Job summary
We are looking for an experienced senior operational leader for the role of Divisional Director for Diagnostics and Therapies, available as a six-month secondment at Band 9, based at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

The Divisional Director is jointly accountable with the Clinical Chair for the effective and efficient leadership of the Diagnostics and Therapies Division, ensuring the safe, high-quality and sustainable delivery of patient care.

The postholder has direct accountability for divisional governance, operational and performance delivery, service improvement, finance, capital programmes and workforce strategy, and will ensure that plans are developed, monitored and delivered against agreed local, national and regulatory requirements.

As a member of the Divisional Board and Trust Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will work across organisational boundaries to shape and deliver the Trust's strategic objectives and make a positive contribution to health services across the local system.

Main duties of the job

• Apply extensive senior leadership and operational management expertise gained within a medium or large acute healthcare provider.
• Maintain a strong understanding of NHS policy, regulatory frameworks, corporate and clinical governance, quality, risk, finance, workforce and service improvement.
• Interpret and implement clinical and professional policies and NHS guidance at divisional level, advising the Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director as required.
• Maintain continuing professional development and use evidence, audit and research to inform decision-making.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

• Set divisional objectives and lead long-term service and business planning to deliver sustainable, financially viable services.
• Translate corporate, local and national strategies into clear objectives, delivery plans and measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate the delivery of major capital programmes, productivity plans, workforce strategy, governance arrangements and improvement programmes across multiple specialties.
• Develop business cases and service-level agreements and align interdependent plans with other divisions, corporate functions, commissioners and NHS providers.

For the full list of responsibilities, please read the Job Description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential

• Extensive leadership and operational management experience in a medium or large acute healthcare provider

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS1 3NU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Chief Operating Officer, Philip Kiely, philip.kiely@uhbw.nhs.uk

Details
Date posted: 22 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 9
Salary: £112,782 to £129,783 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-DT2376-KM
Job locations: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS1 3NU, United Kingdom