Head of Operations

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Head of Operations

The closing date is 17 February 2026

The division of MET are recruiting to two new Head of Operations posts, with critical remits within our newly merged division.

We are seeking highly organised, experienced and dynamic leaders to head up the operational delivery of 2 care groups.

Our Integrated Care Group is responsible for delivering the division's elective operating plan, including RTT and DM01 performance of large medical specialty services across 3 sites. These specialties also provide crucial non-elective and acute ward care on the Northwick Park and Ealing Hospital sites and are therefore accountable for delivering timely in-patient care which responsibly progresses care and timely discharge, through one of the busiest non-elective trusts in the country.

Our In-patient Care Group is responsible for leading and delivering on the effective implementation and delivery of ward care standards and patient discharge standards. This will include the reliable and effective use of care coordination tools, such that data-driven improvement initiatives are credibly measured and understood in our objective to responsibly use acute in-patient resource and minimise delays. Candidates with clinical experience may be suited to the Head of Operations role in this Care Group.

Successful candidates will deliver trust-wide recovery and transformation programmes, developing staff through training and ensuring performance accountability. As people leaders, our Heads of Operations will be excellent communicators, maximise staff engagement, deploy resources efficiently, and ensure workforce KPIs are met.

They will build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, represent the Trust in sensitive situations, and keep abreast of policy and regulatory changes.

Main duties of the job

The Post holder will deputise for the Divisional Director of Operations as required.

Under the Divisional Director of Operations leadership, the Care Group Head of Operations will:

Work collaboratively with the Care Group Head of Nursing and Care Group Clinical Lead

Work with the Divisional management team in driving forward directorate wide programmes of work and service direction.

Support with bringing together divisional and corporate recovery plans aligned to short and long-term objectives.

Communicate complex concepts to a range of staff groups and clinicians and effectively negotiate barriers to change to ensure plans are delivered to timeframes and expectations.

Work in collaboration with the Divisional Director of Operations to shape and implement the corporate objectives for the Trust.

Work with the directorates on large strategic business cases related to recovery and service change, ensuring that the costs, benefits, risks and income and expenditure of such schemes are fully understood and prepared for presentation to the relevant committee for approval prior to commencement.

About us

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Job responsibilities

For full role duties and responsibilities please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification

Person Specification Education/ Qualifications

• Educated to master's level in a relevant area or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of post-qualifying and continuing professional development
• Expert and relevant knowledge gained through further post qualification specialist training or experience

Knowledge & Experience

• Substantial experience in a senior leadership role in a large NHS organisation
• Experience of developing and delivering large scale operational improvement and trust-wide efficiency programmes
• Strong background in operational management with proven track record of delivery across a range of specialities/services
• Strong background in financial and analytical management demonstrating an understanding of current NHS structures and key policies affecting it.
• In-depth understanding of current NHS plans and strategies and how to implement them.
• Experience in delivering transformational change at a large scale.
• Evidence of translating complex concepts into key messages and writing clear reports and presentations
• Evidence of presenting complex concepts to different audiences and assured messages are received.
• Experience in working closely with clinical teams to develop and implement improvement opportunities.
• Substantial experience of managing teams at all levels including those from a range of clinical disciplines

Skills, Abilities, and Attributes

• Ability to manage successful and sustainable improvement delivery during a period of change and transition.
• Experience in making and advising on complex decisions involving financial and operational risk and sensitivities up to and including Board level
• Ability to influence and persuade others, creating successful and effective working relationships through strong, positive, professional interpersonal skills and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Outstanding organisational skills with an ability to prioritise, be flexible and always ensure that high quality, timely work is produced by yourself and those you manage.
• Ability to offer expert opinion and judgement on a range of operational management scenarios.
• Ability to provide advice and support across all disciplines clinical and non-clinical.
• Ability to provide and receive, convey, and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious concepts to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement, and dealing effectively with hostile or emotional responses.
• Ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources internal and external and present it so it is understood by all audiences.
• Demonstrate sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent.
• Ability to act with minimal guidance and set goals and standards for others

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.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

£97,283 to £111,278 a yearPer annum including HCAS + Silver On-Call Allowance