Associate Director of Operations for Surgery

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust; Guildford; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an outstanding leader to take on the role of Associate Director of Operations for Surgery. The postholder will drive delivery of elective and non-elective services, manage demand and capacity, and ensure efficient use of resources as the CASIC facility opens to enhance operating theatres and patient care across Guildford and surrounding sites.

Poised to shape regional surgical strategy within the Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care System, you will

Responsibilities

• Oversee theatres utilisation and improvement programme
• Budget oversight across all specialties within the portfolio
• Lead workforce planning, governance, risk management and quality improvement
• Deputise for the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief Operating Officer as required

Job description

The Royal Surrey is seeking to appoint an outstanding leader to the role of Associate Director of Operations for Surgery

This is an exciting time to join the Trust. In November 2026, we will open the Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre (CASIC), a brand-new wing housing six state-of-the-art operating theatres, together with recovery and ward facilities of exceptional quality. CASIC will further strengthen the world-renowned reputation of many of our surgical services, and the post holder will play a key role in ensuring the facility fulfils its considerable potential.

The role is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of elective and non-elective services across the Trust. Effective demand and capacity planning, together with the efficient utilisation of resources, will be critical to success. The portfolio includes oversight of the theatres utilisation and improvement programme., This is also a strategic role. Surgical services at the Royal Surrey are central to the work of the Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care System, and the post holder will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the future strategy for surgical services across the region. The Royal Surrey is also part of a group with Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will work closely with partners across the Group to help shape and realise the benefits of this collaboration.

A core element of the role is ensuring delivery against key constitutional, quality and safety standards, including the 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) standard, cancer access targets and standards relating to critical care provision. The post holder will also be responsible for budget oversight across all specialties within the portfolio and for workforce planning. They will lead key areas including complaints, governance, risk management and quality improvement, and will deputise for the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief Operating Officer as required.

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5,000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme alongside a strong commitment to developing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family ensures you feel valued from your initial interview and throughout your time with us.

We are clinically led and provide joined-up care by bridging hospital and community services, alongside delivering regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford, with community sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh, and services delivered in patients' homes across Guildford and Waverley.

We work in partnership with Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated us as Outstanding. We are proud of our achievements and continue to invest in our people and infrastructure.

To learn more about life at Royal Surrey, please watch our short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo