PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Drives and supports the business development agenda of the CSU including assessing and innovating business opportunities, working with the speciality teams in promoting LTHT Pathology services to attract new business, and supporting cost-effective service delivery Actively assists in the development and management of the CSU Waste Reduction Programme to ensure financial balance involving the analysis of both pay and non-pay budgets to identify recurrent savings Makes judgements involving complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation and the comparison of a range of options resulting in differing expert opinions and conflict; e.g. managing clinical risks; agreeing strategies to meet patient access targets, changing working practices Contributes to the CSUs service development and revenue generation agenda by identifying and assessing strategic options e.g. new service recipients, service redesign; capacity and demand management; financial planning and quality improvement. Presents proposals to the Service Manager or General Manager to input to the broader strategic debate within the Trust. Understands the whole systems impact liaising with external partners as appropriate Leads the development, monitoring and delivery of business and service plans and processes towards Trust and National policies and targets Manages the integration of a variety of resources to deliver targets/patient pathways the majority of which are ongoing Assists in the development of and monitors activity plans for the CSU, making adjustments as necessary Leads the development of business cases whether for changes to service, new equipment or new posts which impact across the whole organisation Participates in the CSU involvement of patients and representative groups in service planning and development. Works in partnership with CSU colleagues and other CSU Teams and external agencies to ensure high quality patient care is delivered within Trust frameworks the Trusts short to medium term objectives are delivered Leads and motivates staff in the delivery of quality patient care across complex clinical and business environments and services Identifies and leads projects to modernise and improve service delivery and patient access Participates appropriately in the investigation of complaints On behalf of the General Manager, leads specific project work within the CSU and on cross-CSU issues Assist with policy development across the organisation relevant to local area e.g. MAJAX, Winter Plan, National Service Frameworks Ensures the local implementation of Trust policies and procedures e.g. People and Corporate Governance, Health and Safety Develops and monitors Service Level Agreements and devises prices for services provided to the CSUs customers (internal and external) Support the Service Manager in managing their budgets to ensure the efficient and effective use of such resources and the achievement of all financial targets Has the capability to provide leadership to any staff they may line-manage, to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to set objectives, monitor performance, agree and review development needs and ensure staff understand and can achieve the required results. Assists in disciplinary and grievance matters Identifies information needs of the CSU and ensures the accuracy and use of information related to patient processes Produces reports and proposals, including spreadsheets, some of which are complex and involve bids for additional funding from Commissioners Supports the Service Manager or General Manager in the interface with commissioners Contributes to Trust wide activities taking a lead responsibility for selected pieces of work Responsible for co-ordinating the procurement of medical and scientific capital equipment via the Trusts MSE process Undertakes audit work to facilitate service improvement and collates and presents research results Plans a broad range of activities with customers and potential customers that involves formulation of plans which require on-going review and adjustment Contribute to bid/no bid decisions to lead the Trusts response to ITTs Analyse current services to identify service improvement opportunities, potential cost savings (including the re-evaluation of sendaways), client retention strategies and potential to extend the CSUs test repertoire and/or the current client base. In conjunction with the Service Manager to develop, implement and update the business development strategy for their specialty area/s within Pathology, to include income targets and promote the current test repertoire to deliver revenue generation Core Knowledge and Understanding for the post: Demonstrates and understanding of both the NHS culture and of the culture of different health professional groups Sound understanding of the NHS modernisation agenda to include priorities from the Department of Health, Monitor, Healthcare Commission, National, Local and Trust Targets. Work within the Trusts Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions and Clinical Governance arrangements. Work within the Trusts Capital and Corporate Planning procedures. Understanding and experience of effective information analysis, data interpretation and presentation, and software applications essential for communicating business, finance and workforce plans. Good sound knowledge and understanding of writing comprehensive business cases Work within the Trusts HR guidance and toolkits for HR processes to include workforce planning, recruitment and selection, honorary contracts Understanding of Trust Policy and Procedure, e.g. HR/Risk Management/Clinical Governance Understanding of Commissioning, contracting and service agreements Understanding of management and operational arrangements in the Trust Behaviours and Skills: Ability to work under significant and sustained pressure and to highly demanding and often conflicting timescales. Ability to maintain systems for keeping abreast of changes in the NHS and their impact on the CSU Commitment to team working with the ability to take personal responsibility for difficult decision making. Ability to monitor, maintain and improve service delivery Awareness of strategic direction and ensure local business plans to take account of the overall direction of the Trust Ability to communicate and network effectively, negotiate and influence others taking into account the multi-professional and organisational cultures. Highly developed communication skills to enable the development of workforce and capacity planning and ensure that departmental business plans and continually changing service plans and schedules are updated to meet service needs Ability to produce a range of documents to varying audiences, both internal and external to the Trust some of which is of a confidential, sensitive or contentious nature Possess change management skills to include service reconfiguration Ability to establish processes and systems within the Directorate to develop and monitor financial and business plans across specialist services working collaboratively with other CSUs engaging co-ordinated support with Contracts, Finance and Transport colleagues where appropriate Ability to work collaboratively with the wider NHS community in the region and other significant stakeholders relevant to Pathology business delivery Essential Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development, including a management qualification or post graduate diploma Experience of middle management level Experience of working within a Pathology environment Evidence of successful operational management in a multi-professional environment Experience of day-to-day people management and ability to develop others Experience of budget planning and management Experience in devising and delivering business plans and strategies Ability to proactively innovate potential revenue streams, devising pricing strategies / mechanisms and service level agreements. Operational planning and implementation Understanding of the NHS modernisation agenda Demonstrates strong analytical skills, literacy and numeracy Negotiation and influencing skills and diplomacy Ability to communicate in a complex service Evidence of developing effective working relationships within and beyond employing organisation Effective team leader and team player