University College London Hospital • London NW1 2PG
About this role
The Head of Site is responsible for the safe, effective, and efficient operational management of all UCLH sites.
The postholder ensures that capacity, patient flow and escalation arrangements operate optimally 24/7, enabling clinical teams to deliver timely, high quality care while meeting constitutional performance standards and Trust-wide priorities.
The role has oversight of a portfolio of central operational functions, including the Coordination Centre, Patient Flow, Transport and Front Door, with scope for additional services to be incorporated as the portfolio evolves.
A core element of the role is the management of senior stakeholder relationships, both within the Trust and across the wider local healthcare system. As a system leader, the postholder will work across organisational boundaries to resolve complex operational challenges, drive operational excellence and achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
Provide senior leadership and accountability for Site Operations, overseeing the Trust’s 24/7 Coordination Centre, patient flow, transport services and front door functions to ensure safe, efficient and patient focused care.
Lead inpatient flow, capacity, discharge and site safety across all locations, and coordinating responses to operational incidents.
Own the Trust-wide Patient Flow Strategy, driving continuous improvement through quality improvement, digital optimisation and system collaboration, embedding sustainable best practice across divisions.
Provide strategic leadership for Non-Emergency Patient Transport, ensuring safe, timely and dignified transport that supports admissions, transfers and discharges.
Lead high-quality front door and administrative services, improving access, customer experience, efficiency and workforce productivity.
Hold delegated responsibility for operational budgets and capital planning, ensuring strong financial control and achievement of local cost improvement targets.
Lead, manage and develop staff, fostering high performance, openness and engagement, ensuring effective workforce planning, appraisal and recruitment.
Ensure robust clinical governance, risk management and compliance with regulatory standards, complaints handling, legal processes and information governance.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
This advert closes on Sunday 17 May 2026
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