Head of Operations

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

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.

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 time frames 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.

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.

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

• 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

• 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…