Deputy Head of Operations
Job summary
Reporting directly to the Head of Operations, the Deputy Head of Operations will help oversee day-to-day business activities across multiple departments. You will support the planning, coordination, and execution of key operational strategies, ensuring that our systems, processes, and teams are aligned to meet organisational objectives.
This is a hands-on, leadership role that demands a strong operational mindset, excellent people management skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a proactive and strategic thinker with a solid background in operations management. You should be a confident communicator and proven leader, capable of influencing at all levels and making data-driven decisions.
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Support the Head of Operations in managing core business functions, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and high-quality service delivery.
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Lead operational teams to achieve performance targets and service standards.
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Monitor and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement.
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Identify and resolve operational issues, streamline processes and implement new systems where appropriate.
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Coordinate cross-departmental projects, ensuring timelines and goals are met.
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Provide leadership, mentoring, and development to team leaders and staff.
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Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, company policies and best practices.
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Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, representing operations in high-level discussions when required.
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Deputise for the Head of Operations in their absence
About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.
Person Specification
Knowledge and experience
- Experience within the healthcare sector at senior manager level including acquired skills in people management, budget management and service delivery
- Proven track record of achieving challenging healthcare performance targets
- Experience of delivering complex programmes of change within a healthcare setting
- IT skills to manage and report on highly complex performance management information
- Experience of working in an Acute Teaching Hospital setting
Education, Training & Qualifications
- Master's degree or equivalent experience
- Evidence of extensive CPD maintaining up to date knowledge
- Extensive knowledge of the NHS in the acute sector
Skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to present and narrate highly complex data
- Able to analyse and understand complex financial and operational data
- Proven inter and intra organisational influencing skills
- Ability to interpret, analyse and present highly complex data/information at Divisional Board level
- Ability to manage and resolve complex problem scenarios to a satisfactory conclusion
- Evidence of dynamic response to and implementation of solutions to both simple and complex challenges
- Able to analyse and understand complex financial and operational data
- Ability to concentrate frequently whilst dealing with interruptions and moving quickly from one priority to another
- Sensitive to clinical and political demands
- Standard keyboard skills
- Interpret highly complex information concerned with professional, operational and clinical activities to inform decisions and make judgments on recommendations relating to future actions
- Stakeholder management working across boundaries and organisations overcoming resistance to change
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.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Kettering
NN16 8UZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/working-for-us