Band 8d - Deputy Director of Operations, Medicine

West Herts Hospitals; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 97,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

West Herts Hospitals in Watford is seeking a Deputy Director of Operations – Medicine to lead a broad portfolio of medical services across Watford General Hospital and affiliated sites. The role focuses on strategy delivery, performance, financial management and service improvement to enhance patient care.

You will work with clinical leaders to translate ambitions into divisional priorities, improve access and pathways, and ensure resources support high-quality care while maintaining patient

Qualifications

• Substantial senior operational management experience in a complex healthcare environment.
• Proven track record of delivering performance improvement and leading change.
• Credible, collaborative leader able to make decisions and develop others.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational running of the division with clear accountability and performance oversight.
• Drive delivery of national and local access standards across planned care, diagnostics and cancer pathways.
• Improve patient flow, waiting-list management and service resilience across the division.
• Lead business, capacity and workforce planning, aligning services with demand.
• Deliver robust financial management, productivity and efficiency programmes.
• Lead service transformation and continuous improvement using data and patient feedback.
• Develop operational leaders and foster a collaborative learning culture.
• Maintain governance, risk management and escalation with clinical colleagues.
• Build strong relationships with community providers and system partners to deliver joined-up care.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operational management

Performance improvement

Strategic planning

Governance

Change management

Communication

Job description

Band 8d - Deputy Director of Operations, Medicine

Band 8d

Main area Medicine Grade Band 8d Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-E-11922

Department name West Herts - General Staffing Site Watford General Hospital Town Watford Salary £96,626 - £111,084 pa inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 13/11/2026 12:00

Job overview

Are you an ambitious operational leader who can combine strategic thinking with a practical focus on delivery? This is an opportunity to lead a broad and complex portfolio of medical services, shape the future of patient care and make a tangible difference to the communities we serve.

We are seeking a Divisional Director of Operations – Medicine to join our senior operational leadership team. Working alongside the Divisional Director and senior nursing leadership, you will provide visible, compassionate leadership and take responsibility for operational delivery, performance, financial management and service improvement across the Medicine Division.

Our division spans specialist medicine, care of older people and frailty, and interventional specialties including cardiology, respiratory medicine and gastroenterology. With services across Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals, alongside our Virtual Hospital model, the role offers scope to improve inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic pathways and develop care closer to home.

Main duties of the job

You will bring substantial senior operational management experience in a complex healthcare environment, with a track record of delivering performance improvement, managing resources and leading change. You will understand how to turn strategy into action and how to sustain improvement through effective teams, sound governance and constructive relationships with clinical colleagues.

We are looking for someone who is credible, collaborative and confident in making decisions; able to challenge constructively, navigate competing priorities and maintain focus under pressure. Just as importantly, you will be a visible and approachable leader who develops others, listens to patients and colleagues, and creates the conditions for teams to deliver their best work.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will translate the Trust’s ambitions into clear divisional priorities and measurable improvements, balancing day-to-day operational pressures with longer-term service development. Working in partnership with clinical teams, corporate colleagues and system partners, you will strengthen access, improve patient flow and ensure resources are used effectively while maintaining a clear focus on quality and patient experience.

• Lead the operational running of the division, establishing clear accountability and effective performance oversight.
• Drive delivery of national and local access standards across planned care, diagnostics and cancer pathways, including robust waiting-list management and referral-to-treatment performance.
• Work across divisional boundaries to improve capacity, patient flow and discharge pathways, supporting timely care and service resilience.
• Lead business, capacity and workforce planning, aligning services and resources with demand.
• Deliver robust financial management, improved productivity and sustainable efficiency programmes.
• Lead service transformation and continuous improvement, using data, clinical insight and patient feedback to shape better pathways.
• Develop and support operational leaders, building a collaborative culture with clear expectations and a commitment to learning.
• Maintain effective operational governance, risk management and escalation, working closely with clinical and nursing colleagues.
• Build strong relationships with community providers, primary care and wider system partners to deliver joined-up care.

Person specification

Your application will be scored against the person specification

• 2 - Meets all essential criteria 1 - Partially meets essential criteria 0 - Does not meet essential criteria

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
Telephone [phone], or 07423032842