Job summary
- Main area
- Operating Department
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 309-UCLH-6219-A
- Employer
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street (formerly the Heart Hospital)
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £61,927 - £68,676 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Service Manager
NHS AfC: Band 8a
The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Surgical Specialties Division at University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, for a Theatre Service Manager covering the Westmoreland Street site.
We are looking for a dynamic leader, who is passionate about quality, patient-centred care, and our people. You will work closely with the wider theatres and WMS team to support the operational running of the department while also driving improvement across the clinical services.
Main duties of the job
The WMS Theatre Service Manager is an exciting role, providing key operational leadership across 7 operating theatres. The role is pivotal to the successful running of operating theatres at Westmoreland Street and works closely with the WMS Theatre Senior Nurse, as well as managing the Admin Team Leader for theatres.
This is a dynamic leadership role focused on optimising theatre productivity, ensuring financial efficiency, and delivering effective procurement processes at Westmoreland Street Theatres. The successful candidate will work in close partnership with clinical and operational teams to improve utilisation, reduce waste, and deliver high-quality patient care in a complex surgical environment. They will lead on performance monitoring of theatre productivity metrics, from list utilisation and cancellation rates to start/finish times, using validated data to drive improvement projects.
This post holder will also have key responsibility for theatre financial management, delivering cost improvement plans (CIPs), supporting capital business cases, and overseeing procurement to secure value for money. Along with the Senior Nurse, they will act as the operational lead for estates and equipment within theatres, liaise with external providers, and ensure that resources are aligned with service needs.
We are seeking a proactive and analytical individual with a passion for operational excellence and a collaborative approach to leadership.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
-
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
-
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
-
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
-
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
-
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
-
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
-
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
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University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.
Person specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree and/or an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent.
- A clear understanding of the components of Clinical Governance and how these contribute to an integrated and quality driven service
Desirable criteria
- A formal post graduate qualification, ideally in management or equivalent senior level experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven experience in effective management of budget and effective leadership of staff
- A proven record of success in managing change while also developing and maintaining high standards of quality
- Proven experience in service improvement & development
- Significant operational management experience in a hospital / complex organisation
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working within a theatre setting
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Quality focussed with an innovative approach and the ability to solve complex problems
- Able to communicate with staff at all levels and a facilitative and inclusive approach to management.
- Strong analytical and data-evaluation skills, with the ability to solve complex problems
- Ability to stay calm under pressure and make rational decisions, motivate influence and negotiate change, act as a role model, and be determined to achieve the best possible outcome
Communication
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to liaise, negotiate and influence effectively at Divisional management and all senior levels
- Proven ability to present ideas clearly and succinctly – both verbally (including presentations) and in writing.
Personal & People Development
Essential criteria
- Ability to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands
- An understanding and experience of staff and organisational development
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates a good understanding of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and Trust and Division responsibilities
- Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality
Information processing (IT skills)
Essential criteria
- Excellent IT skills with ability to use all Microsoft Office applications.
- Able to interpret complex information in order to act upon and disseminate to others
Other requirements:
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate a commitment to self-development with ability to demonstrate knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting health and public sector
- Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
- Being familiar with and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
- Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
- Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
- Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.
Values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving
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
- Alice Hancock
- Job title
- General Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
UCLH Team
- Telephone
- Helpdesk 02037582060
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