Job Description

We are excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for a Directorate Manager (Band 8C) within our GI & Renal Directorate.



This pivotal roles sit at the heart of our clinically-led triumvirate model, working alongside the Directorate Matron and Directorate Medical Director to shape and deliver high-quality, safe, and efficient care across urgent and elective pathways. Reporting to the Divisional Director of Operations, you'll provide visible operational leadership, drive strategic service development, and ensure performance aligns with Trust priorities and national standards.



We're looking for resilient and forward-thinking leaders who can:



Lead complex operational services with clarity, compassion, and strategic vision



Inspire teams and foster a culture of inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement



Deliver robust performance across access, quality, workforce, and financial metrics



Champion transformation and innovation in response to evolving patient and system needs



Collaborate effectively with clinical leaders, system partners, and corporate teams

Key responsibilities include:

Overseeing daily operations and managing performance and budgets



Coordinating service improvement projects



Supporting workforce planning and engagement



Contributing to broader strategic initiatives, including business continuity, governance, and transformation



University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is committed to becoming a high-quality, high-performing, patient-centred organisation, delivering timely, compassionate care and offering a thriving environment for staff to work, learn, innovate and research.



The Directorate Manager plays a pivotal leadership role in directing and leading the delivery of high quality, high performing safe and efficient services across the Directorate. Reporting directly to the Divisional Director of Operations this role will work alongside the Directorate Matron and Directorate Medical Director as part of the triumvirate and will be accountable for operational performance and delivery, service development and productivity and delivery of care aligned with Trust priorities.



The postholder will provide visible leadership for the operational and managerial agenda, ensuring that services meet operational targets, quality standards, financial targets, workforce plans, and national and local performance expectations.



Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.



We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.



1. Strategic & Business Planning



a) Developing and leading clear service visions and strategic plans for the Directorate in considering all relevant Departments and Services, which are set within the context of the wider Divisional plan and overall direction of the Trust.



b) Develop the annual Directorate's Business Plan in conjunction with the Departments and Service level teams.



c) Ensuring that the Directorate's Senior Management team focuses on the most critical areas; these include the development of key staff groups, processes to facilitate the ongoing achievement of access targets (including the RTT and cancer targets), and efficiency improvements to enable the Directorate to achieve its financial obligations.



2. Operational Management



a) Lead responsibility with the Directorate for the development of the Business Plan and monitoring progress.



b) Lead responsibility for Department/ Service level viability which will include the implementation of the Business Plan and progress monitoring.



c) Responsible for all aspects of the operational management of the Directorate.



d) Ensure the delivery of all performance targets contained in the Business Plan including waiting lists, finance and CQC standards, analysis of highly complex, multi- stranded data in order to shape interventions/ address shortfalls in performance.



e) Responsible for dealing with and responding to complaints, in line with local protocols.



f) Lead a range of service improvement projects across the Directorate to deliver improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of services.



g) Ensure that clinical and support processes are mapped, bottlenecks are identified and solutions to these are implemented in order to maximise opportunities for service improvement.



h) Workforce plans in place that ensure the efficient and effective utilisation of staff



i) Take part in the senior managers' on call rota.



For further information about the role and responsibilities of the Directorate Manager position, please refer to the job description.