Band 8b - General Manager – Head, Neck & Urology

Band 8b - General Manager – Head, Neck & Urology

The closing date is 19 July 2026

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious General Manager to join the Senior Leadership Team within our Surgical Division, leading a diverse portfolio including Audiology, Head & Neck (ENT, Oral Surgery, Ophthalmology and Orthodontics) and Urology.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership, working closely with Clinical Directors, Lead Nurses, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, high-quality, patient‑centred services. A key focus will be elective recovery, RTT performance, service improvement, productivity and financial sustainability.

We are looking for a collaborative NHS operational leader with a proven track record of improving performance, leading complex services, building strong clinical partnerships and delivering sustainable change. You will use data to drive improvement, foster a culture of accountability and support teams to achieve ambitious goals.

Based across Watford General Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and occasionally Hemel Hempstead Hospital, the role requires approximately 80% on‑site working and participation in the Senior Manager On‑Call (Silver) rota.

Join an ambitious division where you can influence strategy, lead meaningful change and make a lasting difference for patients and staff.

Interviews will be held in person at the Watford site.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the development of service improvement and business plans aligned with divisional goals.
• Introduce innovative management strategies to optimise efficiency across services.
• Collaborate with community, social care, and academic partners to support broader healthcare objectives.
• Track and report performance against national and local targets, driving improvements.
• Ensure that departments within your portfolio are meeting key service and quality standards.
• Lead weekly PTL meetings and support escalations to ensure smooth operations.
• Oversee budgets, ensuring financial targets are met and income is optimised.
• Contribute to cost improvement initiatives and business case development for service reconfigurations.
• Ensure the workforce is effectively planned and resourced with the right skills to meet service demands.
• Lead, motivate, and develop teams to support continuous performance improvement.
• Oversee recruitment, appraisals, and staff development.
• Regularly engage with clinical teams, staff, and senior management to ensure transparency and align objectives.
• Address sensitive issues, manage complaints, and ensure effective communication throughout the team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational or managerial role within healthcare.
• Strong understanding of financial management, performance targets, and budget oversight.
• Ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills and experience working in multidisciplinary teams.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. Www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick “Member of the Armed Forces Community” on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants.

Education and qualifications

• Education to degree level or equivalent qualification.
• Studying for/plans to study management qualification.
• Operational management experience in an Acute NHS organisation.
• Evidence of continuing professional development including regular attendance on internal and external study programmes.
• Higher professional or management degree (master’s Level) or equivalent knowledge acquired by experience.

Knowledge

• Key issues and pace of change facing the NHS nationally and locally, assess and describe impact on services.
• Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy.
• Knowledge of current issues in the NHS.
• Understanding the principles of risk management, health and safety legislation.

Experience

• Good experience of managing several complex NHS services, preferably within the Acute Sector.
• Demonstrable experience at a senior management level, with clear evidence of responsibility for supporting operational delivery including clinical quality, people management, budget responsibility and successful delivery of performance targets within strict financial controls.
• Evidence of managing in a busy, complex and dynamic environment.
• Understanding of principles of budgetary management.
• Experience of using numerical analysis in problem solving.
• Experience of budgetary management.
• Experience of and familiarity with business planning and preparation of business cases.
• Understanding of and experience of managing elective waiting times (RTT, PTL, Diagnostic etc).
• Experience working or managing within medical or surgical speciality services.
• Understanding of medical staffing and rota issues.
• Knowledge and or experience of working closely with integrated care partners, integrated service.

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust