Unit General Manager - Private Patient Service in Oswestry

The postholder is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational delivery and commercial development of Private Patient Services across the Trust. The role is accountable for maximising private patient income, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering high-quality, patient-centred services, while supporting the Trust's wider financial sustainability objectives.

The postholder will operate as a senior leader, advising Executive colleagues and leading complex commercial negotiations, service transformation, and external partnerships to grow and optimise the Trust's private healthcare portfolio.

As we continue to develop our private patient services, we are looking for an experienced and commercially focused senior leader to help shape, grow and strengthen this important area of the Trust's work, supporting both patient choice and the wider financial sustainability of the organisation.

The Unit General Manager for Private Patient Services will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight and commercial development across the Trust's private healthcare portfolio. Working closely with clinical teams, consultants, Executive colleagues, private medical insurers and external partners, the postholder will lead service growth, improve pathways, develop new commercial opportunities and ensure services are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with regulatory requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and influential leader with strong commercial acumen, stakeholder management skills and a commitment to excellent patient care.

About us: The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH) is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation. In the National Staff Survey, 69% of our staff would recommend the Trust as a place to work and 91% would recommend the hospital to a friend or relative for treatment.

Joining RJAH is more than just a job - we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role. We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities.

Job responsibilities include:

• The provision of professional and specialist support to the clinical users of the private patient service demonstrating a high level of organisational ability and leadership.
• To develop and manage relationships externally with purchasers of healthcare and key influencers, such as private medical insurers, private GPs and other referrers, to understand market requirements and to develop the RJAH private care revenue in line with targets.
• To develop and manage relationships with consultants internally on behalf of RJAH to repatriate external private work of established consultants, to grow the volume and revenue of our business.
• Develop and deliver the Trust's private patient strategy across all services e.g. surgical, diagnostics, therapies.
• Accountable for the delivery of the Trust's private patient income targets and activity plans along with related expenditure budgets.
• Provide strategic advice to Executive and Board-level committees.
• Lead long-term income growth planning, including scenario modelling and market analysis.
• Lead on ensuring Trust wide governance is in place for private patient services; developing an expert knowledge of indemnity, risk and private practicing privileges.
• Engage and coach staff and consultants to ensure a patient focused delivery of services.
• To lead alongside Finance and the Commercial Director in negotiations with the Private Medical Insurers to secure the best tariffs and terms of business for the Trust.
• To seek new commercial opportunities with new and existing partners, developing innovative services, business models and ways of working to secure additional private income streams.
• To lead and manage the service areas whilst developing and sustaining effective working relationships with the unit teams, consultant medical staff, and all other internal and external stakeholders.
• To develop a network of external stakeholders, including but not limited to Private Medical Insurers, private GPs, referral agents, medical consultants and other private hospital providers.
• To manage internal and external communications, using sound judgment to ensure that all communications represent the values and business interests of RJAH.
• Accountable for the leadership, performance and development of the Private Patient Services workforce, including direct and indirect line management of multidisciplinary teams.
• Work closely with the Communication Manager to develop a portfolio of marketing products and information consistent with RJAH branding, values and commercial objectives.
• To continually question and challenge the status quo looking for new and innovative ways to improve service delivery.
• To maintain a detailed working knowledge of competition law surrounding private healthcare.
• To develop a robust understanding of the information and reporting systems in the Trust and to continuously develop and improve business and activity reports for the COO summarising performance and highlighting risks and issues.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications/Training: Educated to degree level in a related subject, Postgraduate qualification OR equivalent experience at senior level, Leadership or management qualification, Evidence of senior leadership development.
• Experience: Extensive senior leadership experience in private healthcare / commercial NHS services, Experience working at a senior operational level, Evidence of extensive experience in service development and change management.
• Skills and Competencies: Proven change and project management skills, Strategic thinking and system leadership, Advanced communication and effective interpersonal skills, Advanced commercial acumen.
• Knowledge: Proficient in Microsoft applications, Experience managing and developing teams, NHS private patient regulatory framework, Competition law / CMA guidance.
• Personal Qualities & Trust Values: To exemplify the Trust Values: Professional, Excellence, Respect, Friendly, Inclusive, Caring.