Associate Director of Operations

Job overview

Job overview The Associate Director of Operations for the specialist care group will work alongside an Associate Medical Director and an Associate Director of Nursing and Quality as a Trio to deliver safe and effective services.

The Trio work closely with the leads for psychological professions and allied health professionals.

The specialist care group covers services for :

• Children & Adolescent
• Inpatient & Community
• Early intervention services
• University services
• Addictions & Homelessness
• Deaf Mental Health
• Neurodiversity and LD
• Talking therapies
• Military Veterans
• Specialist psychology
• Eating disorders
• Perinatal

The Associate Director of Operations holds responsibility for the operational management and leadership of a designated portfolio. Key duties include ensuring financial stability and robust performance management to meet national and local targets, while supporting the Trust’s strategic and business plans. The role involves contributing to continuous improvement, service development across Greater Manchester, and deputising for the Chief Operating Officer where required.

Strategic responsibilities focus on implementing service redesigns, developing business cases, and identifying opportunities for new or expanded services in line with Trust priorities. The postholder also leads or contributes to service reviews and major projects, utilising specialist knowledge and analytical skills.

The role requires effective communication and positive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, and representing the Trust at external forums. The Associate Director is also responsible for promoting service user, carer, and staff involvement in service development, and for ensuring strong on-call and escalation arrangements.

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

• Pay Enhancements
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Excellent pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Wellbeing programme
• fuel Genie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Essential

Essential criteria

• A relevant health or social care qualification at degree level or relevant / equivalent experience.
• Significant track record of employment at a senior operational level delivering mental health services
• Considerable experience in operational leadership roles
• Evidence of leading service change with colleagues

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in partnerships with other organisations to deliver services with a wide range of Stakeholder working partnerships

Essential

Essential criteria

• Significant track record of employment at a senior operational level delivering mental health services

Desirable criteria

• Clear commitment to delivering quality user focused services
• Demonstrates a drive and passion to deliver to a standard of excellence adopting a continuous learning approach

Essential

Essential criteria

• Up to date knowledge of current health agenda locally and nationally
• Sound knowledge of clinical governance and effective systems
• a leadership style which supports the development of positive relationships and effective team work

• Knowledge and / or experience of policy development at national level

The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.

The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is…