Executive Assistant/Office Manager: Sponsorship Available

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Job summary

Due to the retirement of the current postholder the Trust is seeking to recruit an exceptional individual to support the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive and manage the team that supports the other Directors.

The role is based in the Executive Offices at Whiston Hospital and is often the first point of contact with the Trust so the postholder must be able to represent the organisation to the public, patients, staff and a range of external partners and stakeholders across the wider health and social care system in Cheshire and Merseyside and beyond.

Interview Date: 27th November 2026 (at Whiston)– The interview process will consist of an assessment as well as the interview.

Closing date: 15th November 2026

Main duties of the job

Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience of managing staff and resources and working in a busy fast-moving environment with competing priorities. The role requires close working with the Chief Executive across all areas of his role, both within the organisation and also across the wider health system. This includes preparing briefings and presentations, drafting correspondence, managing, and arranging meetings, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, and managing actions, dealing with complex and highly sensitive information.

Candidates will ideally have worked in a similar position previously and have a good understanding of the NHS. They should demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills and be proficient at using office technology and software. The ability to manage competing pressures and remain calm and professional is essential.

Person Specification

Our Values

Essential

  • We are Kind
  • We are Open
  • We are Inclusive

Qualifications

Essential

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent level of experience of working at management
  • Post graduated qualification and/or equivalent qualification or experience

Desirable

  • Master level and/or equivalent qualification or experience

Experience

Essential

  • Significant management experience
  • Experience of managing people and resources
  • Experience of dealing with conflict and working with colleagues to agree remedial action as required
  • Ability to work effectively with others across all organisations and outside agencies
  • Ability to exert influence to ensure objective and deliverables are met

Desirable

  • Detailed knowledge of NHS standards
  • Operational, clinical and strategic management experience
  • Understanding of NHS terms and conditions of employment
  • Experience of operational and staff management in the NHS

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills especially with sensitive information, including the ability to communication information/agreement with individuals at all levels in the organisation
  • Analyse complex correspondence making judgements on the course of action on behalf of the CEO
  • Ability to offer constructive and well thought through feedback to the CEO in order to support them effectively
  • Ability to exert influence to ensure objectives are met
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Ability to assess large quantities of data/information, analyse the data identifying options and recommendations
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills
  • Report writing capability
  • Motivated to improve population health and well-being
  • Highly developed presentation skills IT literate, e-mail, MS office
  • Personal resilience

Desirable

  • Project management

Other

Essential

  • Effective strong team player
  • Flexible approach
  • Able to seek and exploit opportunities to advance objectives
  • Quick and eager to learn and develop
  • Good listener
  • Upholds and models the Trust values

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: 15 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.