, the theatres team have completed over 500 surgical cases, the first hospital in the UK to reach this milestone, achieving this in March 2023.
As well as being an innovator in robotics, the Trust is proud to be part of the New Hospital Programme, with plans to expand and increase our surgical capacity to meet the health needs of our communities now and in the future.
With a leading benefits package, and a growing hospital estate to meet one of the fastest growing populations in the country, it is a great time to join MKUH.
Find out more about working in #TeamSurgery at MKUH from the people who work across the division in the video below.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Managing Services
• Ensures efficient and effective delivery of services for the achievement of quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness and improved clinical outcomes.
• Supports the implementation of the CSU risk management and clinical governance policies and systems effectively, ensuring a proactive approach to reducing clinical risk, whilst maximising clinical effectiveness within a safe and healthy environment.
Improving Services
• Ensuring patient safety through assessing and managing the risk to patients associated with service developments, balancing economic considerations with the need for patient safety.
• Critically evaluating through being able to think analytically, conceptually and to identify where services can be improved working individually or as part of a team.
Working with others
• In partnership with clinical colleagues, supports the delivery of commissioned levels of service within allocated resources, to meet activity targets and to develop action plans to manage any variances.
• Builds and maintains relationships through listening, supporting others, gaining trust and showing understanding.
Staff Management
• Manage timely and effective recruitment and retention of staff.
• Ensure appraisal is carried out for all staff and training needs are identified.
Business Planning and Management
• Lead on strategies / plans for the development of services as required in conjunction with the CSU Lead.
• Analysing and interpreting complex data in order to deliver well presented information.
Financial Budgetary Management
• Work within clinical coding to ensure targets for clinical coding are met to maximise income in line with payment by results [PBR] ensuring clinicians are engaged in the process.
• Regular review and monitoring of budgets and investigating variances with a view to identify mitigating actions.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Master’s degree or management knowledge acquired through training and experience equivalent to masters level
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Project management qualification e.g. PRINCE II
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant specialist experience in an operational management post in the NHS.
- Proven track record of meeting national targets.
- Knowledge and understanding of the duties imposed on the Trust by legislation, NHS policy and priorities and the requirement of corporate governance.
- A clear understanding of the modernisation agenda, the opportunities for redesigning services and the tools and techniques for achieving service change.
- Proven success in managing operational change, whilst maintaining high standards of quality.
- Significant experience of managing staff Demonstrate evidence of sound financial/staff management
- NHS experience in a senior manager role with significant experience of dealing with complex issues
- Demonstrable experience of successfully managing projects Project management
- Proven success in business planning and in the development and implementation of complex strategic plans
Skills
Essential criteria
- A proven ability to obtain and consistently achieve results and targets.
- Proven ability to deal with wide range of data and information and take appropriate decisions from it
- A proven ability to come up with flexible and creative solutions to difficult problems.
- Excellent collaborative working skills and able to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and professional staff groups
- Proven ability to influence and change those groups
- Proven ability of leading change through people
- Excellent communication an interpersonal skills – ability to negotiate, influence in difficult and contentious situations
- A strong commitment to openness, honesty and inclusiveness.
- Working knowledge of MS Office for typing, amending and proof reading documents.
- Self-management/Personal integrity
- Ability to analyse complex problems and develop practical solutions
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Ability to challenge and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders
Personal & People Development
Essential criteria
- Self-confident and uses this to lead, involve and challenge others as appropriate.
- Makes sustained effort in making a difference to how services are planned and delivered, overcoming obstacles and set backs.
- Displays a strong motivation and commitment to success.
- Ensures personal, professional behaviour and integrity at all times
- Delegates appropriately setting clear and achievable targets and monitoring against required outcomes
- Develops constructive relationships and networks within the organisation and outside.
- Ensures that the success of individuals and teams is recognised and valued.
- Able to use a range of management styles as appropriate.
- Experience of managing and developing others
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Communication
Essential criteria
- Promotes the building of effective teams and collaboration between teams.
- Builds and maintains sound relationships within teams and with colleagues in other areas including corporate departments.
- Supports teams to continually review services and seek improvements
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
- Service and Project Management
- Service and Quality Improvement
- Equality and Diversity
Desirable criteria
- Financial Management
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Claire Mcgillycuddy
- Job title
- Associate Director of Operations for Surgery
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Interview w/c 01 September 2025
List jobs with Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors