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Job summary
We are seeking an exceptional Divisional Director of Operations for Clinical Administration to join our divisional leadership team on a fixed term / secondment basis.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, you will lead the Trust-wide Clinical Administration Division, overseeing booking pathways, reception services, ward administration, MDT coordination, secretarial services, and other core administrative functions that support the delivery of outstanding patient care.
You will provide strategic and operational direction, drive service improvement, lead performance against key access standards, support workforce development, and ensure high-quality, efficient services across the Trust.
We are looking for an inspirational leader who brings:
*Significant senior operational management experience within an acute or specialist healthcare setting.
*A strong track record of delivering operational performance, service transformation and continuous improvement.
*Extensive experience in financial management, demand and capacity planning, and performance management.
*Exceptional leadership, influencing and relationship-building skills.
*The ability to lead complex change programmes while maintaining a focus on patient experience and staff engagement.
*A commitment to our values: compassion, excellence and collaboration.
This role will include some out of hours and weekend working. For an informal chat contact Zoe Robinson, Deputy Chief Operating Officer.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities:
*Leadership and strategy: lead Trust-wide Clinical Administration functions to drive improvement initiatives and optimise patient care pathways.
*Operational excellence: develop and implement operational strategies to ensure the highest standards of patient care, outcomes and experience. Lead workforce, financial and capacity planning, delivering performance targets, efficiency programmes and sustainable service improvements.
*Team management and development: foster an environment of continuous improvement and support the development of staff.
*Collaboration and stakeholder engagement: work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure system-wide goals are aligned.
*Decision-making and influence: influence Trust-wide initiatives and provide advice and guidance to senior management. You will deputise for the Deputy Chief Operating Officer when required.
Key Attributes:
*Proven track record of delivering performance improvement, service redesign and complex organisational change.
*Strong financial, analytical and demand and capacity planning skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive informed decision-making.
*Inspirational and compassionate leader, able to influence, engage and build effective relationships.
*Values-driven, resilient and collaborative, with a commitment to delivering excellent patient and staff experiences.
The role is based at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with a requirement to work at Kingfisher House, Huntingdon.
About us
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.
Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.
The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.
For a street view tour: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/virtual-tour
Details
- Date posted: 21 July 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8c
- Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year
- Contract: Fixed term
- Duration: 12 months
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 175-2627-OP1910
- Job locations: Kingfisher House, Huntingdon, Kingfisher Way, Hinchingbrooke Business Park, Huntingdon, Cambridge, PE29 6FH, United Kingdom, Royal Papworth Hospital, Papworth Road, Cambridge Bio Medical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0AY, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about the hospital and full details about the role. We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application. Please include how you will meet the Trust Values Compassion, Excellence and Collaboration. If you would like more information about the role or working at Royal Papworth Hospital, please get in touch with the contact for this role.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working at a senior level in an acute or specialist hospital setting, including a sound understanding of the performance and governance requirements of the NHS for acute Trusts.
- Track record of achievement as a leader which demonstrates significant successes through innovation and a strong but sensitive style, which contributes directly to the patient experience and continuous improvement.
- Significant experience of financial management and rigorous financial management and control to meet agreed targets.
- Experience of establishing and applying performance management systems in areas like contract monitoring, staff management and departmental performance indicators.
- Demonstrate well developed negotiation skills coupled with the ability to tackle poor performance effectively.
- Experience of instigating and leading complex change to achieve continuous improvement.
- Substantial experience of service demand and capacity planning and financial management including NHS costing and payment regimes.
- Significant experience of influencing others with a view to delivery of desired outcomes and objectives.
- Experience of building effective working relationships with management and clinical teams and external stakeholders.
- Ability to negotiate and influence staff at all levels of seniority, including engagement in difficult situations.
- Ability to access, analyse and translate complex data and information to clinical teams.
- Significant experience of the development of business cases/proposals for both capital and revenue investment cases.
- Substantial experience of managing within a complex organisation and balancing multiple objectives.
- Highly numerate, confident manipulating and interpreting data.
- Sound analytical, negotiation and numerical skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work proactively and cooperatively with senior management, clinical staff and other staff at all levels.
- Ability to develop and influence a high performing, collaborative team, whilst allowing flexibility for members to develop against their own personal targets.
- Detailed knowledge of annual service planning with the ability to support and direct divisional team effectively through the planning cycle.
- Skills in sourcing and analysing data (including waiting list, 18-week RTT and demand information).
- Ability to assess situations and take calculated risks based on learning and experience, to achieve longer-term service improvements.
- Understanding of clinical and business information systems.
- Ability to deal with competing priorities and to organise self and team members to deliver outputs to meet multiple deadlines.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent experience/qualification to masters or equivalent level, or management qualification or equivalent experience
- Further evidence of management / leadership training.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Desirable
- Relevant postgraduate qualification in a management discipline.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Please provide evidence of your commitment to uphold the Trust's values: Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration
- Ability to travel.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Divisional Director of Operations - Clinical Administration with Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £79,504 to £91,609 a year. The contract type is Fixed-Term. The application deadline is 01 Aug 2026.
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