Director of Operations

North West London Pathology; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS pathology network in the UK is seeking an exceptional Director of Operations for a 6-month interim appointment. You will provide strategic leadership and ensure operational excellence across the network, driving performance and service improvement. Ideal candidates will have significant senior leadership experience in healthcare operations, particularly in pathology or acute services. Benefits include career development, flexible working, and various staff recognition schemes.

Benefits

Career development

Flexible working

Staff wellbeing programmes

Recognition scheme

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare operations, ideally within pathology or acute services.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, financial management and delivering large-scale change.
• Strong leadership, influencing and communication skills to inspire teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive delivery of performance and service improvement targets.
• Lead implementation of NWLP's strategy and integrated business plan.
• Ensure high-quality patient care and financial sustainability.

Skills

Leadership in healthcare operations

Strategic planning

Financial management

Influencing and communication skills

Budget management

Job description

North West London Pathology (NWLP) is a multi-award winning, innovative and collaborative NHS pathology network serving multiple NHS Trusts and private providers.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Operations to provide strategic leadership and operational excellence across our network for a 6-month interim appointment.

As a key member of the NWLP Executive Team, you will:

• Drive delivery of ambitious performance and service improvement targets.
• Lead the implementation of NWLP's strategy and integrated business plan.
• Ensure high-quality patient care, clinical governance and financial sustainability.
• Maintain strong partnerships across NHS organisations, integrated care systems and external stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, research and continuous improvement in pathology services.

We are looking for,

• The Director of Operations will be responsible for interpreting and delivering overall health service policy and strategy, leading and managing operational services across all of North West London Pathology (NWLP), enabling the pathology network to continue to be recognised as a leader in clinical laboratory diagnostics, and a recognised centre of clinical service, teaching and research excellence.
• The post holder will be responsible for providing high-level operational and strategic business planning and leadership to ensure that NWLP provides high quality service to its customers and owners and achieves its performance objectives.
• Be accountable for the operational performance and strategic development of the Directorates within the Division. This will include accountability for the delivery of high quality patient care, clinical governance, patient safety, clinical quality, and delivery of financial targets.
• Have joint responsibility with the other NWLP Directors for driving forward corporate and cross-cutting programmes of work and service direction.
• Have an external focus to facilitate greater working across the integrated healthcare system e.g. with our owner trusts, NWL ICB and NHSE; representing NWLP at a very senior level within the NHS, community and partner organisations, working closely with them to institute integrated working in the best interests of patient care.
• Ensure that the necessary corporate governance arrangements are in place across NWLP.

Working for our organisation

Benefits include career development, flexible working, staff wellbeing programmes, staff awards and recognition scheme. We also have available benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

NWLP Induction

The NWLP induction will run on the first Monday of each month (provided it does not fall on a bank holiday) and includes laboratory training (for relevant laboratory roles). All new staff must attend the NWLP induction during their first week with NWLP.

For 2025/26, see below the start dates which you will be able to book once you have completed all your pre-employment checks.

• Monday 2 February 2026
• Monday 2 March 2026
• Monday 13 April 2026
• Monday 11 May 2026
• Monday 1 June 2026
• Monday 6 July 2026
• Monday 3 August 2026
• Monday 7 September 2026
• Monday 5 October 2026
• Monday 2 November 2026
• Monday 7 December 2026

Candidates are advised to consider these start dates before agreeing end of service date with their current employer.

Candidate qualifications and experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare operations, ideally within pathology or acute services.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, financial management and delivering large-scale change.
• Strong leadership, influencing and communication skills to inspire teams and foster collaboration.
• Ability to manage complex budgets and performance frameworks.
• Commitment to NWLP vision and values: Patient-Focused, Collaborative, Expert and Caring.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the operational pathology services in one of the UK's most dynamic pathology networks.

North West London Pathology (NWLP) is an NHS pathology partnership joint venture between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. NWLP is modelled as a shared services organisation jointly owned by the three Trusts. The organisation is hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and as the legal entity for NWLP our staff are employed by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

NWLP is based on a 'hub and spoke' structure; the majority of routine, specialist and non-urgent activity is centralised at our hub site at Charing Cross Hospital. Urgent tests required for immediate patient management and treatment are performed in 24/7 Essential Service Laboratories based on-site within the seven hospital sites in the group.

The partnership has created an innovative and sustainable service that delivers outstanding quality to users and patients alike. This innovative approach allows the service to better manage demand, standardise operations, improve value for money and make use of state-of-the-art technology.

Our values are to be patient-focused, collaborative, expert and caring.