General Manager

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, creating an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognises the value of a healthy work‑life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under‑represented within the Trust.

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Job overview

The post holder will be a key member of the Divisional Senior Management Team, holding specific responsibility for the Bristol Centre for Enablement (BCE). They will provide clear strategic and operational leadership for the centre, driving delivery of the Divisional Business Plan and ensuring services are safe, responsive, and effective.

They will be accountable for the overall operational performance of BCE, working in close partnership with clinical leads to deliver agreed priorities, optimise productivity, and achieve performance and financial targets.

This exciting role will require close collaboration with clinical leaders and multidisciplinary teams to ensure strong, visible leadership and robust operational management across BCE. The post holder will lead the delivery of objectives and performance standards, ensuring that risks are identified and managed, and that continuous improvement is embedded across services.

They will provide senior operational assurance on critical issues within BCE and act as a key representative for the centre at Trust, system, and national level, promoting its strategic position and driving opportunities for growth and service development.

Main duties of the job

• Accountable for delivering BCE performance targets, including activity, access (RTT), and financial balance
• Provides strong operational leadership, working closely with Clinical Leads to drive quality, productivity, and service performance
• Drives continuous improvement, using data, benchmarking, and best practice to enhance patient outcomes and service delivery
• Holds oversight of operational delivery and assets, ensuring safe, effective, and compliant services
• Leads on financial performance and efficiency, including delivery of savings and value‑for‑money procurement
• Builds and maintains strong system partnerships, acting as an outward‑facing representative for BCE locally and nationally
• Identify and deliver annual cash‑releasing efficiency savings agreed with the DoD as a contribution to the Division’s annual savings target
• Participate in the planning and management of capital projects, as required
• Participate in management on‑call rota

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award‑winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti‑discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all under‑represented groups.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

• At least 3 years’ experience of operational management in an NHS setting or other large public sector organisation including accountability for a significant budget
• Awareness of national NHS policy, local health community issues, the national performance management framework and national initiatives for achieving improved performance
• Experience of working on, developing or implementing strategic, annual, business, financial and capital plans
• Experience of managing or taking part in programmes of continuous improvement and change management in complex environments
• Experience of working effectively in a multi‑professional environment and working as part of a multi‑professional team
• An appropriate post‑graduate management qualification (MBA, MSc, DMS) or evidence of equivalent continued professional development and/or experience. This includes evidence of self‑awareness and reflection of one’s working style, strengths & weaknesses.
• Knowledge of the duties imposed on the Trust by legislation, NHS policy and priorities, and the requirements of corporate governance
• A clear understanding of the modernisation agenda, the opportunities for redesigning services and the tools and techniques for achieving service change including demand/capacity analysis and process mapping
• An understanding of the issues currently facing primary and secondary care, and the challenges facing the NMSK Division and the relevant specialties
• Recent exposure to a relevant management or leadership development programme

Work Experience

• Proven experience of the development and implementation of strategic, annual business, financial, capital and workforce plans
• The successful management of continuous improvement in complex environments
• Significant demonstrable experience in working effectively in a multi‑professional environment, and in facilitating multi‑professional teams
• Significant experience of operational management in the NHS, including experience of managing both emergency and elective services
• In‑depth knowledge of the duties imposed on the Trust by legislation, NHS policy and priorities, and the requirements of corporate governance
• Detailed awareness of national NHS policy, local health community issues, the national performance management framework and national initiatives for achieving improved performance
• An understanding of the issues currently facing primary and secondary care, and particularly the challenges facing the NMSK Division

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to work effectively with key stakeholders and staff groups within the Trust.
• Excellent written and oral and presentation skills for communication with other clinical services in NBT and externally in the Healthcare community
• Ability to assess, sift, analyse and collate highly complex data in different forms for informed decision making and action
• Direct operational management and organisation of large complex services and effective management of human, financial and other resources
• Ability to research, plan and implement service development and organisational change
• Act independently and own initiative implementing policies and acting within broad constraints agreed with Divisional Management
• Numerate and computer literate to use computer systems for planning – financial, activity, demand and capacity
• Strategic thinking
• Leadership experience and experience of instilling a positive culture

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances

• Works well under pressure and ability to meet deadlines. Resilient and self‑motivated

We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support – developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

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