Director of Operations – Mental Health
Midlands (Office Based – Minimum 4 Days Per Week)
Circa £90,000 + Bonus + Benefits
Compass Associates are proud to be partnering with a rapidly growing healthcare services provider that works extensively alongside NHS organisations to deliver specialist clinical services across the UK.
With ambitious plans to become a leading national partner for mental health service delivery, the organisation is investing heavily in both inpatient and community mental health pathways, supporting NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and provider collaboratives to improve patient access, reduce waiting times, and enhance outcomes across complex mental health services.
As part of this growth, we are seeking an experienced Director of Operations – Mental Health to lead a substantial national portfolio and play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of the organisation’s mental health division.
This is just as important that you are a strong service management operator who isn’t afraid to shake up the status quo.
The Opportunity
This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the operational performance, growth, quality, governance, and commercial success of a large-scale mental health services portfolio.
Working closely with Executive and Board-level stakeholders, you will lead the delivery of services across multiple NHS partnerships, ensuring exceptional standards of quality, patient outcomes, operational performance, and financial sustainability.
You will also be instrumental in driving strategic growth, developing new service models, mobilising contracts, and strengthening relationships with NHS commissioners and provider organisations across the country.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the operational delivery of a large national mental health portfolio spanning inpatient and community services.
- Drive performance against operational, financial, quality, and contractual objectives.
- Develop and execute strategies that support continued growth across mental health services.
- Build and maintain senior relationships with NHS Trusts, ICBs, commissioners, and wider system partners.
- Lead contract mobilisation and service implementation programmes.
- Ensure services consistently achieve high standards of quality, safety, governance, and patient outcomes.
- Oversee operational budgets and resource planning to maximise efficiency and value.
- Support the development of innovative mental health service models aligned to NHS priorities.
- Provide strategic advice and operational expertise to Executive and Board stakeholders.
- Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing senior leadership team.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and statutory frameworks including CQC, safeguarding, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act requirements.
- Identify, manage, and mitigate operational and clinical risks.
- Present performance, assurance, and strategic reports at Board level.
About You
We are keen to speak with ambitious and commercially astute healthcare leaders who can demonstrate:
- Significant senior operational leadership experience within mental health services.
- Experience leading large-scale, multi-site healthcare operations.
- Strong understanding of NHS commissioning, provider relationships, and healthcare system structures.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships at executive level.
- Proven track record of delivering service growth, operational improvement, and financial performance.
- Experience leading large teams through change, transformation, and service development programmes.
- Strong understanding of quality, governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks.
Experience within mental health providers, NHS Trusts, independent healthcare organisations, community healthcare services, or healthcare outsourcing/service delivery organisations would be highly advantageous.
Why Apply?
- Opportunity to shape and influence a rapidly expanding national mental health division.
- Significant executive and Board-level exposure.
- High-profile role with genuine strategic impact.
- Strong growth agenda and investment plans.
- Collaborative and ambitious leadership team.
- Circa £90,000 basic salary plus bonus and benefits package.
For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Kane Pfeiffer at Compass Associates:
kpfeiffer@compassltd.co.uk
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