Job vacancy: Operational Manager- Admissions/pre Assessment, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes

Job summary

Main area: Surgery
Grade: Band 8A
Contract: 12 months (fixed term or secondment)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 430-SURG26-1006A

Employer: Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Admissions Admin Team (Dept)
Town: Milton Keynes
Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 04/09/2026 23:59

Operational Manager- Admissions/pre Assessment

Band 8A

At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.

MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).

Our benefits

We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:

Free on-site parking including EV charging
Complimentary refreshments
Flexible working arrangements
Discounted gym membership
Salary sacrifice car scheme
Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
On-site nursery (charges apply)
A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Join #TeamSurgery at Milton Keynes University Hospital

The surgery division at MKUH, which covers specialties including theatres and the Intensive Care Unit, offers a variety of roles and opportunities, both clinical and non-clinical. The division are looking for passionate, enthusiastic and forward-thinking professionals to join the team.

MKUH is one of the leading hospitals in Europe for implementing robotics to assist in surgery, becoming the first in the continent to use the CMR Versius robot for gynaecological surgery. Since its introduction in 2019, the theatres team have completed over 500 surgical cases, the first hospital in the UK to reach this milestone, achieving this in March 2023.

As well as being an innovator in robotics, the Trust is proud to be part of the New Hospital Programme, with plans to expand and increase our surgical capacity to meet the health needs of our communities now and in the future.

With a leading benefits package, and a growing hospital estate to meet one of the fastest growing populations in the country, it is a great time to join MKUH.

Find out more about working in #TeamSurgery at MKUH from the people who work across the division in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mYel-Y9nrU

Managing Services

Ensures efficient and effective delivery of services for the achievement of quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness and improved clinical outcomes.
Supports the implementation of the CSU risk management and clinical governance policies and systems effectively, ensuring a proactive approach to reducing clinical risk, whilst maximising clinical effectiveness within a safe and healthy environment.

Improving Services

Ensuring patient safety through assessing and managing the risk to patients associated with service developments, balancing economic considerations with the need for patient safety.
Critically evaluating through being able to think analytically, conceptually and to identify where services can be improved working individually or as part of a team.

Working with others

In partnership with clinical colleagues, supports the delivery of commissioned levels of service within allocated resources, to meet activity targets and to develop action plans to manage any variances.
Builds and maintains relationships through listening, supporting others, gaining trust and showing understanding.

Staff Management

Manage timely and effective recruitment and retention of staff. Ensure appraisal is carried out for all staff and training needs are identified.

Business Planning and Management

Lead on strategies / plans for the development of services as required in conjunction with the CSU Lead.
Analysing and interpreting complex data to deliver well-presented information.

Financial Budgetary Management

Work with clinical coding to ensure accurate and appropriate capturing of activity being undertaken within the services.
Regular review and monitoring of budgets and investigating variances with a view to identify mitigating actions.

Please refer to the attached job description for further information

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential criteria

Masters or equivalent level qualification in management and /or demonstrable training and experience in health service. • Practical and theoretical knowledge of o Financial management, HR Management, performance management of key performance indicators (inclusive but not limited to 4 hours, 18 weeks), Business and contingency planning, project management including largescale change-management
Knowledge of the key drivers and political environment which the NHS operates and is conversant with the relevant national policies.
Evidence of continuous professional development
Project management qualification e.g. PRINCE II

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant specialist experience in an operational management post in the NHS
Proven track record of meeting national targets and KPIs
Knowledge and understanding of the duties imposed on the Trust by legislation, NHS policy and priorities and the requirement of corporate governance
A clear understanding of the modernisation agenda, the opportunities for redesigning services and the tools and techniques for achieving service change.
Proven success in managing operational change, whilst maintaining high standards of quality
Significant experience of managing staff
Demonstrate evidence of sound financial/staff management
NHS experience in a senior manager role with significant experience of dealing with complex issues
Demonstrable experience of successfully managing projects
Proven success in business planning and in the development and implementation of complex strategic plans.
Proven experience of partnership working- internally and externally

Skills

Essential criteria

A proven ability to obtain and consistently achieve results and targets.
Proven ability to deal with wide range of data and information and take appropriate decisions from it.
A proven ability to come up with flexible and creative solutions to difficult problems
Excellent collaborative working skills and able to build strong relationships with clinical leaders and professional staff groups
Proven ability to influence and change those groups
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – ability to negotiate, influence in difficult and contentious situations
A strong commitment to openness, honesty and inclusiveness
Working knowledge of MS Office for typing, amending and proof-reading documents
Self-management/Personal integrity
Ability to analyse complex problems and develop practical solutions
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Ability to challenge and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders

Personal and people development

Essential criteria

Self-confident and uses this to lead, involve and challenge others as appropriate
Makes sustained effort in making a difference to how services are planned and delivered, overcoming obstacles and set backs.
Displays a strong motivation and commitment to success
Ensures personal, professional behaviour and integrity at all times
Delegates appropriately setting clear and achievable targets and monitoring against required outcomes
Develops constructive relationships and networks within the organisation and outside
Ensure that the success of individuals and teams is recognised and valued
Able to use a range of management styles as appropriate.
Experience of managing and developing others
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development

Communication

Essential criteria

Promotes the building of effective teams and collaboration between teams
Builds and maintains sound relationships within teams and with colleagues in other areas including corporate departments
Supports teams to continually review services and seek improvements

Specific requirements

Essential criteria

Service and Project Management
Service and Quality Improvement
Financial Management

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Applications, offers of employment and contracts may be withdrawn or terminated if it is found that fraudulent statements were made or fraudulent documents provided during the recruitment process. Additional possible consequences include referral to professional bodies or criminal sanctions.