Service Manager Healthcare; temporary

Service Manager - NHS

Location: Harlow, Hertfordshire

Contract: 3 months +

Salary: 8a Band

Working Pattern:
Hybrid

MUST HAVE PREVIOUS NHS EXPERIENCE

We are currently working in partnership with a well-established NHS organisation to recruit a number of experienced NHS Service Managers to join their senior leadership team within a Care Group. These are pivotal operational leadership roles, offering the opportunity to influence patient care, service delivery, and strategic transformation across a defined portfolio of services. The areas we are looking for experience in is:

• Maternity/Labour Ward/EPU Service Manager
• General Medicine/Palliative Care Service Manager
• Cardiology/Respiratory Service Manager
• Digestive Services (Gastro/Endoscopy)
• Adult Emergency Department/EMSDEC Service Manage

Reporting to the General Manager and Head of Nursing, the Service Manager will work closely with Clinical Leads and Matrons, ensuring services are delivered to the highest clinical, operational, and financial standards. The successful candidate will also deputise for the General Manager when required and may take a lead on Care Group or Division-wide improvement programmes.

The Role

As Service Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of services, ensuring high-quality, patient-centred care while meeting key performance, governance, and financial targets. You will play a central role in service transformation, workforce leadership, and system-wide collaboration.

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Culture

• Provide visible, inclusive, and supportive leadership across services.
• Foster a culture of respect, wellbeing, psychological safety, and accountability.
• Engage, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary teams through periods of change.
• Translate Trust objectives into service-level priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Promote collaboration across departments, primary care, and external partners to improve patient pathways and flow.

Operational & Managerial Leadership

• Manage direct reports and support teams to deliver operational and financial targets.
• Lead and embed effective service business meetings with multidisciplinary attendance.
• Use data, benchmarking, and evidence to inform service planning and decision-making.
• Lead division-wide work streams such as demand and capacity planning, length of stay reduction, and theatre utilisation.
• Support business planning and service development aligned to national and local priorities.
• Champion digital transformation and EPR initiatives to improve efficiency and data quality.

Service Delivery

• Ensure services are delivered safely, effectively, and with dignity and respect.
• Support achievement of national access standards including RTT, UEC, and cancer targets.
• Oversee resource management including staffing, theatre scheduling, and equipment.
• Lead patient flow and elective pathway management, attending daily bed meetings as required.
• Use performance data and feedback to drive continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure Equality, Diversity & Inclusion principles are embedded across services.

Performance & Financial Management

• Hold responsibility for income, pay, and non-pay budgets within delegated authority.
• Work with clinical leaders to achieve financial balance and cost-effective service delivery.
• Lead service line reporting and income-generating initiatives.
• Identify and deliver QIPP/CIP schemes in line with divisional objectives.
• Prepare capital and revenue funding bids and support business case development.
• Lead data quality improvement programmes and ensure robust reporting systems.

Clinical Governance & Risk

• Work in partnership with Clinical Leads and Matrons to maintain high clinical standards.
• Ensure compliance with CQC, NHSLA, NICE, and Trust governance frameworks.
• Oversee complaints, incidents, PSRIF investigations, audits, and risk registers.
• Maintain and deliver governance, quality, and risk action plans.
• Ensure policies and procedures are current, accessible, and embedded in practice.

Workforce Management

• Support delivery of the Trust's Workforce Strategy.
• Lead recruitment, retention, appraisal, performance management, and staff development.
• Oversee staffing rotas and resident doctor compliance with EWTD.
• Participate in workforce planning, role development, and service modernisation.
• Ensure staff are supported, engaged, and working to appropriate competencies.

About You

We are keen to speak with experienced NHS operational leaders who can demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a Service Manager / Senior Operational Manager role within healthcare.
• Strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams in complex service environments.
• Expertise in performance management, financial control, governance, and workforce planning.
• Experience leading service transformation, improvement programmes, and change initiatives.
• Confidence working with senior clinicians and stakeholders at divisional and Trust level.
• Strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to shape and lead high-impact NHS…