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South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Whetsted; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

27 days holiday

Development opportunities

Salary sacrifice (car/bike)

Health & wellbeing services

NHS discounts

Job summary

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a large locality. You will lead operational performance, workforce planning and financial stewardship while driving service transformation to improve patient care.

The role requires experience leading large-scale ambulance services, overseeing budgets and shaping organisational change within a regulatory framework.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large, complex operational services.
• Track record of delivering performance improvements and managing significant budgets.
• Strong skills in governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and professional leadership across a designated locality.
• Deliver operational performance, workforce planning and financial stewardship.
• Drive transformation programmes and ensure benefits are realised.
• Build partnerships with system colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Support succession planning and the development of future leaders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

People management

Governance & compliance

Job description

Head of Operations - Paddock Wood | South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Company:

Company: South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Are you an experienced operational leader ready to influence healthcare delivery at scale?

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a large and diverse locality.

This is a highly influential senior leadership role with responsibility for leading operational performance, workforce management, financial stewardship and service transformation. Working as part of the senior leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping the future of urgent and emergency care services, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and responsive care.

At SECAmb, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We provide emergency, urgent care and NHS 111 services across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire, serving millions of people every year. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to succeed.

If you are a visible, values-driven leader with the ambition to drive improvement, inspire high-performing teams and make a meaningful difference to patients and communities, we would love to hear from you.

As Head of Operations, you will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively and in line with national, regulatory and organisational standards.

You will

• Lead and support operational managers and frontline teams to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Hold overall accountability for operational performance, workforce planning and financial management within the locality.
• Drive service improvement and transformation programmes, ensuring benefits are realised and embedded.
• Ensure robust governance, risk management and regulatory compliance arrangements are in place.
• Develop effective partnerships with system colleagues and external stakeholders to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
• Lead workforce initiatives that promote engagement, wellbeing, inclusion and high performance.
• Provide leadership during periods of operational pressure, major incidents and business continuity events.
• Contribute to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a senior leader within SECAmb.

The successful candidate will bring substantial experience of leading large, complex operational services, with a proven track record of delivering performance improvement, managing significant budgets, leading organisational change and developing high-performing teams.

• Option to join NHS pension scheme
• A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years’ service.
• Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
• Access to occupational health and counselling services.
• Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money‑saving deals.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

The Head of Operations is responsible for providing strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring the effective delivery of services in line with organisational priorities, regulatory requirements and national standards.

Key responsibilities

• Providing visible and effective leadership to operational managers and frontline teams.
• Delivering performance against agreed service, quality, workforce and financial targets.
• Leading the planning, implementation and evaluation of operational and transformational programmes.
• Ensuring effective governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across the locality.
• Managing complex workforce matters and promoting a positive employee experience.
• Developing collaborative relationships with partner organisations and system leaders to improve patient pathways and service delivery.
• Leading on business continuity, emergency preparedness and organisational resilience within the locality.
• Monitoring and managing financial performance and resource utilisation.
• Supporting the development of future leaders through coaching, mentoring and talent development.
• Contributing to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a member of the senior leadership team.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, excellent communication and influencing skills, and a proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams within a complex operational environment.

Previous experience of leading large-scale services, delivering change, managing significant budgets and developing productive partnerships across organisational boundaries will be essential.

This role presents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the future direction of ambulance services and make a lasting difference to patients, staff and the wider healthcare system.

This advert closes on Monday 12 Oct 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Head of Operations - Paddock Wood | South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Company: South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £66,582 - £77,368 Per annum

Hours: Full-time

Location: Paddock Wood, TN12 6BE

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 30 Sept 2026

Closing date: 30 Oct 2026

Summary

Are you an experienced operational leader ready to influence healthcare delivery at scale?

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a large and diverse locality.

This is a highly influential senior leadership role with responsibility for leading operational performance, workforce management, financial stewardship and service transformation. Working as part of the senior leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping the future of urgent and emergency care services, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and responsive care.

At SECAmb, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We provide emergency, urgent care and NHS 111 services across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire, serving millions of people every year. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to succeed.

If you are a visible, values-driven leader with the ambition to drive improvement, inspire high-performing teams and make a meaningful difference to patients and communities, we would love to hear from you.

As Head of Operations, you will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring services are delivered safely, effectively and in line with national, regulatory and organisational standards.

You will

• Lead and support operational managers and frontline teams to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Hold overall accountability for operational performance, workforce planning and financial management within the locality.
• Drive service improvement and transformation programmes, ensuring benefits are realised and embedded.
• Ensure robust governance, risk management and regulatory compliance arrangements are in place.
• Develop effective partnerships with system colleagues and external stakeholders to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
• Lead workforce initiatives that promote engagement, wellbeing, inclusion and high performance.
• Provide leadership during periods of operational pressure, major incidents and business continuity events.
• Contribute to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a senior leader within SECAmb.

The successful candidate will bring substantial experience of leading large, complex operational services, with a proven track record of delivering performance improvement, managing significant budgets, leading organisational change and developing high-performing teams.

• Option to join NHS pension scheme
• A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing after 5 years’ service.
• Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
• Access to occupational health and counselling services.
• Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money‑saving deals.
• Award winning wellbeing hub

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

The Head of Operations is responsible for providing strategic, operational and professional leadership across a designated locality, ensuring the effective delivery of services in line with organisational priorities, regulatory requirements and national standards.

Key responsibilities

• Providing visible and effective leadership to operational managers and frontline teams.
• Delivering performance against agreed service, quality, workforce and financial targets.
• Leading the planning, implementation and evaluation of operational and transformational programmes.
• Ensuring effective governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across the locality.
• Managing complex workforce matters and promoting a positive employee experience.
• Developing collaborative relationships with partner organisations and system leaders to improve patient pathways and service delivery.
• Leading on business continuity, emergency preparedness and organisational resilience within the locality.
• Monitoring and managing financial performance and resource utilisation.
• Supporting the development of future leaders through coaching, mentoring and talent development.
• Contributing to Trust-wide strategic objectives as a member of the senior leadership team.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong strategic thinking, excellent communication and influencing skills, and a proven ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams within a complex operational environment.

Previous experience of leading large-scale services, delivering change, managing significant budgets and developing productive partnerships across organisational boundaries will be essential.

This role presents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the future direction of ambulance services and make a lasting difference to patients, staff and the wider healthcare system.

This advert closes on Monday 12 Oct 2026