Job summary

Please Note:

Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK independently, with a visa or immigration status that allows them to fulfil the full duration and type of contract offered. The Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated General Manager to lead Cancer Services at Darent Valley Hospital.

Working alongside the Cancer Lead Nurse and Cancer Clinical Director, you will coordinate cancer pathways across the Trust, supporting safe, effective care and the delivery of national performance standards within agreed budgets.

You will bring significant NHS service management experience, strong leadership skills and the ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams. You will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer pathways, support clinical leadership and lead change across services and divisional boundaries.

Main duties of the job

The General Manager will provide operational leadership for Cancer Services, working with clinical, nursing and corporate colleagues to improve patient pathways, experience and service performance.

You will lead the implementation of national cancer pathway guidance, ensuring resources are aligned to demand and agreed pathway timescales. Responsibilities will include performance monitoring, budget management, business and capacity planning, workforce development and service improvement.

You will build effective relationships across divisional boundaries, support governance and risk management, and participate in the operational on-call rota.

Details

• Date posted: 02 November 2026
• Closing date: 11 November 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8b
• Salary: £68,852 to £79,638 a year per annum inclusive of allowances
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 252-8400748
• Job locations: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA28DA, United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Coordinate cancer pathways across the Trust, working closely with the Cancer Lead Nurse, Cancer Clinical Director and divisional teams.

Deliver national and local performance standards, monitoring progress and taking corrective action where required.

Implement national guidance and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of cancer pathways.

Contribute to strategic, business, capacity and efficiency planning, aligning resources with patient needs and service demand.

Manage delegated budgets in accordance with the Trusts financial instructions and schemes of delegation.

Analyse complex performance information and contribute to Board-level reports covering workforce, activity, finance and quality.

Support the development of clinical leadership for individual cancer pathways and lead change across services and divisional boundaries.

Provide leadership to staff, supporting recruitment, retention, development and workforce planning.

Build effective relationships with clinical teams, corporate services and partner organisations.

Involve patients, carers and staff in service development and respond appropriately to complaints and concerns.

Support governance and assurance processes, including risk management, incident investigations and the implementation of improvement actions.

Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Trust policies and health and safety requirements.

Participate in the operational on-call rota.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and its requirements.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• Management qualification at Diploma or 1st Degree level.
• Evidence of continued professional and/or personal development.

Desirable

• Masters Level Education

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Able to achieve solutions through negotiation and influencing within multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Delivery of goals
• Management change in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Working under pressure to achieve challenging deadlines.
• Ability to manage self.
• Ability to effectively manage significant budgets as a delegated budget holder.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Numerate and financially aware

Desirable

• Strategic service planning.
• Complex project management.

Experience

Essential

• Significant service management experience in the NHS
• Experience of managing staff.
• Experience of writing clinical papers on workforce, activity and quality to Board level

Desirable

• Experience of business and service planning

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Flexible, objective and assertive
• Confident and effective.
• Motivation of self and others.
• Leadership and team building qualities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous self-development

Desirable

• Strategic thinker

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.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Employer details

• Employer name: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
• Address: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA28DA, United Kingdom
• Employer's website: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us