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Posted 4 day(s) ago
Reference: 278-HOO-0926-LH
Job summary
Are you an experienced operational leader ready to influence healthcare delivery at scale?
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a large and diverse locality.
This is a highly influential senior leadership role with responsibility for leading operational performance, workforce management, financial stewardship and service transformation. Working as part of the senior leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping the future of urgent and emergency care services, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and responsive care.
At SECAmb, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We provide emergency, urgent care and NHS 111 services across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire, serving millions of people every year. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to succeed.
If you are a visible, values-driven leader with the ambition to drive improvement, inspire high-performing teams and make a meaningful difference to patients and communities, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Operations, you will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively and in line with national, regulatory and organisational standards.
You will:
- Lead and support operational managers and frontline teams to deliver high-quality patient care.
- Hold overall accountability for operational performance, workforce planning and financial management within the locality.
- Drive service improvement and transformation programmes, ensuring benefits are realised and embedded.
- Ensure robust governance, risk management and regulatory compliance arrangements are in place.
- Develop effective partnerships with system colleagues and external stakeholders to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
- Lead workforce initiatives that promote engagement, wellbeing, inclusion and high performance.
- Provide leadership during periods of operational pressure, major incidents and business continuity events.
- Contribute to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a senior leader within SECAmb.
The successful candidate will bring substantial experience of leading large, complex operational services, with a proven track record of delivering performance improvement, managing significant budgets, leading organisational change and developing high-performing teams.
About us
- Option to join NHS pension scheme
- A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years' service.
- Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
- Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
- Access to occupational health and counselling services.
- Award winning wellbeing hub
- Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money-saving deals.
Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.
Details
Date posted
30 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8b
Salary
£66,582 to £77,368 a year Per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
278-HOO-0926-LH
Job locations
Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre
Eldon Way
Paddock Wood
TN12 6BE
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Head of Operations is responsible for providing strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring the effective delivery of services in line with organisational priorities, regulatory requirements and national standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing visible and effective leadership to operational managers and frontline teams.
- Delivering performance against agreed service, quality, workforce and financial targets.
- Leading the planning, implementation and evaluation of operational and transformational programmes.
- Ensuring effective governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across the locality.
- Managing complex workforce matters and promoting a positive employee experience.
- Developing collaborative relationships with partner organisations and system leaders to improve patient pathways and service delivery.
- Leading on business continuity, emergency preparedness and organisational resilience within the locality.
- Monitoring and managing financial performance and resource utilisation.
- Supporting the development of future leaders through coaching, mentoring and talent development.
- Contributing to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a member of the senior leadership team.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, excellent communication and influencing skills, and a proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams within a complex operational environment.
Previous experience of leading large-scale services, delivering change, managing significant budgets and developing productive partnerships across organisational boundaries will be essential.
This role presents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the future direction of ambulance services and make a lasting difference to patients, staff and the wider healthcare system.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Head of Operations is responsible for providing strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring the effective delivery of services in line with organisational priorities, regulatory requirements and national standards.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing visible and effective leadership to operational managers and frontline teams.
- Delivering performance against agreed service, quality, workforce and financial targets.
- Leading the planning, implementation and evaluation of operational and transformational programmes.
- Ensuring effective governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across the locality.
- Managing complex workforce matters and promoting a positive employee experience.
- Developing collaborative relationships with partner organisations and system leaders to improve patient pathways and service delivery.
- Leading on business continuity, emergency preparedness and organisational resilience within the locality.
- Monitoring and managing financial performance and resource utilisation.
- Supporting the development of future leaders through coaching, mentoring and talent development.
- Contributing to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a member of the senior leadership team.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, excellent communication and influencing skills, and a proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams within a complex operational environment.
Previous experience of leading large-scale services, delivering change, managing significant budgets and developing productive partnerships across organisational boundaries will be essential.
This role presents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the future direction of ambulance services and make a lasting difference to patients, staff and the wider healthcare system.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Master's Level, or equivalent level of experience at senior level.
- Postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience/training with further specialist knowledge to Master's Level.
- Evidence of post qualifying and Continuing Professional Development.
- Full UK compatible Driving Licence.
Desirable
- NARU Tactical Commander accreditation or willingness to complete within 12 months.
- Registrant or clinically practicing clinician.
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of specialist areas.
- Appreciation of relationships between Department of Health, NHS England, and provider/commissioning organisations.
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of planning and delivering programmes, projects, and services on time.
- Working knowledge of financial processes.
- Experience of leading a large team of multidisciplinary team members.
- Management experience of complex HR and ER cases.
Desirable
- Previously responsible for a budget and involved in budget setting.
Skills
Essential
- Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to stakeholders.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Master's Level, or equivalent level of experience at senior level.
- Postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience/training with further specialist knowledge to Master's Level.
- Evidence of post qualifying and Continuing Professional Development.
- Full UK compatible Driving Licence.
Desirable
- NARU Tactical Commander accreditation or willingness to complete within 12 months.
- Registrant or clinically practicing clinician.
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of specialist areas.
- Appreciation of relationships between Department of Health, NHS England, and provider/commissioning organisations.
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of planning and delivering programmes, projects, and services on time.
- Working knowledge of financial processes.
- Experience of leading a large team of multidisciplinary team members.
- Management experience of complex HR and ER cases.
Desirable
- Previously responsible for a budget and involved in budget setting.
Skills
Essential
- Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to stakeholders.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
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
SECamb
Address
Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre
Eldon Way
Paddock Wood
TN12 6BE
United Kingdom
Employer's website
Employer details
Employer name
SECamb
Address
Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre
Eldon Way
Paddock Wood
TN12 6BE
United Kingdom