Divisional Director of Operations – Clinical Administration: Sponsorship Available

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional Divisional Director of Operations for Clinical Administration to join our divisional leadership team on a fixed term / secondment basis.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, you will lead the Trust-wide Clinical Administration Division, overseeing booking pathways, reception services, ward administration, MDT coordination, secretarial services, and other core administrative functions that support the delivery of outstanding patient care.

You will provide strategic and operational direction, drive service improvement, lead performance against key access standards, support workforce development, and ensure high-quality, efficient services across the Trust.

We are looking for an inspirational leader who brings:

*Significant senior operational management experience within an acute or specialist healthcare setting.

*A strong track record of delivering operational performance, service transformation and continuous improvement.

*Extensive experience in financial management, demand and capacity planning, and performance management.

*Exceptional leadership, influencing and relationship-building skills.

*The ability to lead complex change programmes while maintaining a focus on patient experience and staff engagement.

*A commitment to our values: compassion, excellence and collaboration.

This role will include some out of hours and weekend working. For an informal chat contact Zoe Robinson, Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities:

*Leadership and strategy: lead Trust-wide Clinical Administration functions to drive improvement initiatives and optimise patient care pathways.

*Operational excellence: develop and implement operational strategies to ensure the highest standards of patient care, outcomes and experience. Lead workforce, financial and capacity planning, delivering performance targets, efficiency programmes and sustainable service improvements.

*Team management and development: foster an environment of continuous improvement and support the development of staff.

*Collaboration and stakeholder engagement: work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure system-wide goals are aligned.

*Decision-making and influence: influence Trust-wide initiatives and provide advice and guidance to senior management. You will deputise for the Deputy Chief Operating Officer when required.

Key Attributes:

*Proven track record of delivering performance improvement, service redesign and complex organisational change.

*Strong financial, analytical and demand and capacity planning skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive informed decision-making.

*Inspirational and compassionate leader, able to influence, engage and build effective relationships.

*Values-driven, resilient and collaborative, with a commitment to delivering excellent patient and staff experiences.

The role is based at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with a requirement to work at Kingfisher House, Huntingdon.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent experience/qualification to masters or equivalent level, or management qualification or equivalent experience
  • Further evidence of management / leadership training.
  • Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.

Desirable

  • Relevant postgraduate qualification in a management discipline.

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience of working at a senior level in an acute or specialist hospital setting, including a sound understanding of the performance and governance requirements of the NHS for acute Trusts.
  • Track record of achievement as a leader which demonstrates significant successes through innovation and a strong but sensitive style, which contributes directly to the patient experience and continuous improvement.
  • Significant experience of financial management and rigorous financial management and control to meet agreed targets.
  • Experience of establishing and applying performance management systems in areas like contract monitoring, staff management and departmental performance indicators.
  • Demonstrate well developed negotiation skills coupled with the ability to tackle poor performance effectively.
  • Experience of instigating and leading complex change to achieve continuous improvement.
  • Substantial experience of service demand and capacity planning and financial management including NHS costing and payment regimes.
  • Significant experience of influencing others with a view to delivery of desired outcomes and objectives.
  • Experience of building effective working relationships with management and clinical teams and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to negotiate and influence staff at all levels of seniority, including engagement in difficult situations.
  • Ability to access, analyse and translate complex data and information to clinical teams.
  • Significant experience of the development of business cases/proposals for both capital and revenue investment cases.
  • Substantial experience of managing within a complex organisation and balancing multiple objectives.
  • Highly numerate, confident manipulating and interpreting data.
  • Sound analytical, negotiation and numerical skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work proactively and cooperatively with senior management, clinical staff and other staff at all levels.
  • Ability to develop and influence a high performing, collaborative team, whilst allowing flexibility for members to develop against their own personal targets.
  • Detailed knowledge of annual service planning with the ability to support and direct divisional team effectively through the planning cycle.
  • Skills in sourcing and analysing data (including waiting list, 18-week RTT and demand information).
  • Ability to assess situations and take calculated risks based on learning and experience, to achieve longer-term service improvements.
  • Understanding of clinical and business information systems.
  • Ability to deal with competing priorities and to organise self and team members to deliver outputs to meet multiple deadlines.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Please provide evidence of your commitment to uphold the Trust’s values: Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration
  • Ability to travel.

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).

Closing Date: 27 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit papworth.tal.net.