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Barts Health NHS Trust

Deputy Director of Operations

The closing date is 12 April 2026

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Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional, values-driven leader to join Newham University Hospital as Deputy Director of Operations with a portfolio in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC).This is a pivotal senior leadership role, responsible for delivering high-quality, safe, and responsive urgent and emergency care services for one of London's most diverse and dynamic populations. You will play a critical role in improving patient flow, achieving constitutional standards, and leading transformation across the UEC pathway.Working as part of the senior triumvirate, you will partner closely with clinical and nursing leaders to drive operational excellence, deliver sustained performance improvement, and ensure the best possible outcomes and experiences for patients.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and credible operational leader who can demonstrate:

  • Significant senior management experience within an acute NHS setting
  • Proven track record of delivering operational performance in urgent and emergency care
  • Strong understanding of NHS constitutional standards and UEC pathways
  • Experience of leading complex change and service transformation
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across organisational boundaries
  • A commitment to equality, diversity and addressing health inequalities

Main duties of the job

  • Operational Leadership
    • Provide senior operational leadership across the Medicine and UEC pathway, including ED, UTC, SDEC, CDU and acute medical interfaces
    • Lead delivery of NHS constitutional standards, including:
      • 4-hour A&E standard
      • 15-minute initial assessment
      • Ambulance handover performance
      • 18-week performance
  • Performance & Improvement
    • Drive improvements in patient flow, length of stay, and admission avoidance
    • Lead delivery of UEC recovery and improvement plans aligned to Trust and system priorities
    • Use data and insight to inform decision-making and performance management
    • Deliver elective constitutional standards across medical specialties
  • System Working
    • Work collaboratively with partners across Newham Place and NEL ICB
    • Support integration of services, including community, primary care and urgent treatment models
    • Lead elements of service transformation, including pathway redesign and alternative models of care
  • Workforce & Culture
    • Build high-performing, inclusive teams with a strong focus on staff wellbeing
    • Engage and empower frontline teams to lead improvement
    • Promote a compassionate, values-led leadership culture
  • Governance & Assurance
    • Ensure robust governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance
    • Lead operational response during periods of escalation (including OPEL levels)

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Details

Date posted

27 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£115,120 to £131,578 a year per annum inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

259-7895152NUH-A

Job locations

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road

London

E13 8SL


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a visible and compassionate leader, comfortable operating in a fast-paced and complex environment, with the ability to balance operational grip with strategic thinking.

What We Offer

  • A senior leadership role with real system impact
  • Opportunities to lead transformational change across UEC pathways
  • A supportive and ambitious executive team
  • Access to leadership development and system-wide networks

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledgerequired. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be a visible and compassionate leader, comfortable operating in a fast-paced and complex environment, with the ability to balance operational grip with strategic thinking.

What We Offer

  • A senior leadership role with real system impact
  • Opportunities to lead transformational change across UEC pathways
  • A supportive and ambitious executive team
  • Access to leadership development and system-wide networks

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledgerequired. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Significant senior management experience in an NHS Acute Trust
  • Demonstrable track record of sound financial and operational management

Desirable

  • Previous Experience working within UEC

Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills both verbal, written and presentation and excellent listening skills, including facilitation.
  • Able to influence, negotiate and persuade regarding complex or sensitive issues
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively

Leadership and Management Style

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate a robust performance management approach
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Significant senior management experience in an NHS Acute Trust
  • Demonstrable track record of sound financial and operational management

Desirable

  • Previous Experience working within UEC

Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills both verbal, written and presentation and excellent listening skills, including facilitation.
  • Able to influence, negotiate and persuade regarding complex or sensitive issues
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively

Leadership and Management Style

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate a robust performance management approach

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road

London

E13 8SL


Employer's website

https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road

London

E13 8SL


Employer's website

https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Operations

Chantel Davies

chantel.davies1@nhs.net

07743930807

Details

Date posted

27 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£115,120 to £131,578 a year per annum inc

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

259-7895152NUH-A

Job locations

Newham University Hospital

Glen Road

London

E13 8SL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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