Job Description

Please note this post will commence in February 2026.



An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Clinical Network Services Division in a front line operational role, based within the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) service as a Deputy Service Manager.



The post holder will be responsible for leading a team of staff and supporting the clinical teams in the delivery of a world class patient experience and deputise for the Service Manager where appropriate. The post holder will play a key role in the ongoing development of the SACT service, as well as contributing to service development initiatives occurring within the service. The post-holder will also partake in cross-Divisional and Trust projects, as well as The Christie @ Macclesfield and other sites delivering SACT.



The successful candidate will be highly motivated and driven to improve systems and processes for the benefit of patients. Excellent operational knowledge and experience is essential to ensure that changes and processes are fit for purpose and in line with the needs of patients, the organisation and the team.



The post-holder will have well developed organisational skills, be an excellent communicator (written and oral), be used to managing and delivering to deadlines and have strong analytical skills. Excellent interpersonal skills are paramount for this post together with confidence to engage and work with a range of colleagues at all levels and from all professional groups



Please refer to the job description for a detailed reflection of the main responsibilities of the post holder. The below summarises the main duties of the job.



To support the Service Manager in the management and development of a wide service portfolio and to deputise for the Service Manager where necessary

Provide managerial support to clinical services across SACT and the wider division, ensuring that performance targets for these services are effectively monitored and achieved. This will include the identification of risks and actions required to mitigate such risks to ensure timely delivery of the objectives



Identify and undertake business development projects for specific services within the directorate, working across multidisciplinary teams to ensure service delivery and improved productivity is supported by robust business cases and options appraisals Provide teams with information about performance and ensure that such information is clearly understood to develop ownership and commitment to service delivery Supports the clinical teams with day to day operational matters that have not been dealt with elsewhere, to ensure patient flow is maintained Attend appropriate meetings ensuring the views of the department are conveyed and actions are implemented. Work closely with other managers to introduce new processes and improvements within the department, division and across the Trust

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.



We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.



We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.



DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES



To support the Service Manager in the management and development of a wide service portfolio and to deputise for the Service Manager where necessary



To support the delivery of high quality, cost effective services to the Trust and to NHSE



Provide managerial support to clinical services across SACT and the wider division, ensuring that performance targets for these services are effectively monitored and achieved. This will include the identification of risks and actions required to mitigate such risks to ensure timely delivery of the objectives



Interprets and analyses highly complex data in relation to performance management using Trust software to develop performance management reports



Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require effective collaboration with others in department, division or trust to enable a positive outcome



Identify and undertake business development projects for specific services within the directorate, working across multidisciplinary teams to ensure service delivery and improved productivity is supported by robust business cases and options appraisals



Provide teams with information about performance and ensure that such information is clearly understood to develop ownership and commitment to service delivery



Maintain adequate controls on expenditure through the implementation of good budgetary practice for designated staff through effective monitoring



Supports the clinical teams with day to day operational matters that have not been dealt with elsewhere, to ensure patient flow is maintained



Investigate complaints and clinical incidents relating to services, ensuring that they are appropriately managed and necessary action taken, including changes in working practices implemented, where required



Attend appropriate meetings ensuring the views of the department are conveyed and actions are implemented. Work closely with other managers to introduce new processes and improvements within the department, division and across the Trust



Develops own work plan in line with directorate, divisional and Trust objectives



Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour



Financial Management & Business Planning



Responsible and accountable for, the management of designated budgets for services within SACT



Be an authorised signatory for payments where appropriate



Undertakes day to day budget management duties, including monitoring spend against designated budgets



Assists leadership team in the negotiation of annual service level agreements/contracts as required, ensuring they meet the needs of the directorate



Develops and monitors schemes and action plans to implement cash-releasing efficiency objectives.



Develops and advises on business cases to enable services to remain financially stable and responsive to the demands placed upon them



Contributes to budget setting for services within the directorate



Ensures organisational procedures are deployed across department for control of activities against budget.



