National Head of Ambulance Operations

St John Ambulance; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare charity in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head of Ambulance Operations to lead the strategic development and delivery of sustainable ambulance services. You will manage operational efficiency, foster relationships in the health sector, and ensure patient-centered care while meeting regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, experience in budget management, and a commitment to improving health service delivery.

Benefits

Competitive salary and pension scheme

33 days holiday

Health and Wellbeing portal

Cycling to work scheme

Discounts for staff

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic leadership within healthcare or ambulance operations.
• Strong understanding of health and social care regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development of ambulance services and improve operational effectiveness.
• Forge relationships with health sector leaders to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with CQC regulations for ambulance operations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Clinical standards oversight

Patient-centered care

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Our Offer to you

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) – increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response & Nighttime Economy) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, NHS Cadets and Young Responders programmes). There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.

Job Summary

The Head of Ambulance Operations is responsible for the strategic leadership, improvement, development, and delivery of sustainable and cost‑effective operational ambulance services across the country. They’ll lead on the strategic development of future offerings, taking St John Ambulance into new market areas and leading balanced growth whilst ensuring their team deliver patient‑centred high‑quality services on a day‑to‑day basis. You’ll look upwards and outwards, forging relationships with, and engaging with, the wider Health & Social Care Sector leaders and influencers, and be visionary and energetic in your approach to growth, creating a vision that others can buy into and support.

About the Role

• Design, implement, and evaluate the organisation’s strategy in relation to Ambulance Operations services and monitor and report performance regularly to Directorate and Network Leadership Teams
• Forge and maintain relationships with both the wider Health & Social Care Sector and Regulatory Sector senior leaders to drive opportunities and engagement for and with St John Ambulance
• Ensure all aspects of ambulance service delivery are discharged by leaders, providing subject‑matter expert advice to the Director of Urgent & Emergency Care, other directorates and the organisation
• Support direct reports to plan, commission, and deliver new services through effective tendering, design, implementation and review stages
• Be responsible for budget creation, management, and reporting and ensure a cost‑effective delivery of services
• Provide strategic oversight and assurances on operational performance in all stations and contracts contained within the area of responsibility including but not limited to patient experience, clinical standards, income, cost control, health and safety, delivering against agreed Key Performance Indicators
• Provide visible, credible leadership to direct and indirect reports, adopting an improvement and learning culture through all reports in line with SJA business plans, objectives, strategy and budget
• Co‑design and provide assurance that core standards for Ambulance Hubs across England are met/exceeded, benchmarking standards with external partners and providers whilst maintaining safe and effective working environments for our people in line with required standards
• Deliver the quality and patient safety agenda within the organisation’s ambulance operations
• Support direct reports to maintain their registrations as Registered Manager(s) with the Care Quality Commission and ensure delivery of all regulated activity services is in line with those set out and regulated by the CQC under the Health & Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
• Work in collaboration with the National Fleet Manager, Head of Supply Chain, and other senior managers to design, implement and review modernisation and improvement programmes
• Champion and exemplify compassionate leadership and St John values, actively promoting diversity and a variety of perspectives across the organisation
• Engage, involve and empower St John People in problem‑solving and improving the organisation
• Perform any other duties commensurate with these responsibilities, the band of the post and skills and qualifications of the post‑holder

For all other candidates or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply, please apply below. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.