Operational Manager

The post holder will play a key operational leadership role within the Cardiothoracic Surgical Service within Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. This is a high-profile role within a busy tertiary cardiology and cardiothoracic service, supporting complex patient pathways and contributing directly to the delivery of safe, high-quality and timely care. The Operational Manager will oversee day-to-day operational performance, ensuring activity, performance and financial targets are effectively monitored and delivered. This includes proactive management of waiting lists and patient pathways to ensure national standards. Working closely with Clinical Leads, Consultants, Surgical Teams, the General Manager, Service Unit Manager and wider multidisciplinary colleagues, the post holder will be a core member of an integrated management team, translating clinical priorities into effective operational delivery. The role requires strong collaboration with cardiothoracic surgery, theatres, diagnostics and outpatient services to ensure pathways are efficient, coordinated and patient-centred.This post offers an excellent opportunity for an ambitious operational manager to develop their leadership skills within a fast-paced, highly specialised environment, contributing to service development, improved patient flow and enhanced patient experience within one of the Trust's most critical services.,

• Provide day-to-day operational management of cardiothoracic surgical services, ensuring waiting lists, capacity and performance are effectively monitored, reported and optimised.Produce clear and accurate performance reports, communicating risks, issues and recovery actions verbally and in writing to senior managers and clinicians.
• Maintain knowledge of national access standards, including 2-week, 6-week diagnostic and 18-week RTT targets
• Undertake daily performance monitoring across diagnostic and treatment pathways, identifying risks of breach and taking timely corrective action.
• Develop a detailed understanding of cardiothoracic patient pathways, including day-case services, to support efficient patient flow and optimal use of capacity.
• Work collaboratively with clinicians, nurse specialists and MDT colleagues
• Manage elective disruption and theatre downtime in line with Trust policy, including patient re-booking and adherence to cancellation standards.
• Line manage administrative and clerical staff within the surgical service, including recruitment, performance management, sickness absence and staff development.
• Analyse and interpret complex operational data to inform capacity planning, service improvement and decision-making.Use professional judgement to make autonomous decisions to ensure clinics, theatres and resources are utilised effectivel
  
  Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.