Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team!

The Deputy Operations Manager for Portering Services plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and responsive delivery of Portering services across the Trust. This is a dynamic leadership position that supports the smooth running of patient flow and essential operational activity across both Southampton General Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital sites.

Working at the heart of the Portering Leadership team, you will lead and coordinate Portering Supervisors and Porters, ensuring high standards of performance, safety, and service quality are consistently achieved. Your work directly supports clinical teams and contributes to the Trust’s ability to deliver timely, compassionate, and effective patient care.

You will have a significant impact on operational continuity,  overseeing staff deployment, resolving live service issues, supporting emergency response, and ensuring Portering activity aligns with patient flow priorities. You will also play a key role in service improvement, data-informed decision-making, and the implementation of new systems and technologies that enhance efficiency and quality.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts, University Hospital Southampton offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast. 

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS, we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients. 

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A detailed job description and person specification is attached but please see further information below. 

In this role, you will play a key part in leading and shaping a Trust‑wide Portering service that supports safe, efficient patient flow across Southampton General and Princess Anne Hospital sites. 

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating the Portering workforce, providing day‑to‑day management of Supervisors and Porters, ensuring staff are deployed effectively, and service standards are consistently met.

• Managing live operational activity, resolving issues independently, supporting emergency response, and ensuring continuity of service across all shifts using digital task management and rostering systems.

• Driving service quality and improvement, monitoring performance data, supporting audits, producing reports, and contributing to the implementation of new systems and technologies.

• Supporting staff development and compliance, overseeing training, induction, appraisal processes, and ensuring adherence to Trust policies, Health & Safety requirements, and infection‑control standar

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will make a direct impact on patient experience, operational efficiency, and the smooth running of essential hospital services. 

We are looking for someone who brings strong operational leadership, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to manage a busy, fast‑moving service. 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Experience supervising or coordinating Portering in a healthcare or fast paced operational environment.

• Experience of delivering a service through an operational team, including staff deployment, roster management, prioritising and adjusting  resources to meet changing demands

• Experience of a portering service including patient and equipment transfers would be an added extra but can be taught.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate staff, build positive working relationships, and maintain professionalism under pressure.

• The ability to work independently, using sound judgement, initiative, and analytical thinking to resolve issues and support service improvement.

Additional Information

The postholder will report to the Portering Operations Manager and work closely with the Site Operations Team, clinical departments, and a wide range of internal stakeholders. You will also deputise for the Portering Operations Manager when required, providing leadership across shifts and ensuring the service remains resilient, well‑coordinated, and responsive to operational demands.

NHS experience is welcome, but we also encourage applications from candidates with operational management experience in sectors such as the Armed Forces, retail, catering, warehousing, or similar service environments.

If you have experience leading teams on site, delivering services through others, and creating a supportive and engaged workforce, we would like to hear from you.

This role supports a 7‑day service, so the postholder will be required to work across a rota that includes weekdays and weekends.

Training will be provided, and opportunities will be available to develop leadership skills and advance within the Portering management structure.