General Manager for Patient Access (Surgery) in Manchester

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General Manager for Patient Access (Surgery)

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Main area Operations Grade NHS AfC: Band 8c Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 349-MRI-8393339C-RL4

Site Manchester Royal Infirmary Town Manchester Salary £79,504 - £91,609 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Are you looking to take your leadership career to the next level? At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we are embedding our exciting new Operating Model and placing the roles closest to patient care at the heart of decision-making. By creating clinically led, multidisciplinary leadership teams we can ensure decisions are informed by clinical expertise while keeping the operational expertise needed to run safe, successful services.

We are looking for experienced, forward-thinking leaders able to support the introduction of our new ways of working. Y ou will be well supported with a bespoke personal development plan, and you will also have access to a range of development activities.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in decision-making, influence the future of patient services, and be part of a Trust-wide movement to embed clinical leadership at every levels.

Main duties of the job

The General Manager for Patient Access (Surgery) is responsible to the Clinical Director for the delivery of all patient services within the Clinical Service. The General Manager role in the triumvirate involves ensuring that all operational performance targets, including waiting lists, finance, the quality of services to patients and improving services towards best practice standards within available income are achieved.

The Post Holder will be part of the triumvirate with the Lead Nurse and Clinical Lead, with direction from the Clinical Director and advice and support from the Clinical Group Directors to achieve the MFT/Clinical Group objectives and will be expected to make a positive contribution to the provision of health services across the Group and the local health and social care economy.

On call requirements will be confirmed within Clinical Groups to align with the agreed Operating Model.

Working for our organisation

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is a leading, integrated healthcare provider, the largest of its kind in specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, serving over 1 million people per year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are at the forefront of system leadership, innovation, and transformation across Greater Manchester.
As a senior manager, you will play a critical role in shaping and delivering our strategic objectives. You will lead complex programmes, drive operational excellence, and influence Trust-wide transformation, working collaboratively with or through Executive and Clinical Leaders to deliver sustainable improvements for our patients, staff, and communities.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, vision, and expertise are valued. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, develop future talent, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and a commitment to professional development.
Join us to make a lasting impact-help shape the future of our Trust, drive innovation, and deliver outstanding care for the people of Manchester, Trafford and beyond.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Supporting Documents’ section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU-for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Graduate or or equivalent level of experience
• Managerial qualification equivalent to post graduate diploma or equivalent experience
• Master’s Degree or equivalent experience
• Experience or qualification relating to specialty

Knowledge

• Highly specialist knowledge of managing within a NHS healthcare setting
• Detailed knowledge and experience of managing capacity, demand and activity
• Knowledge of managing staff within a healthcare setting and experience of managing a Directorate
• Knowledge and experience of project/programme management

Training & Exeperience

• Proven experience of and demonstrable achievement in managing healthcare services
• Management of re- sources with a good track record with change management, budget management, efficiency savings and financial recovery plans
• Experience of project management and imaginative planning
• Experience of managing a diverse team
• Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance
• Experience of successfully managing the implementation of change
• Experience of identifying education and training needs of staff
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Experience in setting establishments and using workforce toolkits including dependency tools
• Experience in R&D
• Experience of modernising services without additional resources
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders in the redesign of services
• Evidence of professional leadership, leading to innovation in practice
• Experience in clinical audit/benchmarking
• Experienced in complaints management

Skills & Abilitites

• Ability to present highly complex and emotive information clearly and openly with staff
• An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives
• Able to hold professionals and peers to account
• Good project management skills and the ability to see through tasks to their successful conclusion within timescales and budgets
• Good performance management skills combining clarity around expectations, direction and holding others to account
• Ability to analyse performance, capacity and demand and financial information
• Excellent numerical and presentational skills
• Negotiating and influencing skills
• Ability to make calm rational decisions in the face of adversity
• An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non‑clinical risks
• Strong analytical skills and ability to consider the wider picture

ATTRIBUTES

• Open minded, treats colleagues with dignity and respect
• Capacity to work with clinicians and staff at all levels
• Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behavior
• Inspires others and leads by example

Others

• Mobility to travel across sites
• Can use constructive criticism and openly seek to review and reflect on own style and presentation
• Resilient and self- motivated with drive and vision, a can‑do attitude and can work on own initiative and manage a range of priorities against competing agendas

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Tom Woodward Job title Associate Director of Performance and Operations Email address thomas.woodward@mft.nhs.uk

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