The Senior Business Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership across two DMC Primary Care GP practices, supporting service growth, strong governance, financial performance and patient-centred care. This is a senior multi-site leadership role requiring a commercially minded primary care leader with strong NHS relationships, current market knowledge and the ability to deliver rapid improvements through effective people leadership, technology, AI and data-led decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide senior oversight of day-to-day operations across both GP practices, ensuring efficient, responsive and safe service delivery.
- Develop and implement business plans that support growth, performance improvement and long-term sustainability.
- Strengthen relationships across the local and wider NHS, including PCNs, commissioners, ICBs and other healthcare stakeholders.
- Improve reputation, governance and CQC readiness, with a focus on achieving outstanding patient care and service quality.
- Use data, digital tools and AI-enabled approaches to support quick decision-making, performance improvement and cost-effective service delivery.
- Identify and maximise income opportunities, including capital and revenue funding, enhanced services and appropriate contractual opportunities.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
The ideal candidate will be an experienced and credible primary care leader who can combine strategic judgement with hands-on operational delivery. They will be resilient, highly organised, commercially aware and confident leading teams through change while keeping patient care, safety and service quality at the centre of all decisions.
Essential
Essential
- Proven senior leadership or management experience within NHS Primary Care, general practice, PCNs or a comparable healthcare environment.
- Strong and current understanding of the Primary Care marketplace, NHS policy direction, government strategy and local healthcare priorities.
- Demonstrable experience managing practice operations, staff, budgets, performance and service improvement.
- Established relationships or proven ability to build effective working relationships across the local and wider NHS.
- Experience supporting CQC compliance, governance, quality improvement and inspection readiness.
- Strong financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, income maximisation, contract management and cost control.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong IT capability and confidence using data to monitor performance, identify issues and drive improvement.
Desirable
- Management, HR, leadership, business or healthcare management qualification.
- Experience managing more than one GP practice or working within a group primary care structure.
- Experience working collaboratively with Primary Care Networks and wider system partners.
- Experience securing or supporting NHS funding, service development, capital investment or new revenue streams.
- Experience improving CQC outcomes or leading preparation for CQC inspection.
- Working knowledge of EMIS Web, SystmOne or equivalent clinical systems.
Software, Tools or Technical Knowledge Required
- Confident user of clinical, operational and reporting systems, ideally including EMIS Web, SystmOne or similar primary care platforms.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to interpret performance, workforce, finance and patient access data.
- Understanding of how AI, automation and data-led reporting can support rapid decisions, operational improvements and efficiency.
Industry-Specific Knowledge or Regulations
- Current knowledge of NHS Primary Care, GP practice operations, PCNs, commissioning and the wider healthcare landscape.
- Understanding of CQC standards, registration requirements, governance, safeguarding, health and safety, SHEF and data security.
- Knowledge of NHS contractual requirements, performance targets, enhanced services and funding opportunities.
Analytical, Problem-Solving or Other Abilities
- Ability to assess complex operational issues quickly and make clear, evidence-based decisions.
- Ability to lead teams through change, difficult situations and competing priorities.
- Strong commercial judgement, balanced with a clear commitment to patient-centred care and service quality.
- Ability to map and improve patient journeys, reduce friction and improve access, communication and experience.
Experience
Industry Experience
- Significant experience in NHS Primary Care, general practice, PCNs or a similar healthcare environment.
- Experience working with NHS stakeholders, commissioners, ICBs, PCNs or equivalent partners.
Functional / Role-Specific Experience
- Operational management of GP practice services, including appointment systems, patient access, workforce planning, rotas and service performance.
- Financial and commercial management, including budgets, payroll oversight, income generation, contract management and cost improvement.
- Governance, compliance, patient feedback, complaints, risk management and service improvement.
Leadership / Managerial Experience
- Experience leading clinical, administrative and operational teams.
- Experience managing recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management and staff development.
- Experience leading change, restructuring or service transformation in a complex healthcare setting.
Job Benefits
- 25 days of annual leave, in addition to bank holidays (increasing with length of service)
- Access to NHS Discount Scheme
- A collaborative and inclusive team culture across clinical and technical functions
