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Graduate Operational Management Apprentice
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust View all jobs
Posted 17 day(s) ago
Reference: 287-AMED-178-26
Job summary
Graduate Operational Management Apprentice
This is a unique opportunity to join Aintree University Hospital on a 36-month graduate development programme. You will gain hands-on experience in operational management through rotational placements across clinical and corporate services, working alongside senior managers and multidisciplinary teams.
You will contribute to key areas including capacity management, performance, workforce coordination and service improvement, with increasing responsibility over time. Alongside this, you will complete the Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager apprenticeship and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme.
This programme is designed to develop future NHS operational leaders and prepare you for progression into senior management roles.
This is a locally managed Trust apprenticeship programme and is not part of the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme.
Annex 21 Pay Arrangement (36-Month Programme) Programme Year Period (Indicative) Annex 21 % of Band 6 salary Year 1 Sep - Aug (Year 1) 65% Year 2 Sep - Aug (Year 2) 70% Year 3 Sep - Aug (Year 3) 75%Main duties of the job
As an Operational Management Apprentice, you will undertake a structured development programme, gaining practical experience in NHS operational management through rotational placements across clinical services and support functions. You will be supported by senior operational and clinical leaders, with responsibilities increasing as your competence develops.
Your main duties will include:
Service delivery and performance:Supporting day-to-day operations, coordinating activity, resources and capacity, and contributing to performance monitoring and improvement against local and national standards.
Leadership and workforce:Supporting operational teams, contributing to workforce coordination and communication, and developing leadership capability through multidisciplinary working.
Quality, improvement and governance:Assisting with audits, data analysis, and improvement activity, while supporting governance processes, risk management, and compliance.
Planning, finance and resource management:Gaining experience in operational planning, demand and capacity, and contributing to financial and resource management, including business cases and improvement initiatives.
Education and development:Completing the required learning with protected learning time, portfolio development, End-Point Assessment, and delivery of a Trust-priority improvement project.
The postholder will work flexibly across services, with responsibilities progressing in line with development.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Details
Date posted
16 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£39,959 to £48,117 a year Per annum (Annex 21)
Contract
Apprenticeship
Duration
36 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
287-AMED-178-26
Job locations
Aintree University Hospital
Lower Ln, Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Graduate Operational Management Apprentice will be an integral member of the Aintree University Hospital management community, contributing to operational delivery across a range of services and functions.
Reporting to a General Service Manager and supported by senior operational leaders, the postholder will undertake a structured developmental role designed to build capability in NHS operational management through supervised responsibility, rotational experience and formal learning.
Responsibilities will span service delivery, performance management, workforce coordination, quality improvement, governance activity and operational planning. The role is explicitly developmental; responsibility, autonomy and decisionmaking authority will increase over time in line with assessed competence and formal review.
Important informationCompletion of the Graduate Operational Management Apprentice Programme does not guarantee appointment to a substantive role. Where suitable vacancies exist, individuals will be supported to apply through open recruitment processes in line with Trust policy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Graduate Operational Management Apprentice will be an integral member of the Aintree University Hospital management community, contributing to operational delivery across a range of services and functions.
Reporting to a General Service Manager and supported by senior operational leaders, the postholder will undertake a structured developmental role designed to build capability in NHS operational management through supervised responsibility, rotational experience and formal learning.
Responsibilities will span service delivery, performance management, workforce coordination, quality improvement, governance activity and operational planning. The role is explicitly developmental; responsibility, autonomy and decisionmaking authority will increase over time in line with assessed competence and formal review.
Important informationCompletion of the Graduate Operational Management Apprentice Programme does not guarantee appointment to a substantive role. Where suitable vacancies exist, individuals will be supported to apply through open recruitment processes in line with Trust policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree minimum 2:2 (any discipline)
- Evidence of academic or professional learning demonstrating analytical ability
- Willingness and ability to undertake a Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager apprenticeship
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc, MBA, MRes, PGCert/PGDip)
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a complex, fast-paced organisational environment
- Experience coordinating people, processes, projects or workstreams
- Exposure to operational delivery, service performance, or improvement activity
Desirable
- Experience within the NHS, healthcare, or public sector
- Experience of supporting or delivering change or improvement initiatives
- Experience working with performance or management information
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the role of operations management in service delivery
- Awareness of performance, demand, capacity or workflow concepts
- Awareness of governance, accountability and professional standards in organisations
Desirable
- Awareness of NHS operational pressures and priorities
- Knowledge of quality improvement or change management approaches
Skills
Essential
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to interpret data and information to support decision-making
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to plan, prioritise and manage competing demands
- Ability to influence, engage and build professional relationships
Desirable
- Presentation or report-writing skills
Behaviours
Essential
- Demonstrates behaviours aligned to LUHFT values
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Resilience and adaptability in demanding environments
- Openness to feedback and commitment to continuous development
- Demonstrated interest in a career in NHS operational leadership
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate degree minimum 2:2 (any discipline)
- Evidence of academic or professional learning demonstrating analytical ability
- Willingness and ability to undertake a Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager apprenticeship
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc, MBA, MRes, PGCert/PGDip)
Experience
Essential
- Experience working in a complex, fast-paced organisational environment
- Experience coordinating people, processes, projects or workstreams
- Exposure to operational delivery, service performance, or improvement activity
Desirable
- Experience within the NHS, healthcare, or public sector
- Experience of supporting or delivering change or improvement initiatives
- Experience working with performance or management information
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of the role of operations management in service delivery
- Awareness of performance, demand, capacity or workflow concepts
- Awareness of governance, accountability and professional standards in organisations
Desirable
- Awareness of NHS operational pressures and priorities
- Knowledge of quality improvement or change management approaches
Skills
Essential
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to interpret data and information to support decision-making
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to plan, prioritise and manage competing demands
- Ability to influence, engage and build professional relationships
Desirable
- Presentation or report-writing skills
Behaviours
Essential
- Demonstrates behaviours aligned to LUHFT values
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Resilience and adaptability in demanding environments
- Openness to feedback and commitment to continuous development
- Demonstrated interest in a career in NHS operational leadership
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).
Additional information
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
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Aintree University Hospital
Lower Ln, Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Aintree University Hospital
Lower Ln, Liverpool
L9 7AL
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)