Job summary
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is looking for a forward-thinking and experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as Strategic Lead for Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs).
This pivotal role offers executive-level responsibility for overseeing the performance and strategic direction of our EOC services. With a core focus on emergency call handling, dispatch, clinical triage, and resource management, the postholder will play a key role in driving operational excellence and innovation across the Trust.
You will lead the development and implementation of new models of care, spearhead digital transformation initiatives, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, responsive services to the communities we serve.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the wider Clinical Operations team, you will provide strategic leadership to enhance system-wide collaboration, build operational resilience, and ensure the ongoing effectiveness and efficiency of our EOC functions.
We are seeking a strategic, ambitious, and collaborative leader with a strong background in urgent and emergency care operations. The ideal candidate will bring a proven ability to influence at senior levels and deliver measurable improvements in patient care, performance, and service delivery.
Main duties of the job
oProvide senior leadership across EEAST's emergency control rooms, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of 999 call handling and emergency dispatch services
oDrive service improvement, performance, and innovation through data-driven decision-making and robust governance
oLead, develop, and inspire a multidisciplinary team to ensure high levels of staff engagement, development, and retention
oSupport business continuity planning and ensure readiness to respond to major incidents and surges in demand
oCollaborate with NHS system partners, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and regional emergency services to enhance patient pathways and system coordination
oEnsure compliance with Regulatory requirements, including associated action plans
About us
You'll have the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse regions in the country, with the vibrant capital city just a stone's throw away and the invigorating North Sea coast to the east.
The East of England offers a unique blend of innovation and opportunity, surrounded by picturesque countryside, historic towns, and quick access to both the bustling capital and serene coastlines.
At EEAST we bring together all our skills to provide 24 hour, 365 days a year urgent care to those in need of emergency and non-emergency medical treatment and transport in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
We are always looking to innovate our approaches and work together to offer the best possible patient care across our counties.
We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as Black, Asian, or other ethnic groups, individuals with a Disability, or LGBTQ+ individuals who meet the specific criteria.
We at EEAST want to support our employees achieve a balance between work and other priorities, such as caring responsibilities, family commitments, further learning, and other interests. We therefore welcome flexible working requests.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking for a highly motivated and collaborative leader with:
Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with the ability to lead large, dispersed teams
Proven ability to drive transformation and manage performance in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking skills
Significant experience in managing complex operational services, ideally in an ambulance or NHS environment
A strong understanding of emergency control room functions, service delivery pressures, and the wider urgent and emergency care system
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking for a highly motivated and collaborative leader with:
Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with the ability to lead large, dispersed teams
Proven ability to drive transformation and manage performance in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking skills
Significant experience in managing complex operational services, ideally in an ambulance or NHS environment
A strong understanding of emergency control room functions, service delivery pressures, and the wider urgent and emergency care system
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree, equivalent professional qualifications and/or substantial demonstrable experience in a similar role or setting.
- Have or be willing to complete a Blue Light Driver Course to enable a response to a Major or Significant Incident for command purposes
- Full Driving Licence, valid in the UK and with no more than 6 penalty points (of SP30 only).
Desirable
- NARU occupational standards Strategic Commander accreditation (MAGIC)
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrating Continuous Personal Development including Management, Organisation Development and Change Management.
- Planning and prioritising conflicting demands and often unpredictable work patterns.
- Creating a clear vision and translating strategies into Operational Plans.
- Ability to manage performance and implement quality systems.
Personal Qualities, Abilities & Attributes
Essential
- Being accountable for results and actions and, in turn, holding others to account.
- Initiating, building, and maintaining relationships with internal and external key stakeholders, developing partnerships and cooperative working.
- Demonstrating a passion for the delivery of quality services.
Experience
Essential
- Significant, successful senior management experience
- Proven ability to improve operational performance at a senior level.
- Proven budget management experience
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's Degree, equivalent professional qualifications and/or substantial demonstrable experience in a similar role or setting.
- Have or be willing to complete a Blue Light Driver Course to enable a response to a Major or Significant Incident for command purposes
- Full Driving Licence, valid in the UK and with no more than 6 penalty points (of SP30 only).
Desirable
- NARU occupational standards Strategic Commander accreditation (MAGIC)
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrating Continuous Personal Development including Management, Organisation Development and Change Management.
- Planning and prioritising conflicting demands and often unpredictable work patterns.
- Creating a clear vision and translating strategies into Operational Plans.
- Ability to manage performance and implement quality systems.
Personal Qualities, Abilities & Attributes
Essential
- Being accountable for results and actions and, in turn, holding others to account.
- Initiating, building, and maintaining relationships with internal and external key stakeholders, developing partnerships and cooperative working.
- Demonstrating a passion for the delivery of quality services.
Experience
Essential
- Significant, successful senior management experience
- Proven ability to improve operational performance at a senior level.
- Proven budget management experience
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).
