Band 8a- Deputy General Manager, Surgery

Band 8a - Deputy General Manager, Surgery

Location: West Herts - General Staffing Site, Watford General Hospital.
Salary £59,798 - £67,020 pa incl HCA.
Hours: 37.5 per week, full‑time, flexible working.
Contract: Permanent.
Job reference: 360-B-11315-A.

Job overview

Ready to lead real change in a high‑impact clinical portfolio? We are looking for an ambitious and driven Deputy General Manager to join our Surgical Division, leading Trauma, Orthopaedics and Pain services. This pivotal role thrives in a fast‑paced environment and shapes services to improve patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

• Lead operational and business management of Trauma, Orthopaedics and Pain services, ensuring delivery of high‑quality, patient‑centred care.
• Oversee day‑to‑day service delivery, drive performance against targets including RTT, and lead recovery via demand and capacity planning.
• Partner with Clinical Leads and senior nursing colleagues to ensure services are responsive, efficient, and continuously improving.
• Provide line management to administrative and service managers within specialties.
• Manage service budgets, workforce establishment and cost improvement programmes.
• Drive service development, improvement projects and cost‑efficiency programmes.
• Ensure robust governance, risk management and quality standards.
• Use data and information systems to monitor, report and improve performance.
• Foster effective communication and engagement with clinical teams and stakeholders.
• Lead change programmes, motivate teams and ensure delivery of service improvements.
• Represent the service/division and support cross‑divisional working.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Degree level relevant area (e.g., management, clinical) or equivalent experience.
• Post‑graduate management qualification or studying for one.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of health and care sector operational management.
• RTT management.
• Understanding of admissions and outpatient services and processes.
• Experience in primary and secondary care organisations and project management skills.
• Experience working across two or more organisational boundaries.

Experience

• Previous NHS experience.
• Experience operating at a senior organisational level.
• Experience using numerical analysis for problem solving.
• Budgetary management experience.
• Experience producing business cases.
• Experience managing RTT targets and cancer waiting times.
• Demonstrable operational management experience (minimum years managing large staff groups).

Working for our organisation

With ongoing hospital expansion and digital innovation, this is an exciting time to join us. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority.

Application closing date

Closing date: 20/07/2026.