Full job descriptionGeneral Manager – Access (Elective and Cancer)
Location: London
Contract: Fixed-term, Band 8D or competitive day rate
Contract end date: March 2027 (with chance of extension)


An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced General Manager – Access (Elective and Cancer) to join a large and complex healthcare organisation in London on a contract running until March 2027.


This is a high-profile senior leadership role with responsibility for driving performance across elective access and cancer pathways, alongside oversight of key operational services. Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and senior clinical and operational leaders, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure sustainable performance, strong governance and an excellent patient experience.


The Role
As General Manager – Access (Elective and Cancer), you will provide leadership across a broad portfolio, with key responsibilities including:
*Leading the delivery and oversight of elective access and cancer performance standards.
*Identifying emerging performance risks and ensuring robust recovery and improvement plans are in place.
*Providing expert leadership on access policy, pathway management, reporting, validation and data quality.
*Leading the development of sustainable elective care, capacity and demand strategies.
*Working with clinical and operational teams to deliver significant service and pathway improvements.
*Providing senior leadership across patient administration and associated operational functions.
*Supporting the delivery and improvement of outpatient and diagnostic services.
*Leading complex programmes of change across organisational and system boundaries.
*Developing productive relationships with senior clinicians, executives, commissioners and partner organisations across London.
*Managing senior teams and ensuring effective performance, development and succession planning.
*Contributing to financial planning, budget management and delivery of efficiency programmes.
*Representing the organisation at senior internal and external meetings.


About You
We are looking for an accomplished senior healthcare leader who can demonstrate:
*Significant senior management and leadership experience within the NHS or a similarly complex healthcare environment.
*A strong track record of delivering elective access and cancer performance.
*Extensive experience of performance management, operational improvement and complex service transformation.
*Strong knowledge of capacity and demand management and service improvement methodologies.
*Experience of leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams.
*Strong financial and budget management capability.
*The ability to interpret national policy and translate it into effective local delivery.
*Experience of working effectively with Executive-level colleagues and senior clinical leaders.
*Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills.
*The ability to operate confidently in a complex, high-pressure and politically sensitive environment.
*Highly developed analytical, problem-solving and strategic planning skills.