Ensures that teams work to achieve organisational effectiveness and deliver services within available resources



Uses and analyses financial information systems to ensure robust financial monitoring and budgetary performance, analyses complex financial queries or discrepancies in budget



Human Resource Management



Line management and support of staff within immediate areas of responsibility



Responsible for the effective attendance, performance and appropriate conduct of staff in areas of responsibility. Takes action under Trust personnel policies (e.g. grievance, disciplinary, capability, attendance management) where necessary. Undertakes formal investigations and presents to panels



To lead, supervise and manage staff to ensure that work is done effectively, efficiently and on time



Provides appraisal/performance review for line managed staff resulting in clearly understood objectives and personal development plans that reflects both the needs of the Trust and the longer term goals of staff.



Handle any concerns of supervised staff relating to both personal and departmental matters and aim to find solutions



Ensures that grievances and whistle blowing are treated appropriately and within Trust policies



Manage the administration processes for the recruitment and selection of staff (including setting up the interviews & completing the necessary paperwork for the eventual appointments) and induction process



Identify staffing needs necessary to support new and increasing workload of the directorate



Regularly assess existing posts within the department, make changes when necessary to assure levels of service and implement more efficient ways of working



Strategic planning, service development and improvement



Supporting the Service manager to interpret, develop and implement broad policies and NHS guidance at both directorate and divisional level, when required



Ensures that developments and improvements are across entire patient pathway and are in line with directorate, divisional and Trust objectives



Manages improvement in patient and carer experience and the efficiency with which services operate by using service redesign techniques such as process mapping, demand and capacity analysis and statistics process control whilst simultaneously embedding the use of these tools within directorate/service



Ensures patients and relatives have a central role in the development and monitoring of service development projects for which the post holder is responsible



Uses and interprets research and audit findings to aid the development of new guidelines and protocols which support service improvements



Ensures regular progress reports, data sources and project reports are produced and submitted to Head of SACT and presented to project boards/NHSE where appropriate



Plays a key role in service planning and development for the SACT business, administration, and performance



Information Management



Assisting the SACT Service Manager, Head of SACT and Divisional Management with information to support reporting requirements, such as cancer targets/ activity



To support, where necessary, preparations for external reviews and quality assurance programmes



Co-ordinating responses to consultation documents and special initiatives



Liaise with the Information and Data Quality Team regarding patient waiting times and investigate and resolve any potential waiting time breaches.



Communication



Maintains a range of highly developed effective communication and working relationships.



Communicates at the highest level, with respect to highly sensitive and highly contentious information regarding service improvement and development



Negotiates, influences, persuades and reconciles conflicting views in a challenging and sometimes hostile environment in a manner that ensures credibility and fosters effective and lasting relationships with colleagues, staff, users and other stakeholders.



Presents information both formally and informally to, appropriate boards and committees, senior managers, staff groups and patients.



Develops and implements processes that support good communications both within the Trust and division.



Actively works with clinicians, managers and staff to develop an environment that promotes continuous service improvement.



Employs motivational skills to encourage collaborative working to improve services and performance.



Equality and Diversity



To recognise the importance of people's rights and interpret them in a way that is consistent with Trust procedures, policies and legislation



To challenge behaviour that infringes the rights of others



To identify and take action where necessary to address discrimination and oppression



Health & Safety



Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others in own work area



Identify and assess potential risks in work activities and help others in how to manage these risks appropriately



Act as a role model and work within legislation and Trust procedures on risk management



Take immediate and appropriate action including supporting others to manage risks in relation to adverse incident reporting via hospital incident reporting system



Identify training needs in health and safety whilst identifying appropriate resources



Additional Requirements



In the absence of SACT Service Manager, attend meetings, deputising as required, ensuring divisional views are conveyed on appropriate matters, such as clinical governance, risk management meetings and ensure issues are brought back to the directorate and division for further discussion.



Follow risk management procedures at all times including the identification, assessment and management of risk within the division



Inclusion on the trust Duty Manager Rota



To abide by all Trust policies and procedures



To be responsible for own professional /personal development.



This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but reflects the main responsibilities of the post holder. Other duties may be required from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the post. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.