Senior Ops Director, Medicine - Transform Patient Care

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Deputy Director of Operations, Medicine to lead a broad portfolio across multiple sites. You will shape patient care pathways, drive performance delivery, and manage resources within the Medicine Division.

You will partner with clinical leaders to translate strategy into action, sustain improvements, and build a capable, compassionate leadership team across Watford and partner sites.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior operational management experience in a complex healthcare environment (NHS or similar).
• Track record of delivering performance improvement, managing resources and leading change.
• Ability to turn strategic thinking into practical action with governance and collaborative leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational running of the division, establishing clear accountability and effective performance oversight.
• Drive delivery of national and local access standards across planned care, diagnostics and cancer pathways, including robust waiting‑list management and referral‑to‑treatment performance.
• Work across divisional boundaries to improve capacity, patient flow and discharge pathways, supporting timely care and service resilience.
• Lead business, capacity and workforce planning, aligning services and resources with demand.
• Deliver robust financial management, improved productivity and sustainable efficiency programmes.
• Lead service transformation and continuous improvement, using data, clinical insight and patient feedback to shape better pathways.
• Develop and support operational leaders, building a collaborative culture with clear expectations and a commitment to learning.
• Maintain effective operational governance, risk management and escalation, working closely with clinical and nursing colleagues.
• Build strong relationships with community providers, primary care and wider system partners to deliver joined‑up care.

Job description

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Deputy Director of Operations, Medicine to lead a broad portfolio across multiple sites. You will shape patient care pathways, drive performance delivery, and manage resources within the Medicine Division.

You will partner with clinical leaders to translate strategy into action, sustain improvements, and build a capable, compassionate leadership team across Watford and partner sites.