Programme Manager

Job overview

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) is responsible for the operational leadership and day-to-day management of services within Theatres and Anaesthetics, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, high-quality, and patient-centred care. Reporting to the General Manager, the post holder will support the achievement of Trust objectives, national standards, performance targets, and financial requirements.

Working closely with clinical, nursing, and operational teams, the AGM will provide visible leadership across services at the Denmark Hill site, overseeing operational performance, resolving service challenges, and implementing sustainable solutions to improve patient care and service delivery. Acting on behalf of the General Manager, the post holder will ensure service priorities are effectively represented within the Care Group leadership team.

The role will support the Clinical Director and General Manager in delivering strategic objectives, service improvement programmes, and organisational change initiatives. The post holder will lead governance and patient safety activities within Theatres and Anaesthetics, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to drive quality improvement and address areas of underperformance.

The AGM will also be responsible for monitoring operational and financial performance, managing budgets, identifying financial risks, and leading cost improvement initiatives while maintaining high standards of care.

Main duties of the job

The role is responsible for service planning, performance management, workforce development, financial management, governance, and service improvement. The post holder will ensure the effective use of resources, monitor key performance indicators, manage budgets, and implement initiatives to improve productivity, patient flow, and operational performance. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, they will address operational challenges and support the delivery of strategic objectives.

As a senior leader within the Care Group, the post holder will provide visible leadership, promoting staff engagement, recruitment, retention, and organisational development. They will foster an inclusive and supportive culture that enables teams to deliver outstanding patient care.

The role includes responsibility for quality, risk, and governance, including complaints management, incident investigations, regulatory compliance, and the implementation of systems to monitor and improve service quality. The post holder will work with clinical and corporate colleagues to identify opportunities for innovation, service redesign, and continuous improvement.

In addition, they will contribute to business planning, business case development, cost improvement programmes, research, education, and workforce development initiatives.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Operational Performance Management

· Responsible for the day to day efficient and effective operational management of service area, linking appropriately with clinical and multi disciplinary staff in all matters affecting the delivery of core services.

· Establish and build agreements within the team to ensure the delivery of the services provided.

· Ensure area has a performance management framework that complements the Trust use of key performance indicators across a number of metrics, using service line reporting/management to ensure timely and accurate capture of information from which metrics reported.

· Responsible for the day to day efficient and effective operational management of all services in the care group at the designated site, linking appropriately with clinical and multi-disciplinary staff in all matters affecting the delivery of core services.

· Respond to daily problems and ensure issues are swiftly resolved; implement longer term solutions to issues raised. Work with site management other care groups at the site, to ensure that issues are resolved locally where possible.

· Work closely with the Clinical Leads, site management, and local operational management to ensure effective support services are in place for all clinical areas.

· Ensure facilities and other resources are available to meet service needs, including analysing and managing space requirements.

· Ensure all policies and procedures are adhered to as required by the Trust.

· Responsible for achievement of national and local service targets in conjunction with Directors and General Manager; monitor performance against targets, identify areas of concern and take remedial and preventative action as appropriate putting in place plans to improve performance where required.

· Respond to any service target breaches in line with Trust standards and put in place remedial plans to ensure such events do not occur again

· Ensure sufficient staffing levels and allocation depending on service needs

· As a member of the care group management team, contribute to the Annual Business Plan, ensuring staff involvement, in line with Trust objectives.

· Manage the analysis of data so that the Management team has access to timely and accurate information on all key performance indicators.

· Lead on the development of reporting processes from relevant information systems and integrating them into the performance management function.

· In conjunction with the General Manager, analyse service data to monitor referral rates and identify changes or likely changes to this practice that may impact on the Care Group’s services.

· Provide information across the Trust on performance within Care Group, including reporting performance to the Board.

· Promote a positive image of the department both externally and internally

· Participate in and contribute to Trust wide initiatives and projects as appropriate.

· Build effective networks with other departments, working in collaboration to support efficient patient flow.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience
• Relevant Masters, equivalent professional qualification or equivalent experience.

Desirable criteria

• PRINCE 2

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Operational experience in managing complex services including design, development, implementation and management of change in a multiple stakeholder environment.
• Understanding of HR processes and experience of staff management.
• Evidence of managing successful project and / or operational performance and improvement; including business case preparation, service initiation / commissioning, contract negotiation and the development and monitoring of output and outcome measures.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal, communication (written, oral, presentation, facilitation), networking and negotiation skills with a track record in consistently delivering performance targets and writing complex business cases, policies and change.
• Clear understanding of management in relation to finance and manpower

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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