Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Band 9 Divisional Director of Operations

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Job summary

The Royal Free Hospital is looking for a motivated individual to take up the role of divisional director of operations within the Oncology, Rare Diseases, Liver Digestive Health health unit.

You will have a proven track record in managing NHS services at a senior level and will work within a divisional triumvirate leading teams who deliver patient care across acute services. Your main base will be at Royal Free Hospital where you will work with closely with peers in other divisions and the executive team for the Royal Free Health heath unit.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the divisional director and professionally accountable to the director of operations , the divisional director of operations will be responsible and accountable for the delivery of services, within budget (Income & Expenditure) for an agreed level of activity at an expected level of service and clinical quality. The divisional director of operations will provide leadership and direction for the division ensuring that this supports the trust's strategic vision for high quality patient centred care, excellence in education and world class research. They will ensure that effective management and delivery underpins the leadership of the division and that the divisional clinical director is supported to ensure that leadership decisions are translated into transforming and delivery of services.

About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£117,645 to £134,103 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7732203

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

Hampstead

London

NW3 2QG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Person Specification

Values

Essential

  • Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

  • Graduate level education and/or professional/clinical professional qualification or experience that recognises highly developed and complex levels of knowledge or equivalent experience
  • Management postgraduate qualification to master's degree/ MBA or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of extensive and recent commitment to continuing professional development
  • Specialist knowledge at doctorate level or equivalent experience in a related field

Experience

Essential

  • A track record of successful healthcare management.
  • Substantial management experience, the majority at senior level.
  • Demonstrated success in delivering change and performance with and through others across the organisation.
  • In depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines acquired through training and experience over an extended period
  • Highly effective budget management including a number of departmental budgets, budgets of several million points, cost savings programmes/ income generation and service line costing.
  • Experience of transformation programmes and delivery of service improvement programmes.
  • Experience of service development and innovation.
  • Proven experience of analysing complex problems and successfully adapting practical and pragmatic solutions

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

  • Highly developed change leaders able to effectively influence through motivating and energising others in the organisation for the best possible patient results and organisational processes.
  • Adaptability and flexibility, capable of dealing with high degrees of ambiguity and establishing a direction for others using wherever possible sound coaching and mentoring style.
  • Exceptional excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, technically and creatively with the ability to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands.
  • Accomplished at leading and delivering to deadlines and within set resources.
  • Aptitude to engage in constructive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve success through partnership
  • Excellent negotiating skills to successfully influence and persuade others.
  • Knowledge of commissioning and other centrally funded programmes, knowledge of data recording issues, (including quality audits), use of patient information systems
  • Extensive knowledge of national waiting times guidance and application

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential

  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to work effectively under varying levels of pressure in a dynamic environment
  • Empowers others
  • Team player and collaborative worker
  • Diplomatic style with political acumen
  • Able to adapt to changing requirements of the post
Person Specification

Values

Essential

  • Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

  • Graduate level education and/or professional/clinical professional qualification or experience that recognises highly developed and complex levels of knowledge or equivalent experience
  • Management postgraduate qualification to master's degree/ MBA or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of extensive and recent commitment to continuing professional development
  • Specialist knowledge at doctorate level or equivalent experience in a related field

Experience

Essential

  • A track record of successful healthcare management.
  • Substantial management experience, the majority at senior level.
  • Demonstrated success in delivering change and performance with and through others across the organisation.
  • In depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines acquired through training and experience over an extended period
  • Highly effective budget management including a number of departmental budgets, budgets of several million points, cost savings programmes/ income generation and service line costing.
  • Experience of transformation programmes and delivery of service improvement programmes.
  • Experience of service development and innovation.
  • Proven experience of analysing complex problems and successfully adapting practical and pragmatic solutions

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

  • Highly developed change leaders able to effectively influence through motivating and energising others in the organisation for the best possible patient results and organisational processes.
  • Adaptability and flexibility, capable of dealing with high degrees of ambiguity and establishing a direction for others using wherever possible sound coaching and mentoring style.
  • Exceptional excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to think and plan strategically, technically and creatively with the ability to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands.
  • Accomplished at leading and delivering to deadlines and within set resources.
  • Aptitude to engage in constructive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve success through partnership
  • Excellent negotiating skills to successfully influence and persuade others.
  • Knowledge of commissioning and other centrally funded programmes, knowledge of data recording issues, (including quality audits), use of patient information systems
  • Extensive knowledge of national waiting times guidance and application

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential

  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to work effectively under varying levels of pressure in a dynamic environment
  • Empowers others
  • Team player and collaborative worker
  • Diplomatic style with political acumen
  • Able to adapt to changing requirements of the post

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Hampstead

London

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Hampstead

London

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Operations - Royal Free Health unit

Rachel Anticoni

rachel.anticoni@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£117,645 to £134,103 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7732203

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

Hampstead

London

NW3 2QG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)