Directors of Nursing- Specialist Hospitals & LCOs/UDHM Clinical Groups

Directors of Nursing - Specialist Hospitals & LCOs/UDHM Clinical Groups The closing date is 01 February 2026

Join MFT as we seek two pivotal Directors of Nursing for our Specialist Hospitals & Manchester & Trafford Local Care Organisations & University Dental Hospital of Manchester (LCOs & UDHM) Clinical Groups. Reporting to the Chief Executive & as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll provide visible, inspirational & professional leadership to Nurses & AHPs. Working alongside the Trust Chief Nurse, you'll champion & embed a culture of quality improvement, research & innovation, ensuring that all services are of high quality now & in the future, with the best care possible provided first time, every time.

Alongside the Clinical Group Medical Director, you'll provide strong & effective clinical leadership, improving, and sustaining clinical practices & standards across all services, including patient safety, patient experience, and clinical effectiveness, forming part of the overarching responsibility for the delivery of clinical governance & any regulatory and/or statutory requirements pertinent to the service.

At MFT, we foster a culture of inclusion & belonging, providing equal & transparent opportunities for career development & value wellbeing. As the Director of Nursing for Specialist Hospitals or LCOs & UDHM Clinical Groups, you'll help drive this culture, so all individuals thrive and feel a sense of belonging.

If this sounds like you & you have the skills, expertise & motivation to succeed in this career changing role, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• With extensive senior nursing & managerial experience across acute (or comparatively large and complex multi-disciplinary organisation), you'll be a self-motivated, innovative, compassionate & inclusive leader using a positive, strong influencing & coaching style & with an emphasis on high standards of patient care, safety & efficient and effective use of resources.
• With effective influencing and negotiation skills, you'll work collaboratively with the Trust Chief Nurse & other nursing & AHP colleagues across the Trust, anticipate & interpret national & regional policy for the Clinical Group & lead the implementation of any changes to practice that may be required.
• As a highly motivated, inspirational leader with the drive to deliver a commitment to excellence across all areas. You'll horizon scan, identify & act upon current & future strategic opportunities for the Clinical Group, ensuring they are aligned with the objectives of MFT as a whole.
• On behalf of the Trust Chief Nurse - MFT, you'll take the lead on specific programmes or projects across the Trust, working closely with colleagues from other Clinical Groups to ensure effective delivery of the programme's objectives.
• You'll ensure that the voices of patients, families & colleagues are always heard & listened to in the development of services & delivery of care, exercising skills of professional curiosity & appropriate challenge.

About us 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. We are an ambitious organisation, serving over 1 million patients and users annually through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are a driving force for innovation, clinical excellence, and system leadership across Greater Manchester.

As a senior leader at MFT, you will shape strategy and transformation at scale, working alongside a diverse, high-performing executive team. Our £3bn plus turnover and leading-edge digital infrastructure, including the Hive EPR, enable us to deliver integrated, patient-centred care and drive continuous improvement.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, values-led culture where your expertise, vision, and leadership will directly influence organisational direction and population health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to lead complex change, champion research and innovation, and develop future talent in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Join us to make a lasting impact on our Trust, our communities, and the future of healthcare.

Job responsibilities To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

Candidate Information Pack

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, email our team .

Were looking forward to hearing from you!

Person Specification Qualifications - Academic & Professional

• First-level Registered Nurse (Children's or Ophthalmology trained for Specialist Hospitals CG role)
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Masters-level degree in health-related subject or equivalent.
• Evidence of recent and relevant continuous professional development.
• Doctorate-level degree in health-related subject.
• Formal management or leadership qualification.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience Requirements - Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding personal impact. Highly developed interpersonal, networking, advocacy, written and presentation skills that are persuasive and influential and develop relationships that inspire respect, trust and confidence
• Ability to lead and work in a multi-disciplinary team, motivating others to secure continuous service improvement and successful outcomes.
• Highly developed analytical skills with the ability to think and act strategically, tactically and creatively, while maintaining a clear view of the issues affecting the Clinical Group and MFT.
• Ability to translate a strategic vision into operation action, to communicate those objectives and ensure they are adhered to.
• Ability to deal positively and promptly with colleagues' concerns and personal problems, challenge colleagues on any inappropriate behaviours or poor performance and investigate and deal with complaints as required.
• Ability to encourage multi-disciplinary professional working and problem solving.
• A high level of political awareness.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience - Knowledge and Experience

• Extensive senior level nursing leadership and managerial experience within an acute NHS Trust (or comparatively large and complex multi- disciplinary organisation).
• Extensive senior level nursing experience as a clinical practitioner.
• A clear appreciation of the context of acute healthcare provision within the modern NHS and understanding of the NHS Operating Framework.
• A strong understanding of national NHS policy and strategy as it relates to nursing staff, AHPs and broader clinical workforce, as well as current professional challenges.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical governance systems and risk management.
• A strong understanding of how MFT fits into the wider health and social care system.
• Experience of developing and implementing transformation programmes, including the management of service change, operational process improvement and cost reduction.
• Experience working on national programmes or contributing to national policy development.
• A successful track record of developing an organisational culture committed to high quality, people, financial and performance standards.
• Demonstrable success in building, developing and inspiring high performing multi-disciplinary teams, increasing staff engagement and innovation, and motivation to improve performance.
• Evidence of communicating successfully and working effectively in co- operation with a wide range of internal and external bodies, including statutory and non-statutory organisations, senior managers, colleagues and their representatives.
• Evidence of undertaking clinical audit and contributing to research programmes / studies and quality improvement.
• Understanding of regulation and preparedness.
• Extensive experience of leading and directing change and quality improvement in clinical practice, with evidence of successful outcomes and improvements in patient experience.
• Evidence of developing or implementing high profile initiatives underpinned by the national research and innovation agenda.
• A successful track record of delivering a long-term vision whilst responding to short-term challenges and opportunities, and defining clinical strategies in a senior level nursing role.

Personal Attributes

• Highly motivated, hard-working and self-confident individual with a drive to deliver and commitment to excellence across all areas. Inspires others and leads by example.
• Aligned to MFT's values.
• Able to communicate openly, effectively listen and is consistently approachable to colleagues.
• Works in a highly collaborative manner with colleagues across MFT and other system partners to ensure effective partnership work.
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