Director of Operations – Community Services

£85,000 + Performance Bonus

West Midlands

Full-Time, Permanent | Hybrid

Are you a senior operational leader with a proven track record of driving transformation and scaling complex healthcare services?

Do you thrive in high-growth, fast-moving environments where efficiency, technology, and patient experience must evolve without compromising quality?

We’re supporting a well-established healthcare organisation delivering NHS-partnered elective and community care services across multiple regions. With ambitious growth plans and a commitment to innovation, the organisation is seeking a Director of Operations to lead a critical part of the business and drive operational excellence.

This newly created, senior role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the operational function, embed best practice, and influence strategic decision-making. You will report directly into the Executive team and be responsible for leading large multidisciplinary teams, improving service performance, and ensuring sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Delivery

• Take full accountability for the end-to-end delivery of elective and community care services commissioned through NHS partnerships
• Lead large, geographically dispersed clinical and operational teams through senior managers and heads of service
• Ensure safe, compliant, and efficient service delivery aligned with NHS standards and contractual commitments
• Maintain a visible presence, engaging with frontline teams to understand current operations and identify improvement opportunities

Change, Transformation & Scalability

• Lead operational transformation programmes to support sustainable growth without proportional cost increases
• Identify and address legacy processes, operational inefficiencies, and capacity constraints
• Drive adoption of technology-enabled solutions to improve workforce planning, scheduling, and patient experience
• Support and deliver projects to optimise patient pathways, service access, and operational workflows

Workforce Planning & Patient Experience

• Oversee workforce planning across salaried and contractor models
• Optimise rostering, capacity planning, and resource allocation
• Work closely with patient experience teams to enhance service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, and improve patient access
• Collaborate on initiatives to modernise contact centre operations and partner-delivered services

Commercial & Strategic Contribution

• Partner with Commercial and Executive colleagues on mobilisation of new contracts, renewals, and service expansions
• Provide operational insight to strategic and commercial decision-making
• Ensure operational readiness for new services and increased patient demand

Governance, Performance & Stakeholder Management

• Ensure compliance with CQC standards, NHS requirements, and internal governance frameworks
• Monitor and report on KPIs, service performance, and operational dashboards
• Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, system partners, and internal stakeholders
• Act as a visible, credible senior leader within the organisation and externally

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Essential:

• Significant senior operational leadership experience within NHS-partnered or independent healthcare services, including elective or community pathways
• Experience managing large, complex multidisciplinary teams
• Strong track record in workforce planning, scheduling, and operational optimisation
• Demonstrated experience driving change and transformation in fast-growth or mature organisations
• Commercial awareness and ability to operate alongside senior commercial and executive colleagues
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, high-growth, and change-led environments

Desirable:

• Experience in high-volume outpatient or elective specialties
• Exposure to contact centre or patient experience functions at scale
• Experience implementing technology-enabled transformation or service improvement initiatives

Personal Attributes:

• Approachable, visible, and non-hierarchical leadership style
• Comfortable getting involved with frontline teams, deeming no task below them
• Pragmatic, adaptable, and solutions-focused
• Confident influencing at Executive level while remaining collaborative and accountable

What’s On Offer

• Competitive basic salary
• Performance-related bonus
• Hybrid working with regional travel to operational sites
• A genuinely senior, autonomous leadership role with significant influence over strategy and delivery
• Opportunity to lead and shape a major operational division within a high-growth healthcare provider
• Exposure to executive decision-making and long-term career progression
• A values-driven organisation committed to innovation, service quality, and sustainable growth

Interested?

To apply or learn more, contact Tom Fitch on 02393 874295, or send your CV to tfitch@compassltd.co.uk