Operational Coordinator

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Operational Coordinator

Contract Type: Permanent

Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about improving patient pathways, enhancing service delivery, and driving continuous improvement.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and forward-thinking Operational Coordinator to join the Children’s Hospital team. As part of our team you will play a key role in supporting operational performance, ensuring patient pathways are effectively coordinated and meet Trust and national access standards.

You will directly line manage Specialty Administrative Team Leaders, providing clear guidance and support to enable high-quality patient care, while ensuring efficient and consistent pathway management.

You will be a proactive problem-solver, confident in addressing ad hoc challenges, escalating risks where needed, and championing new ways of working. Strong organisational skills, adaptability, and a fair, inclusive leadership style are essential, along with a commitment to excellence and service improvement.

We welcome and encourage prospective applicants to contact us for an informal discussion. There may be an opportunity to increase the number of hours offered.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include supporting operational delivery across services with the Children’s Hospital, ensuring patient pathways meet Trust and national standards while maintaining efficient patient flow and resource coordination.

Using RTT and operational data to monitor performance, validate pathways, identify improvement opportunities, and produce regular reports, audits, and insights.

Act as a key point of coordination, managing operational pressures, resolving ad hoc issues, escalating risks, and communicating effectively with stakeholders.

Provide leadership support through line management, staff development, contribution to service improvement and transformation projects, and deputising for senior managers when required.

The successful candidate will have strong organisational, multitasking, and time management skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and report-writing skills, with a collaborative and solution-focused approach.

Strong analytical ability, with attention to detail and the capacity to quickly interpret and assimilate complex information.

Effective leadership and people management skills, with a proactive and enthusiastic approach to service improvement and innovation.

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.