Service Manager – Emergency Care

Company: University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Apply for the Service Manager – Emergency Care
Location: Southampton
Job Description:

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.

Main Duties

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Emergency Care, Care Group at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) for an enthusiastic, motivated, and experienced Service Manager to join our busy management team.

This is a rewarding and challenging role that offers the opportunity to make a direct and positive impact on patient experience, service delivery, and operational performance within one of the Trust’s most dynamic clinical areas.

You Will Have

  • Proven operational leadership experience
  • Strong strategic and analytical skills
  • Excellent leadership and relationship-building abilities
  • A commitment to UHS values and patient‑centred care

Working for Our Organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England’s largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. We are committed to providing a flexible working environment and we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

About The Service

Emergency Care is a fast‑paced and diverse environment, encompassing the following areas:

  • Adult Emergency Department
  • Children’s Emergency Department
  • Acute Medical Unit (AMU)
  • Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)

Working at the heart of emergency care, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and patient‑centred services while ensuring the care group meets its operational, quality, and performance objectives.

The Role

As Service Manager, you will work closely with the Care Group Manager, Clinical Leads, and Senior Nursing Team to lead the operational management of services, ensuring high standards of patient care and service delivery.

You Will Be Responsible For

  • Supporting the day‑to‑day operational management of Emergency Care services
  • Delivering and monitoring key performance standards, including patient flow and waiting time targets
  • Identifying and leading service improvement initiatives to enhance patient and staff experience
  • Providing effective budget management and acting as an authorised signatory
  • Using data and performance information to drive continuous improvement and support decision‑making
  • Managing and developing the Administration and Clerical (A&C) team
  • Building strong relationships with clinical and operational colleagues across the Trust
  • Supporting strategic planning and transformation programmes within the care group
  • Acting as a visible and approachable leader, role‑modelling Trust values and behaviours

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about delivering high‑quality healthcare services and who thrives in a busy operational environment.

The Successful Candidate Will Demonstrate

  • Experience of operational management within a healthcare setting
  • Previous line management experience, including staff development and performance management
  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • A commitment to service improvement, innovation, and delivering positive patient outcomes
  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
  • Experience of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams
  • The ability to remain calm and effective under pressure
  • Attention to detail and a proactive approach to managing challenges

Why Join Us?

This is an excellent opportunity to further develop your leadership and management experience within a supportive and forward‑thinking team. You will have the chance to contribute both operationally and strategically, helping to shape services that make a real difference to patients, families, and staff.

The role is based within the Emergency Department footprint and will require a proportion of out‑of‑hours working to support operational needs.

If you are an adaptable, driven, and ambitious leader who is passionate about improving emergency care services, we would love to hear from you.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential Criteria

  • First degree/equivalent professional qualification/equivalent experience
  • Leadership training
  • Management training
  • Training and experience to Masters’ or equivalent level/post graduate level study
  • Project Management qualification / further training or demonstrates substantial level of project delivery experience
  • Consolidated experience to demonstrate capability and capacity for management of health services at a senior level
  • Demonstrable staff and resource management experience across a variety of issues
  • Able to facilitate and implement policy, guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
  • Demonstrates experience of managing challenging problems by developing practical workable solutions to address them
  • Ability to communicate vision to staff and manage change effectively

Desirable Criteria

  • Previous proven experience in a healthcare setting

Trust Values

  • Working Together
  • Patients First
  • Always Improving

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Posted: July 13th, 2026