For your information sponsorship for this role is not available.
Senior Operational Manager
Sterile Services (HSDU) & Medical Engineering (EBME)
Salary: £58,176 – £67,747 per annum
Contract: Permanent | Hours: 37.5 per week
Location: Warwick Hospital, with cross-site responsibility across Warwick and George Eliot Hospitals
SWFT Clinical Services is looking for an ambitious, experienced Senior Operational Manager to help shape the future of Sterile Services and Medical Engineering. This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of safe, effective healthcare delivery.
You’ll work with the Head of EBME and Sterile services to drive performance, standardisation, innovation and continuous improvement across two essential specialist services — helping ensure the right equipment, the right processes and the right standards are in place to support excellent patient care.
What you’ll do
Lead operational management across EBME and Sterile Services.
Oversee quality, compliance, governance and performance.
Drive service improvement, innovation and value for money.
Manage budgets, procurement, contracts and capital planning.
Manage, support and develop multidisciplinary teams.
What we’re looking for
We want a confident senior leader with:
Strong healthcare or similar large organisation management experience.
A background in healthcare, medical engineering, decontamination, estates or facilities.
Proven skills in budget control, service improvement and governance.
Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills
To provide Senior Operational Management across South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and George Eliot Hospital (GEH) for the safe, effective and compliant management of medical devices. Provide Senior Operational Management and the delivery of decontamination and sterile services for SWFT.
To ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare engineering and decontamination services that support clinical services across acute and community settings, ensuring compliance with national procurement frameworks, risk management standards, statutory regulations and best practice guidance.
To lead the development, alignment and continuous improvement of EBME and Sterile Services functions across South Warwickshire, promoting innovation, patient safety, operational efficiency and value for money.
SWFT Clinical Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). The company provides a number of services such as outpatient pharmacy facilities at Warwick, Stratford upon Avon, George Eliot, University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire and St Cross (Rugby) hospitals; estates and facilities management at Warwick, Stratford upon Avon and Ellen Badger hospitals, Acorn House and Lillington Health Hub; private patient service and consultancy services to NHS Trusts.
Subject to the Company and individual’s performance, an annual discretionary bonus will be awarded.
There is automatic enrolment to the Company pension scheme, with the Company contributing 5%.
A benefits package is available to the appointed candidate upon successful completion of the six month probationary period. This gives access to benefits such as a car lease scheme; Home & Electronics scheme; discounted leisure and travel; retail discounts and a cycle to work scheme.
There is also access to a 24/7, 365 days a year Employee Assistance Programme to support colleagues who may be facing some tough times or they need extra support with their mental well-being.
Key Result Areas:
Strategic Leadership and Service Development
Deliver highly developed planning, organisational and analytical expertise to ensure timely and effective delivery of high-quality services across SWFT and associated Trusts.
Work autonomously to anticipate and respond to emerging national policy, legislation and guidance, supporting the development of strategies, policies and procedures to support compliance with national standards and Trust objectives.
Align policies, strategies and operational best practices across sites to ensure standardisation and consistency of service delivery.
Support development and implement qualitative and quantitative performance measures to monitor compliance with Head of service strategies and national requirements.
Present performance updates, KPI reports and strategic recommendations at senior management forums, committees and Boards.
Ensure organisational strategies are effectively cascaded and implemented across all operational teams.
Promote innovation, service improvement and adoption of emerging healthcare technologies to enhance patient care and operational productivity.
Operational Management
Oversee and align operational activities across both EBME and Sterile Services departments, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and prioritisation of workloads.
Ensure effective management of medical device servicing, maintenance, repair and calibration activities in accordance with national standards and operational requirements.
Oversee the management and continual development of externally accredited quality systems, including ISO 13485:2016 and 9001:2015 compliance, ensuring all audits, corrective actions and non-conformities are appropriately managed
Ensure robust systems are in place for monitoring maintenance plans, project milestones, risks and operational performance.
Support and oversee equipment replacement programmes and medical equipment capital replacement planning across both Trusts.
Ensure all procurement activities relating to medical devices and sterile services are aligned across both Trusts, promoting standardisation and value for money.
Clinical and Technical Governance
Provide specialist scientific, technical and operational expertise relating to medical devices, sterile services and decontamination processes.
Advise clinical, scientific, technical and managerial staff on risks associated with medical devices and decontamination services, ensuring appropriate risk assessments and mitigation measures are implemented.
Develop detailed technical specifications, conduct product evaluations and provide evidence-based recommendations to clinicians and senior managers.
Represent both Trusts on relevant national safety networks and professional groups, including the National Medical Devices Safety Network.
Ensure full compliance with MHRA, NHS England and Central Alerting System (CAS) requirements relating to medical devices and decontamination standards.
Oversee the investigation and management of all medical device and sterile services safety incidents, ensuring robust investigations, corrective actions and reporting processes are completed.
Provide Trust-level assurance regarding the safe use, management and governance of medical devices and sterile services.
Continually review high-risk and complex medical devices and decontamination practices to ensure best practice standards are maintained.
Financial and Commercial Management
Hold budgetary responsibility for EBME and Sterile Services functions across both Trusts.
Monitor departmental expenditure and ensure services operate within agreed financial limits while maintaining high-quality standards.
Evaluate value for money in relation to equipment procurement, service contracts and operational delivery.
Support development and deliver annual cost improvement and efficiency programmes.
Ensure procurement and contract management activities align with contractual obligations, budgetary controls and service expectations.
Identify and implement opportunities for income generation and commercial service provision to external organisations where appropriate.
Lead initiatives to maximise joint Trust savings through collaborative procurement and service alignment.
Leadership and Workforce Development
Provide visible, effective and inspirational leadership to multidisciplinary healthcare engineering and sterile services teams.
Develop and maintain a highly skilled workforce through training, mentoring, succession planning and professional development.
Promote strong working relationships between EBME, Sterile Services, clinical teams and wider NHS professionals to support high-quality patient care.
Manage staff performance, conduct, welfare and development in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
Lead on recruitment, appraisal, workforce planning and disciplinary processes as required.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, collaboration and patient safety.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
Lead complex projects and present progress updates, risks and outcomes to a wide range of stakeholders including Executive Directors and external organisations.
Communicate highly complex, sensitive and technical information clearly and effectively to staff at all levels.
Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders internally and externally to secure service improvements and strategic objectives.
Chair and oversee relevant operational and governance groups, including the Medical Devices Group.
Promote and disseminate best practice methodologies, standards and procedures throughout both Trusts.
