​​​​​​​Deputy Director of Operations – Healthcare Services

Deputy Director of Operations – Healthcare Services

£86,000 to £95,000 per annum

UK-wide | Full-time | Permanent

Hybrid working – Regular national travel across England

Key Locations - London, West Midlands, South Yorkshire

Are you an experienced senior operational leader with a strong track record of managing complex, multi-site services and driving operational performance, quality and financial sustainability?

Compass Associates is partnering with an established and growing UK healthcare organisation to appoint a Deputy Director of Operations. This is a strategically important senior leadership appointment, offering the opportunity to take responsibility for a substantial national portfolio and play a key role in the organisation's continued development.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Director of Operations, the successful candidate will initially lead a substantial clinical services portfolio, spanning two divisions, 12 treatment centres and c.60 community-hub settings.

You will lead through senior operational managers, providing accountability for operational performance, financial management, workforce sustainability, quality, governance and service improvement. A key part of the role will be providing clear operational assurance to the Director of Operations, identifying areas of risk and ensuring consistent standards across a geographically dispersed network.

This is a hands-on operational leadership position rather than a purely strategic or transformation-focused role. You will need to maintain a visible presence across the portfolio, understand what is happening at site level and know when to intervene, challenge or provide support.

The organisation is continuing to invest in its services, facilities and pathways. The role has also been designed to evolve over time, providing an ambitious individual with the opportunity to take on further responsibilities and portfolios as they develop within the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior operational leadership across a national portfolio of 12 regional centres and 60+ community-based service settings.
• Lead and develop two Divisional Managers, strengthening accountability and leadership capability.
• Take responsibility for operational performance, service delivery, workforce sustainability and financial outcomes.
• Provide clear operational assurance to the Director of Operations, identifying risks and ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Drive consistency, productivity and performance improvement across geographically dispersed services.
• Oversee quality, governance, safeguarding, regulatory compliance and operational risk.
• Lead service improvement, transformation and pathway redesign initiatives.
• Support effective workforce planning, succession development and leadership capability.
• Build strong relationships with clinical, operational and corporate stakeholders, as well as external partners and commissioners.
• Maintain a visible presence across service locations, prioritising time and support according to operational need.
• Deputise for the Director of Operations when required.

Essential Experience

• Substantial senior operational leadership experience within a regulated clinical healthcare provider, such as an independent healthcare provider, private hospital group, outpatient network or specialist clinical services organisation.
• Proven experience leading multi-site clinical operations across regional or national portfolios.
• Direct accountability for the operational delivery of clinical services, including service performance, workforce, quality, patient/client experience and financial outcomes.
• Experience leading through senior operational managers, divisional leaders or operations managers across geographically dispersed services.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, safeguarding, regulatory compliance and operational risk within a healthcare environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing significant operational budgets, improving productivity and delivering financial sustainability.
• A track record of driving operational improvement, service redesign and organisational transformation across multiple locations.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of balancing financial performance with quality of clinical service delivery.
• Confident engaging with senior executives, clinicians, clinical directors and external stakeholders.
• A visible and hands-on leadership approach, with the ability to assess operational performance and understand challenges at individual site level.
• Experience working within an organisation delivering direct clinical services is essential.

Location – This is a UK-wide role, with an agreed base at an appropriate service location or office. Regular travel across England will be required to provide leadership and oversight across the national portfolio. Key meeting locations include London, Birmingham, and Yorkshire, with occasional overnight stays (if required).

Candidates must be comfortable with frequent travel and maintaining a visible presence across the services. A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel independently are highly desirable.

Interested? For a confidential discussion or to apply, please apply today or contact Tom Fitch on 02393 874295 or [email protected].

Referrals: We offer a £500 voucher for every successful recommendation or referral.