Operations Manager

Leaders in Care; Harlow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leaders in Care is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to establish and grow a new Mental Health and Learning Disability division within its community care portfolio. The role focuses on building services, achieving CQC compliance, and delivering sustainable, quality care across London and Norfolk.

You will lead operational teams, drive business growth, and foster strong relationships with commissioners and hospital partners in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Senior operational experience within supported living, mental health, learning disabilities or community complex care

Responsibilities

• Take CQC registration and maintain strong regulatory compliance
• Build and develop a new Mental Health and Learning Disability division
• Develop supported living and community complex care services
• Lead the mobilisation of new packages
• Identify and convert new business opportunities
• Build relationships with commissioners, ICBs, local authorities and hospital teams
• Support bids, tenders and framework opportunities
• Develop referral pathways with healthcare professionals and external stakeholders
• Recruit and develop operational teams as the division grows
• Maintain strong standards across safeguarding, quality and governance
• Monitor operational and commercial performance
• Work closely with senior leadership on long‑term growth strategy
• Support the continued development of existing community care services

Skills

Operations leadership

Business development

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Hybrid work management

Job description

Build a new division | Mental health & learning disabilities | £70,000-£75,000 | Hybrid working

Are you an experienced Operations Manager with a strong background in supported living, community complex care or mental health and learning disability services, looking for the opportunity to build and grow a new division?

We are recruiting for an ambitious Operations Manager to join an established community care provider currently delivering around 20 packages of care across London and Norfolk, primarily supporting adults with physical disabilities.

The organisation is now looking to create and develop a new Mental Health and Learning Disability division, delivering supported living and community-based complex care services. This is a senior role with genuine autonomy, combining operational leadership, CQC registration, service development and business growth.

The successful person will ideally have previous experience building a service, growing a care organisation or developing a new division through strong commissioner relationships, tenders, bids, hospital pathways and business development.

Package & Benefits

• £70,000 to £75,000 per annum

• Hybrid working

• Senior leadership position within a growing care organisation

• Opportunity to build and shape a new MH and LD division

• Autonomy to influence operational and commercial strategy

• Existing care infrastructure and established packages across London and Norfolk

• Opportunity to develop supported living and community complex care services

• Long-term progression as the division grows

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will take responsibility for establishing and developing the new Mental Health and Learning Disability division while ensuring services are safe, compliant and commercially sustainable.

You will take CQC registration for the relevant services and work closely with senior leadership to develop the operating model, identify growth opportunities and build relationships with commissioners, local authorities, hospitals and other referral partners.

This is not purely an operational management role. You will be expected to drive service development, identify new business opportunities and play a central role in winning and mobilising new packages.

Key Responsibilities

• Take CQC registration and maintain strong regulatory compliance

• Build and develop a new Mental Health and Learning Disability division

• Develop supported living and community complex care services

• Lead the mobilisation of new packages and services

• Identify and convert new business opportunities

• Build relationships with commissioners, ICBs, local authorities and hospital teams

• Support bids, tenders and framework opportunities

• Develop referral pathways with healthcare professionals and external stakeholders

• Recruit and develop operational teams as the division grows

• Maintain strong standards across safeguarding, quality and governance

• Monitor operational and commercial performance

• Work closely with senior leadership on long‑term growth strategy

• Support the continued development of existing community care services

About You

To be considered for this Operations Manager opportunity, you will ideally have:

• Senior operational experience within supported living, mental health, learning disabilities or community complex care

• Previous experience holding or working closely with CQC registration

• Experience building, launching or significantly growing a care service

• Strong knowledge of CQC regulations, safeguarding and quality governance

• Experience working with commissioners, local authorities, ICBs or hospital teams

• Strong commercial awareness and business development experience

• Experience with bids, tenders and framework opportunities

• A proven track record of mobilising new services or care packages

• Strong leadership and team‑building capability

• The confidence to work autonomously within a hybrid senior management role

This opportunity would suit an experienced Head of Operations, Regional Manager, Registered Manager, Head of Supported Living or Operations Manager who has previously helped grow a care business and is looking for the opportunity to build a division with genuine autonomy.

REF: LICEA