Band 8b - General Manager, Women's and Children's

We are recruiting a Band 8b - General Manager to provide senior operational and strategic leadership within the Women's and Children's Division at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Working closely with the Deputy Director of Operations and Divisional leadership team, you will be accountable for the performance, delivery and continuous improvement of a complex portfolio of services. This role suits an experienced NHS operational leader with strong financial acumen, excellent stakeholder management skills and a collaborative, values-driven leadership style.

You will play a key role in shaping service strategy, improving patient experience, delivering national targets and supporting a positive, inclusive culture across multidisciplinary teams.

We offer the opportunity to influence real change, work with committed clinical leaders and contribute to the Trust's vision of excellent patient care.

Interviews will be held on 29 May 2026., As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the operational, financial and workforce performance of your service portfolio. You will lead business planning, performance management and service improvement, working towards delivery of national and local targets, including RTT and waiting list standards.

You will act as budget holder, develop cost improvement programmes and lead service development and business case approvals. Working in partnership with Clinical Directors, Matrons and senior managers, you will ensure high-quality, patient-centred services that meet governance and safety standards.

You will provide visible leadership to management teams, support workforce planning and development, manage complex operational escalations and contribute to divisional and Trust-wide objectives. The post requires significant NHS management experience, strong analytical and financial skills, excellent communication abilities and the resilience to lead within a complex healthcare environment.

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support