Job summary
University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust is on a journey to become a high-quality, high-performing, patient-centred organisation, delivering timely, compassionate care while creating an exceptional environment for staff to work, learn, and innovate.
As part of our clinically led, operationally delivered, and digitally enabled model, we are seeking an outstanding operational leader to join our Surgical Division as Divisional Director of Operations. This pivotal role forms part of the Divisional Triumvirate alongside the Divisional Medical Director and Divisional Director of Nursing & Integrated Professions.
You will lead the development and delivery of the Divisional Operating Plan, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and high reliability. Responsibilities include optimising patient flow, access, and quality across urgent, elective, and specialist pathways; managing operational performance and financial control; and supporting workforce planning, development, and wellbeing. You will work closely with clinical teams to balance day-to-day performance with long-term service transformation.
Collaboration is central to this role. You will engage with colleagues across UHP, corporate teams, and system partners--including Integrated Care Boards, commissioners, and NHS England--to shape pathways, improve patient experience, and optimise resource.
Main duties of the job
The Divisional Director of Operations plays a pivotal leadership role in directing and leading the delivery of high quality, high performing safe and efficient services across the Division. Reporting directly to the Divisional Medical Director and professionally to the Chief Operating Officer this role will work alongside the Divisional Director of Nursing and Integrated Professions as part of the triumvirate and will be accountable for operational performance and delivery, service development and productivity and delivery of care aligned with Trust priorities.
The postholder will provide visible leadership for the operational and managerial agenda, ensuring that services meet operational targets, quality standards, financial targets, workforce plans, and national and local performance expectations. This includes leading the development and implementation of the Divisional Annual Operating Plan and leading on key priorities as agreed with the Executive Team across the organisation, representing the Trust with partners, commissioners and regulators.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Leadership & Strategy
Reporting to the Divisional Medical Director and as part of the Divisional Leadership team with a professional leadership line to the Chief Operating Officer.
a) Drive delivery of the Trusts corporate objectives, vision, values, and culture through the creation and execution of annual Divisional objectives and operational plans.
b) Lead the achievement of national and local performance targets within the Division, taking proactive and timely corrective actions where standards deviate.
c) Direct, design and implement performance recovery plans where necessary, leading and devolving to Directorate leadership teams where appropriate.
d) Support a culture of continuous improvement, service excellence, and innovation across the Division
e) Promote and embed a culture where safe, high-quality, and patient-centred care is consistently delivered, demonstrated by improvements in staff and patient feedback.
f) Lead the development and implementation of long-term service strategies that reflect the Trusts direction, integrating system and partner requirements and maximising efficiency and outcomes
g) Represent the Trust with external stakeholders and partner agencies, working collaboratively to improve patient pathways and system-wide integration..
h) Translate complex national and local strategy into clear, actionable Divisional plans and communicate these effectively across teams
i) Synthesise highly complex data and information to support decision-making and priority setting within the Divisional Triumvirate and Trust Executive.
For a detailed overview of the key responsibilities, including operational performance, quality governance, financial leadership, workforce wellbeing and development, and system collaboration, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Leadership & Strategy
Reporting to the Divisional Medical Director and as part of the Divisional Leadership team with a professional leadership line to the Chief Operating Officer.
a) Drive delivery of the Trusts corporate objectives, vision, values, and culture through the creation and execution of annual Divisional objectives and operational plans.
b) Lead the achievement of national and local performance targets within the Division, taking proactive and timely corrective actions where standards deviate.
c) Direct, design and implement performance recovery plans where necessary, leading and devolving to Directorate leadership teams where appropriate.
d) Support a culture of continuous improvement, service excellence, and innovation across the Division
e) Promote and embed a culture where safe, high-quality, and patient-centred care is consistently delivered, demonstrated by improvements in staff and patient feedback.
f) Lead the development and implementation of long-term service strategies that reflect the Trusts direction, integrating system and partner requirements and maximising efficiency and outcomes
g) Represent the Trust with external stakeholders and partner agencies, working collaboratively to improve patient pathways and system-wide integration..
h) Translate complex national and local strategy into clear, actionable Divisional plans and communicate these effectively across teams
i) Synthesise highly complex data and information to support decision-making and priority setting within the Divisional Triumvirate and Trust Executive.
