Do you want to work in a service where we diagnose lung cancer early and save people’s lives? Do you have experience in NHS operational management and are looking for a new opportunity? Are you enthusiastic, autonomous and able to positively respond to change? With experience in the delivery of innovation and new NHS services, including (ideally) a screening programme?
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as part of the expanded Greater Manchester Lung Cancer screening programme. This award-winning programme delivers lung cancer screening to people aged between 55 and 74 years old, who have ever smoked in their lifetimes, from mobile clinics in the community.
This dynamic senior operational manager post will be based at Wythenshawe hospital but will require occasional travel to our community clinics when they are situated at locations across Greater Manchester. Travel payments will be made for any travel completed above home to base mileage.
You will receive an enhanced induction and training package and be part of an established team with support for you to thrive in your role and contribute to improved patient care, health, and quality of life. If you are successful, you will be part of the operational leadership of the GM LCS programme and within the Lung cancer and thoracic surgery directorate, based at Wythenshawe hospital.
The Senior Operational Manager will support the Programme Manager by providing senior operational leadership and day‑to‑day management for the Greater Manchester Lung Cancer Screening Programme, one of the largest and most complex lung screening programmes in England.
The post holder will take delegated responsibility for the safe, effective, and responsive operational delivery of the programme across multiple community sites and providers, ensuring delivery against national and local performance standards, contractual requirements, and payment‑by‑activity trajectories .
The role retains core operational responsibilities at scale (similar to the Band 6 Operational Manager role) while exercising a higher level of autonomy, initiative, oversight, and decision‑making , including:
Line management and professional oversight of Band 6 Operational Manager(s)
Senior leadership of administrative and failsafe functions
Proactive risk management and problem solving
Deputising for the Programme Manager as required
The post holder will play a key role in supporting the programme’s transition to business‑as‑usual operations , implementing new ways of working, responding rapidly to operational pressures, and ensuring continuity, resilience, and quality across the pathway.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - what better place to shape and develop your leadership career.
We deliver care to over 1 million patients & users each year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. Our 30,000 plus strong workforce is central to our success and innovation.
You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.
MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You’ll have access to professional development, digital tools and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.
We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation’s success.
Join us and help shape the future of our Trust—make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.
Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one-stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are — what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place', simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ section and once opened, you can either scan or click on the QR code.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
