Service Manager - Planned Pathways

Job summary

We are recruiting a Service Manager to provide strong operational leadership across our Trauma and Orthopaedic and Rheumatology services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust. These high-impact roles sit at the heart of a fast-paced, complex clinical environment and play a key part in delivering safe, effective and timely surgical care. Working closely with Clinical Leads, Matrons, senior clinicians and the General Manager, you will oversee performance, workforce, finance and service development across your allocated portfolio, ensuring high-quality, patient-centred pathways and delivery against key national and local priorities. As a Service Manager within Planned Pathways division, you will be a visible, credible leader with a strong grip on operational performance. You will work in close partnership with clinical teams, acting as the link between frontline delivery and corporate functions to ensure services are efficient, responsive and safe. Using data, insight and sound judgement, you will proactively manage performance across elective, emergency and diagnostic pathways, anticipate risk and drive improvement in a demanding environment. You will support and challenge services to deliver against RTT, cancer, access and flow standards, while maintaining a relentless focus on patient experience and clinical quality.

Main duties of the job

You will play a key role in shaping the future of surgical services, leading workforce and medical job planning, supporting service improvement and transformation, and contributing to Trust-wide and system priorities. These roles require confident decision-makers who can manage complexity, lead teams through change and deliver results. Provide day-to-day operational leadership for surgical services, ensuring safe, effective and patient-focused care Deliver performance against RTT, cancer, diagnostics, emergency flow and access targets, implementing recovery actions where required Lead capacity and demand planning across theatres, clinics, diagnostics, wards and SDEC Coordinate and support consultant and SAS doctor job planning, ensuring compliance and alignment to service demand Lead and support workforce planning, recruitment, retention and service resilience Manage service budgets, supporting cost improvement programmes and business case development Maintain strong clinical governance, including incidents, risks, complaints, audits and national standards compliance Lead and support service transformation, pathway redesign, elective recovery and system collaboration

About us

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Details

• Date posted: 14 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8a
• Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 9 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001251
• Job locations: The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1QX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Digestive Services Portfolio

• Operational leadership for Trauma and Orthopaedic and Rheumatology
• Oversight of elective and cancer pathways and diagnostic capacity
• Close working with multidisciplinary teams to improve access, flow and patient outcomes

Surgery Portfolio

• Operational leadership for Surgical Inpatients and outpatients
• Focus on emergency flow, inpatient capacity, surgical pathways and sitewide escalation
• Supporting safe, effective delivery across both elective and emergency surgical services