Associate Director of Operations

Job overview

Associate Director of Operations B8d - 1 x 37.5 hour post available.

The post holder will be a highly motivated and effective manager with exceptional leadership and influencing skills. The post holder will have the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve teams to work towards and achieve the objectives as set out by the Executive Chief Operating Officer and the Trust Board.

The individual will work closely with the Executive Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy Chief Operating officer and the Clinical Collaboratives to deliver a range of key outcomes.

The role is instrumental in leading and maintaining an operational leadership structure that is cohesive with the integrated model of service delivery in the North Cumbria system.

Interviews to be held on Monday 5th October 2026

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Executive Chief Operating Officer the post holder will provide leadership and management for all Clinical Services. The post holder will have responsibility providing strong and effective leadership, which includes:

Operational Leadership: Lead general managers and clinical teams to deliver safe, effective, and timely patient care.

Performance & Governance: Manage capacity, demand, clinical risks, and key national performance standards.

Financial Management: Oversee large departmental budgets, drive efficiency, and ensure financial discipline within a constrained environment.

Service Transformation: Lead digital innovation, pathway redesign, and service standardisation across multi-site operations.

Partnership Working: Collaborate with executive leads, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and primary or private care partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.