Job summary
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work at the heart of one of the largest and most complex NHS foundation trusts in the country, providing senior business management support directly to the Trust Chief Executive of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

As Senior Business Manager to the Trust Chief Executive, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Chief Executive is fully supported, well briefed and able to operate effectively across the full breadth of their responsibilities. This is a high-profile, fast-paced and influential role, working closely with the Executive Director Team, senior leaders across the Trust, system partners across Greater Manchester and the North West, NHS England colleagues and other key stakeholders.

We are looking for an exceptional individual with sound judgement, excellent political awareness, strong analytical skills and the confidence to work with senior colleagues on sensitive, confidential and complex issues. You will bring pace, professionalism and discretion, together with the ability to produce clear briefings, reports and presentations that support effective decision-making at the most senior level. You will be comfortable operating independently, using judgement and initiative to ensure that the Chief Executive's time, attention and engagement are focused where they can have the greatest impact.

Main duties of the job

• Provide high-quality, comprehensive and responsive business support to the Trust Chief Executive, coordinating priorities, preparing briefing materials, overseeing follow-up actions and working with the Trust Chief Executive's Executive Assistant to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the Chief Executive's office.
• Support the planning and delivery of important meetings led or chaired by the Trust Chief Executive, including the Trust Leadership Team Committee and Executive Director Team meetings.
• Support the planning of high profile service visits, external engagements and stakeholder meetings aligned to the Trust's strategic, communication and engagement priorities.
• Draft and coordinate Board and Committee papers, prepare clear and impactful presentations, provide concise briefings ahead of key meetings and contribute to projects, policy development, research and audit work as required.
• Coordinate Executive Directors' objective setting and review processes
• Support the management of the Chief Executive's office resources and identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of office systems, including through digital solutions and appropriate use of AI.
• Analyse and interpret complex information and translate it into clear, accurate and practical advice.
• Work with senior leaders, with the ability to influence with tact and diplomacy, and maintain discretion when handling complex, sensitive or contentious matters.

About us
MFT is one of the largest NHS Trust In England with a turnover of over £3bn & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We're creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.

Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 30,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you'll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.

We've also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research, and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our Electronic Patient Record system which launched in September 2022.

We're proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What's more, we're excited to be embarking on our Green Plan which sets out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more sustainable.

At MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open, and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.

Details
Date posted: 22 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 349-COR-8311207-RL3
Job locations: Cobbett House, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

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, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.
Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december
DBS Update Service
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person Specification
Qualification/Experience
Essential

• Master's or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Business and / or project management qualification.

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of MFT and GM health and social care more broadly.
• Highly detailed knowledge of the NHS and current national, regional and local strategy and policy.
• Knowledge and experience of managing staff within a healthcare setting.
• Knowledge and experience of project/programme and business management.

Training And Experience
Essential

• Management of resources with a good history of change management, efficiency savings and project management.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders.
• Experience of project management, report writing and imaginative planning.
• Experience of managing a diverse team.
• Experience of successfully managing the implementation of change.
• Experience of identifying education and training needs of staff
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Desirable

• Leading an office function for an Executive Director/Chief Executive.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Cobbett House, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Director of Corporate Business/ Board Secretary, Nick Gomm, nick.gomm@mft.nhs.uk, 01612764841

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.