Senior Operational Performance Lead in Brighton

Job summaryThe Senior Operational Performance Lead is a senior member of the Trust's performance management function, responsible for leading the delivery of operational performance improvement across a portfolio of services, with a particular focus on constitutional standards, elective recovery and delivery against key access targets.The post holder will provide senior leadership and oversight to support delivery of core performance standards, ensuring that improvement plans are robust, credible and translated into operational action. They will work closely with divisional and specialty teams to improve productivity, strengthen pathway management, enhance data quality and validation processes, and ensure the effective use of capacity to support timely patient care.The role will lead and coordinate performance improvement activity across multiple services, providing challenge, support and expert advice to operational and clinical teams. The post holder will also contribute to the development of recovery plans, escalation processes and reporting arrangements, ensuring that performance risks are identified early and mitigated effectively.This role is central to ensuring that the Trust maintains strong operational grip over waiting lists, demand and capacity, backlog reduction and constitutional performance delivery, and supports the Trust to achieve its recovery ambitions in line with national and local expectationsMain duties of the jobThe Senior Operational Performance Lead will:Lead performance improvement and recovery activity across a defined portfolio of services, supporting delivery of agreed operational standards.Develop, coordinate and monitor specialty and divisional recovery plans, ensuring trajectories are credible, measurable and aligned to Trust objectives.Oversee and strengthen processes for PTL management, pathway validation, clock stop accuracy and escalation of performance risks.Support effective delivery of control rooms and other operational grip arrangements, ensuring vacant capacity, backlog risks and deteriorating performance are identified and acted upon.Analyse complex performance information and translate this into clear recommendations, risks and required actions for operational, divisional and executive audiences.Work with corporate and divisional teams to ensure reporting is accurate, timely and supports delivery of improvement priorities.Lead specific projects or programmes relating to elective recovery, access improvement, backlog reduction, validation, demand and capacity, or operational transformation.Build effective working relationships with divisional leaders, clinical teams and corporate functions to secure engagement in performance improvement.Deputise where required for the Head of Operational Performance in relation to aspects of operational performance deliveryAbout usAs a teaching hospital and an organisation committed to continuous learning, we offer a broad range of education and training to staff and students/trainees/other learners. All post holders are expected to fulfil mandatory training requirements, engage in continuous learning and support education and training of others commensurate to their role.DetailsDate posted13 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary
66,582 to 77,368 a year
per annum, pro rata
ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number438-PB4590Job locationsRoyal Preston HospitalPrestonPR2 9HTUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Senior Operational Performance Lead will support the Head of Operational Performance in the delivery of Trust-wide operational performance improvement. The post holder will work in partnership with divisional, clinical and corporate teams to develop, implement and monitor performance improvement plans, strengthen pathway management and validation processes, and ensure effective operational grip over waiting list and access risks. The role will provide senior challenge, support and oversight to drive delivery of constitutional standards, improve productivity and ensure timely, high-quality patient care across the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesThe Senior Operational Performance Lead will support the Head of Operational Performance in the delivery of Trust-wide operational performance improvement. The post holder will work in partnership with divisional, clinical and corporate teams to develop, implement and monitor performance improvement plans, strengthen pathway management and validation processes, and ensure effective operational grip over waiting list and access risks. The role will provide senior challenge, support and oversight to drive delivery of constitutional standards, improve productivity and ensure timely, high-quality patient care across the Trust.Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
EssentialExcellent analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to interpret complex dataStrong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlinesHighly developed communication skills, with the ability to present complex and sensitive information clearlyDemonstrable ability to deliver against challenging targets in a pressured environmentWell-developed written and verbal communication skills together with influencing, facilitating and negotiating skills for interacting with individuals across the organisation and wider network.DesirableAbility to interpret complex documents, identifying organisational implicationsExperience in Acute HospitalExperience of presenting at senior forumsNegotiation and conflict resolution skillsAdvanced Excel / data visualisation skills
Qualifications and Education
EssentialMasters Degree in relevant subject or relevant experienceSignificant experience in operational performance, service improvement or programme deliveryEvidence of Continuing Professional DevelopmentFurther training for e.g. PRINCE2 / Managing Successful Programmes / AGILE or significant experience in project management, financial and budgetary management or supporting change management processes.DesirableManagement or leadership qualificationFormal training in performance management, service improvement or transformation methodologies
Knowledge and Experience
EssentialA minimum of 5 years management experience at a senior level, ideally within a healthcare settingProven experience of delivering performance improvement and recovery against targetsExperience of working across organisational boundaries with clinical and operational teamsDemonstrable experience of managing and implementing change in a complex environmentExperience of analysing and interpreting complex data to inform decision-makingDesirableExperience of RTT,UEC, cancer and diagnostic performance managementExperience of leading Trust-wide or cross-system initiativesExperience within an acute NHS Trust
Person Specification

Skills and Abilities
EssentialExcellent analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to interpret complex dataStrong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlinesHighly developed communication skills, with the ability to present complex and sensitive information clearlyDemonstrable ability to deliver against challenging targets in a pressured environmentWell-developed written and verbal communication skills together with influencing, facilitating and negotiating skills for interacting with individuals across the organisation and wider network.DesirableAbility to interpret complex documents, identifying organisational implicationsExperience in Acute HospitalExperience of presenting at senior forumsNegotiation and conflict resolution skillsAdvanced Excel / data visualisation skills
Qualifications and Education
EssentialMasters Degree in relevant subject or relevant experienceSignificant experience in operational performance, service improvement or programme deliveryEvidence of Continuing Professional DevelopmentFurther training for e.g. PRINCE2 / Managing Successful Programmes / AGILE or significant experience in project management, financial and budgetary management or supporting change management processes.DesirableManagement or leadership qualificationFormal training in performance management, service improvement or transformation methodologies
Knowledge and Experience
EssentialA minimum of 5 years management experience at a senior level, ideally within a healthcare settingProven experience of delivering performance improvement and recovery against targetsExperience of working across organisational boundaries with clinical and operational teamsDemonstrable experience of managing and implementing change in a complex environmentExperience of analysing and interpreting complex data to inform decision-makingDesirableExperience of RTT,UEC, cancer and diagnostic performance managementExperience of leading Trust-wide or cross-system initiativesExperience within an acute NHS TrustDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameLancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustAddressRoyal Preston HospitalPrestonPR2 9HTUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameLancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustAddressRoyal Preston HospitalPrestonPR2 9HTUnited KingdomEmployer's website