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Job summary

Main area
Administration
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR1063-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Colchester/ Ipswich Hospital
Town
Colchester
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/01/2026 23:59
Interview date
19/01/2026

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant General Manager - Surgical Division

NHS AfC: Band 8a

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced operational manager to join our team in the key leadership role of Assistant General Manager. 

We are looking for an operationally experienced individual who is keen to work on developing existing services and providing motivation and support to the wider teams, encouraging optimum utilisation and productivity across all areas.

Please note, there are two positions available:

•    Theatres, Anaesthetics and Critical Care based in Ipswich with cross-site cover for Colchester at times
•    Gastroenterology, General Surgery and Urology, based in Colchester with travel to Ipswich weekly

Reporting to the General Manager, you will play a major role in the continuing development of service delivery for the benefit of our patients and high-quality patient focused care. You will work closely with other services across the organisation, contribute to the delivery and implementation of the strategic plan for the service, as well as operational management whilst maintaining financial performance. You will ensure the achievements of a high standard service, delivery of key performance indicators and continual development and review of processes for improving productivity and efficiency while working to national and internal quality standards.

If you enjoy being part of a close-knit team, working alongside clinical and nursing colleagues, thrive on a fast-paced, high pressured and challenging environment then this is the job for you.

Main duties of the job

  • Ensure that service delivery standards are achieved (for instance, wait time milestones)
  • Work collaboratively with the Divisional Director, Clinical Leads, other CDG leads Clinical Services, and other colleagues to ensure that service delivery and improvement plans are developed, implemented and reviewed
  • Ensure that financial controls are established and maintained within the relevant clinical specialties
  • Act as a champion for patient safety, operational effectiveness and quality

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. 

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. 

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. 

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. 

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.   

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. 

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.   

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Proven experience of working in a management/leadership role
  • Experience of managing , leading and motivating a team
  • Leading service changes to improve performance
  • Responsible for a budget and budget setting
  • Business case development and annual planning, longer term planning

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to masters level or equivalent experience
  • Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience at post graduate level
Desirable criteria
  • Project Management Qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • In depth understanding of change management
  • Able to use IT systems including Microsoft Office
  • Good understanding of the current NHS agenda and healthcare policy
  • Risk management and governance
Desirable criteria
  • NHS IT systems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mel Newnham
Job title
General Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Alternatively, please contact General Manager - Michael Austin [email protected]

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