Job summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as an Operational Manager within our Emergency Department. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of urgent and emergency care.

The Emergency Department manages a diverse, high acuity patient population and operates as part of a major tertiary centre, including Major Trauma Centre responsibilities, offering a dynamic and challenging environment.

You will be responsible for the day to day operational management of the department, with a strong focus on achieving key NHS targets, including ambulance handover times, the 4hr emergency care standard, and patient flow. You will coordinate resources, support frontline teams, and drive performance to ensure high quality patient care.

The role involves optimising patient flow, reducing delays, and working collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues to support service improvement and delivery of KPIs.

This full-time post covers core hours (7am-6pm, Mon to Fri), with flexibility required, including occasional weekends.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, resilience, and problem solving skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast paced, high pressure environment.

Informal visits or discussions are strongly encouraged, please get in touch to find out more.

Main duties of the job

Policy and Service Development

*Contribute to the strategic development of services.

*Support the General Manager with specific change management processes and ensure engagement of the multi-disciplinary team.

*Be aware of technological advances in relation to service improvements.

*Develop and implement best practices and standard operating procedures to maintain high standards of quality.

*Lead in quality improvement initiatives and projects, ensuring alignment with departmental goals.

*Co-operate in the introduction of innovative technology and new working practices to ensure the smooth running of the department

*Identify areas for improvement and new ways of working, providing better quality of care and service to patients.

*Ensure achievement of National operational targets e.g., 4 hour A&E performance and Ambulance offload targets specific to service areas of responsibility.

*Support quality and service improvement within the area of responsibility and work with other services and Divisions to ensure effective patient care and use of all Trust resources.

*Support the development of new roles that reflect modern healthcare delivery.

*Ensure all team colleagues comply in full with Trust service policy and procedures.

*Ensure effective implementation of any revised, updated or new procedures/equipment takes place, always maintaining safe and efficient team practice.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Details

• Date posted: 24 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 304-1099549-1
• Job locations: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Person specification:

Experience

Essential

• *Experience of managing staff and working in a leadership role within a complex organisational environment.
• *Significant knowledge and experience of budgetary management, including revenue and capital budgets, forecasting, and financial monitoring.
• *Experience of service development through business planning, performance monitoring, and leading the implementation of change management processes.
• *Evidence of contributing to the delivery of high standards of patient care and service quality.
• *Good understanding of clinical governance, risk management, and health and safety principles.
• *Clear understanding of the NHS agenda, priorities, and operating context.
• *Experience of handling confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• *Experience of dealing with patients, relatives, and members of the public in a professional and compassionate manner.

Desirable

• *Experience of working within the NHS.
• *Experience of managing inpatient and outpatient waiting lists, including the development and implementation of mitigating actions.
• *Working knowledge of NHS waiting list systems.
• *Knowledge of medical staffing issues and workforce planning.
• *Working knowledge of Patient Administration Systems (PAS).

Qualifications

Essential

• *Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience gained through relevant professional roles.
• *Postgraduate management qualification or equivalent level of knowledge and expertise, acquired through a combination of operational management experience, continuous professional development, and relevant training courses.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• *Ability to work independently, making sound decisions within a delegated level of authority.
• *Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and build effective working relationships at all organisational levels.
• *Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands and meet challenging deadlines.
• *Ability to analyse complex data from multiple sources and present information clearly to support decisionmaking.
• *Well developed problem solving skills, with the ability to understand complex issues, assess options, and propose practical solutions.
• *Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure, managing conflict and sensitive situations constructively.
• *Good presentation skills, adapting communication style and use of software tools to meet the needs of different audiences.
• *IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• *Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in a challenging operational environment.
• *Flexible approach to working hours, including working outside core hours when required to meet service needs.
• *Ability and willingness to work across UHB sites as required.
• *A commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals.
• *A strong commitment to improving patient services, maintaining a clear performance focus on achieving demanding objectives.

Desirable

• *Experience of supporting patient flow and bed capacity management.