For a detailed overview of the key responsibilities, including operational performance, quality governance, financial leadership, workforce wellbeing and development, and system collaboration, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive and demonstrable experience of operational leadership in a complex healthcare setting
- Demonstrable experience at Divisional or system level
- Confident in cross-divisional collaboration, leadership and matrix management.
- Proven track record in senior operations management and improvement delivery within acute or tertiary care.
- Robust proven knowledge of NHS performance frameworks, finance, risk, CQC, and transformation agendas
- Demonstrable experience of leading and managing substantial service change and redesign in a complex environment.
- Understanding of current NHS strategy and policy framework and their impact on provision of health care
- Demonstrable experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with external organisations to ensure delivery of Trust and health economy wide priorities
- Significant demonstrable experience of managing people, budgets, performance management and information systems
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience at Divisional or system level
- Proven knowledge of digital transformation, ICS models
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a relevant subject (or able to demonstrate equivalent experience)
- Master's degree or equivalent proven knowledge and demonstrable experience, plus significant further experience as above across a range of functions
- Proven evidence of extensive and recent commitment to continuing leadership development
Desirable
- Formal postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc Health Management)
- Clinical or professional qualification
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- Able to act and lead with a high degree of independence, taking timely and significant decisions
- Able to lead and transform culture, through others, across a significant number of teams and professions
- Ability to produce and present reports of the standard required by Trust Board, Trust Management Executive and other Trust and Division forums as required
- Ability to lead and develop teams via succession planning and coaching
- Ability to act independently and on own initiative.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Able to concentrate intensely for prolonged periods e.g. during Board/ Committee meetings, commissioner meetings
- Able to give and receive appropriate professional challenge/ feedback, for example where outcomes are not as expected or performance is not as expected
- Team player evidencing ability to develop relationships across divisions and lead effectively on trust wide initiatives
Desirable
- Coaching/mentoring
- Service improvement qualifications
Disposition / Attitude / Motivation
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage highly sensitive or contentious information in a sensitive way
- Excellent numeracy and literary skills.
- Exceptional leadership skills
- High levels of emotional intelligence and resilience
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Personal alignment with the Trust's key values
Desirable
- Requirement to travel within the Region
- Significant computer use will be involved in this role
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive and demonstrable experience of operational leadership in a complex healthcare setting
- Demonstrable experience at Divisional or system level
- Confident in cross-divisional collaboration, leadership and matrix management.
- Proven track record in senior operations management and improvement delivery within acute or tertiary care.
- Robust proven knowledge of NHS performance frameworks, finance, risk, CQC, and transformation agendas
- Demonstrable experience of leading and managing substantial service change and redesign in a complex environment.
- Understanding of current NHS strategy and policy framework and their impact on provision of health care
- Demonstrable experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with external organisations to ensure delivery of Trust and health economy wide priorities
- Significant demonstrable experience of managing people, budgets, performance management and information systems
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience at Divisional or system level
- Proven knowledge of digital transformation, ICS models
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in a relevant subject (or able to demonstrate equivalent experience)
- Master's degree or equivalent proven knowledge and demonstrable experience, plus significant further experience as above across a range of functions
- Proven evidence of extensive and recent commitment to continuing leadership development
Desirable
- Formal postgraduate qualification (MBA, MSc Health Management)
- Clinical or professional qualification
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- Able to act and lead with a high degree of independence, taking timely and significant decisions
- Able to lead and transform culture, through others, across a significant number of teams and professions
- Ability to produce and present reports of the standard required by Trust Board, Trust Management Executive and other Trust and Division forums as required
- Ability to lead and develop teams via succession planning and coaching
- Ability to act independently and on own initiative.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Able to concentrate intensely for prolonged periods e.g. during Board/ Committee meetings, commissioner meetings
- Able to give and receive appropriate professional challenge/ feedback, for example where outcomes are not as expected or performance is not as expected
- Team player evidencing ability to develop relationships across divisions and lead effectively on trust wide initiatives
Desirable
- Coaching/mentoring
- Service improvement qualifications
Disposition / Attitude / Motivation
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage highly sensitive or contentious information in a sensitive way
- Excellent numeracy and literary skills.
- Exceptional leadership skills
- High levels of emotional intelligence and resilience
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Personal alignment with the Trust's key values
Desirable
- Requirement to travel within the Region
- Significant computer use will be involved in this role
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
