Job summary

Are you an experienced operational leader looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to patient care and shape the future of clinical services?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Senior Operations Manager to join Care Group G, leading a diverse portfolio across Neurosciences and Older People's Medicine at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

This is an influential senior leadership role where you will work in partnership with clinical, nursing and operational colleagues to turn ambition into delivery. You will lead service improvement, tackle complex operational challenges and support teams to provide safe, effective and patient-centred care.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, is confident making decisions in a fast-paced environment and brings energy, curiosity and a solution-focused approach to leadership.

You will join a supportive senior team where your ideas and experience will be valued, and you will have a genuine opportunity to influence how services develop. If you are passionate about improving services, developing people and delivering better outcomes for patients, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As Senior Operations Manager, you will provide visible and effective operational leadership across Neurosciences and Older People's Medicine, working closely with clinical and nursing leaders to deliver high-quality services and improve the experience of our patients and staff.

You will lead and develop operational and administrative teams and take responsibility for delivery across operational performance, quality, workforce and finance. Using data, insight and strong relationships, you will identify opportunities, solve complex problems and turn improvement ideas into sustainable change.

No two days will be the same. You will have the autonomy to make important decisions, including:

• agreeing operational actions and recovery plans when services face performance or access challenges;
• prioritising resources and responding to pressures while maintaining safe, effective services; and
• shaping service improvements, balancing patient experience, quality, workforce, performance and financial considerations.

You will bring sound judgement, resilience and excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to bring people together around a shared goal.

Details

• Date posted: 30 October 2026
• Closing date: 11 November 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8b
• Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 234-26-G1067
• Job locations: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, NR4 7UY, United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached job description for full details of the role, and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Master's degree or post graduate qualification level or equivalent or equivalent extensive experience.

Experience

Essential

• Significant operational management experience at senior organisational / middle management level.
• Track record of delivering targets and successful service change.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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).

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Employer details

• Employer name: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
• Address: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, NR4 7UY, United Kingdom
• Employer's website: https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/