General Manager

Job overview

Are you an experienced NHS operational leader looking for an opportunity to make a real difference in Urgent and Emergency Care?

We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative General Manager to join the Acute Medicine Business Unit at Royal Derby Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a fast-paced and evolving service, leading operational delivery, driving improvement and shaping the future of acute and urgent care pathways.

As part of the Business Unit triumvirate leadership team, you will work in close partnership with the Clinical Director and Matron to provide visible, compassionate and effective leadership across the service. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring our patients receive safe, high-quality and timely care, while supporting staff to deliver their best every day.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead transformational change and work alongside multidisciplinary teams to improve patient experience, performance and outcomes.

Whether delivering operational excellence, improving patient flow or supporting innovative models of care, you will be empowered to make a significant impact across one of the Trust's most important clinical services.

Main duties of the job

As General Manager, you will support the Divisional Director in providing strategic and operational leadership across the Acute Medicine Business Unit, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services that meet both local and national priorities.

Working collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues, you will:

• Lead the day-to-day operational performance of the Business Unit, ensuring delivery of key quality, activity and financial objectives.
• Drive improvements in urgent and emergency care pathways, supporting patients to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
• Provide strong, visible leadership to multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support the development and delivery of strategic service plans that respond to the evolving needs of our patients and communities.
• Work closely with clinical leaders to implement service improvements, redesign pathways and deliver transformational change.
• Ensure robust performance management and governance arrangements are in place to support sustainable service delivery.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust and wider health system to support integrated approaches to urgent and acute care.
• Champion staff engagement, development and wellbeing, creating an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.

Closing date of applications : 13 September 2026

Interview date: 23 September 2026

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are looking for a credible and inspirational operational leader with substantial experience within NHS Urgent and Emergency Care, Acute Medicine or Unscheduled Care services.

You will bring:

• A proven track record of delivering operational performance and service improvement within complex healthcare environments.
• Significant experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and managing change in fast-paced clinical settings.
• Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire others.
• Experience of performance management, financial management and delivering against demanding operational targets.
• A collaborative approach and a commitment to working in partnership with clinical colleagues to achieve outstanding patient care.
• The strategic thinking and operational expertise needed to support both immediate service priorities and longer-term transformation programmes.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about improving services for patients, developing high-performing teams and helping shape the future of Acute Medicine at Royal Derby Hospital.

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI‑generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers

Important visa information: Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children - GOV.UK

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa

Read about the Health and Care Visa for employing overseas nationals (excluding Irish citizens) under the points-based immigration system.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.