Director of Operations

Job overview

As Director of Operations for the NIHR London Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), you will play a critical role in ensuring that a £22m pan-London research programme delivers meaningful impact across health, care and public policy. Working across more than 20 partner organisations, you will translate strategic ambition into delivery—ensuring that research is effectively coordinated, governed and mobilised to improve outcomes for London’s population.

The role sits at the centre of a complex, multi-partner system bringing together NHS organisations, universities, local authorities and national bodies. You will shape the ARC’s operating model, ensuring that programmes are delivered on time and in line with national expectations; aligning diverse stakeholders, managing performance, and ensuring the ARC supports innovation, collaboration and measurable impact.

Working closely with the Executive team, you will have significant autonomy to influence priorities, resource allocation and delivery approaches. You will connect across research themes, operational functions and partners—ensuring cohesion, pace and focus across a wide and evolving portfolio.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to how research is implemented in practice and influence how health and care challenges are addressed at scale. The role offers both strategic influence and operational accountability, with the potential to shape future models of applied research collaboration nationally and beyond.

Main duties of the job

The Director of Operations leads the operational delivery of the NIHR London ARC, ensuring strategy is translated into coordinated, high-impact programmes across a complex partnership.

A central focus is the development and implementation of the ARC’s operating model, ensuring alignment with NIHR priorities and partner strategies. You will lead delivery planning, assess organisational risks and opportunities, and position the ARC for long-term sustainability and growth.

You will oversee programme delivery and performance across research themes and functions, ensuring milestones, outputs and impact measures are achieved. This includes establishing effective performance frameworks, driving accountability and managing delivery risks, while fostering a culture of transparency, continuous improvement and collaboration.

Working closely with senior leaders in the NHS, academia, local government and national bodies, you will build strategic partnerships, represent the ARC in regional and national forums, and support cross-sector alignment.

You will also lead governance, assurance and risk management, ensuring compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. With delegated responsibility for financial planning and resource allocation, you will ensure value for money, sustainability and effective stewardship of resources. In addition, you will lead operational teams and support workforce development across a distributed partnership.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working in close partnership with the ARC Directors Chief Operating Officer and Executive, the role has significant autonomy to make decisions on programme priorities, resource allocation, and operational strategy.

The role will be responsible for:

• Programme delivery, planning, and performance management
• Governance, assurance, and reporting
• Coordination across research themes and the responsive research function
• Operational support to stakeholder engagement and partnership working
• Management of the core programme team

The post holder will act as the central coordination point for the ARC, ensuring alignment between research, operations, and impact activities.

The role ensures that ARC strategy is translated into delivery, enabling achievement of objectives and compliance with National Institute for Health and Care Research requirements.

Key working relationships:

• ARC Director, Co-Director, Deputy Director, Chief Operating Officer
• ARC Executive and Board members
• Theme Leads, Population Impact Cluster leads, Research topic leads and Programme Directors
• Senior leaders across NHS Trusts, ICSs, academia, and local authorities
• NIHR regional and national teams
• Finance, HR, and governance leads across partner organisations
• ARC Core operational team

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust,  or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

Flexible working

We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual’s personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on the UK Government website.

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