Assistant Director of Operations - Dorset

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional ambulance service in England seeks an Assistant Director of Operations to lead operational efforts in delivering high-quality patient care. The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience in the health sector, effective communication skills, and a professional clinical qualification. This role offers a salary between £76,965 and £88,682 per annum, along with additional benefits and incentives for career progression.

Benefits

Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year

Pay enhancements for out of hours and shift work

Car leasing scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Access to various discounts from organizations across the UK

Qualifications

• HCPC registered Paramedic or NMC registered Nurse required.
• Significant experience as a leader within the Health sector.
• Experience at senior management level in operational services.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective operational leadership and delivery of services.
• Drive change and build collaborative relationships.
• Accountable for operational planning and performance targets.

Skills

Leadership skills

Effective communication

Incident management

Education

Professional clinical qualification

Management qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Assistant Director of Operations - Dorset

The closing date is 07 December 2025

The Assistant Director of Operations plays a crucial senior leadership role, responsible for the effective and efficient operational leadership of their local county. The Assistant Director of Operations is the local 'face of SWASFT' and is the senior role model for the county.

They ensure their county delivers high-quality, patient-centred care, exemplary staff experience, quality improvement, and achievement of performance targets.

This role requires a dynamic and highly motivated individual with strong leadership and communication skills, who can effectively manage complex services, drive change, and build collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

They are accountable for both operational planning and delivery of our service to patients across their county area, and for embedding the Trust's values of One Team, Compassion and Innovation through everything they and their teams do.

Main duties of the job

They are accountable for both operational planning and delivery of our service to patients across their county area, and for embedding the Trust's values of One Team, Compassion and Innovation through everything they and their teams do.

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England of 10,000 square miles and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

At the heart of our beautiful and diverse region we employ over 6,000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills, resources and development you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits and Incentives

• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
• Staff networks
• Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

• Professional clinical and/or leadership knowledge acquired through degree, supplemented by specialist training to masters or equivalent level, management qualification or equivalent experience.
• HCPC registered Paramedic, or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered Nurse, AHP or equivalent.
• Experience of incident management / business continuity.

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to job)

• Significant experience as a leader within the Health sector or in the Ambulance Service.
• Significant experience at senior management level in delivery of operational and clinical services.

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.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

£76,965 to £88,682 a year, per annum, plus an additional on-call payment of 3%