Interim Director of Operations (6 month secondment / FTC) | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Greater London is seeking a Director of Operations for the Barnet Hospital Business Unit. The role involves delivering operational performance management, developing a culture of continuous improvement, and providing strong leadership. Candidates should have significant NHS experience and a focus on transformational leadership and patient care. The position offers flexible hours and generous benefits, aiming for excellence in service delivery and patient outcomes. This role is critical in shaping the future of healthcare at the Trust.

Benefits

Flexible hours

Generous benefits

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Candidate must have proven and credible leadership experience.
• Experience in developing cohesive divisional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to promote inclusive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership to senior management reports.
• Ensure staff are empowered to implement service delivery changes.
• Lead with a culture of continuous improvement to meet targets.

Skills

Transformational leadership

Service improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Clinical engagement

Education

Significant strategic and operational experience at senior level within the NHS

Job description

The Director of Operations for Barnet Hospital Business Unit is responsible for the delivery of unit operational performance management and delivery of the NHS constitution including all national and local targets. The post holder will work closely with Barnet Executive team colleagues in ensuring that patients receive care that is safe, of high quality and provided within the expected timeframes. The post holder also holds a key role working in partnership with local ICP and IC S colleagues, to continue building Barnet Hospital as an anchor institution in the community and to develop care processes and systems that improve outcomes and experience for our local patients.

To be effective you will need to be a proven and credible leader that works as part of the unit leadership team to develop and sustain an organisational culture that reflects trust values and supports the delivery of excellent services. You will have significant strategic and operational experience at a senior level within the NHS with a strong focus on transformational leadership, service improvement, stakeholder engagement and championing excellent patient care.

We offer the opportunity to join an inspiring organisation that always thrives to provide the very best patient care and to lead change within the NHS. Pay will be at Very Senior Manager (VSM) level and subject to agreement by the Trust Remuneration Committee. We would particularly welcome applicants from BAME backgrounds.

• Provide strong leadership to senior management reports, ensuring that effective management and performance systems are in place.
• Ensure staff are empowered to develop, lead and implement changes in service delivery in line with trust strategy and agreed trust objectives.
• Lead on the development of a culture of continuous improvement in order to meet quality, financial, performance targets and standards ensuring clinical services deliver against their plans, meeting targets within budget.
• Actively promote compassionate inclusive leadership.
• Develop cohesive divisional teams that work together to provide the highest quality of patient care and outcomes.
• Challenge conventional approaches and drive forward change when needed, demonstrating a commitment to creating an organisational culture of continuous improvement.
• Creation and leadership of a positive engaging work environment which enables staff to flourish and be the best they can be to deliver good outcomes for patients.
• Ensure the highest level of clinical engagement and involvement in the development and delivery of clinical services.

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

As a senior Director with significant control of resources and accountabilities the post-holder will be subject to the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Section 5 and in particular Schedule 4 (i.e. that they are of good character and satisfy the ‘fit and proper person test’ to hold an NHS Director level appointment).

This advert closes on Tuesday 6 Jan 2026.