Divisional Director, Operations & Performance, Live Well & Urgent Care

Job overview

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is seeking an exceptional Divisional Director of Operations to lead our Live Well & Urgent Care Division.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operational leader to work alongside senior clinical and nursing colleagues to deliver high-quality patient care, drive transformation, and improve operational, workforce, quality and financial performance.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will work closely with the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Divisional Medical Director and Divisional Director of Nursing to deliver Trust objectives and national priorities. You will provide visible leadership, support service improvement, and maintain a strong focus on patient experience, quality and staff wellbeing.

We are looking for a credible leader with significant senior operational management experience, a proven track record of delivering performance improvements, strong financial and workforce management skills, and excellent stakeholder engagement abilities.

At WWL, our values of Compassion, Respect, Accountability and Excellence underpin everything we do.

Please note: Interviews will take place in person at Trust HQ, WWL, on 14 September 2026. Due to panel availability, no alternative interview dates can be offered, and shortlisted candidates must be available to attend on this date.

Main duties of the job

The Divisional Director of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the Division. They are responsible for ensuring delivery of divisional performance standards, workforce and financial objectives, while supporting service transformation and the delivery of high-quality patient care. The Divisional Director works in partnership with the Divisional Medical Director and Divisional Director of Nursing and is accountable to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Divisional Leadership & Operational Management

• Provide visible leadership for all services within the Division, ensuring operational effectiveness and safe delivery of care.
• Work in partnership with medical and nursing leads to drive a culture of accountability, improvement, and collaboration.
• Ensure divisional teams are supported and empowered to achieve high standards of performance and patient care.

Performance

• Ensure divisional delivery of national and local standards including ED, RTT, diagnostics, and cancer performance targets as applicable to the Division.
• Lead divisional improvement programmes to address underperformance and ensure sustainable compliance with standards.
• Oversee divisional capacity planning and service demand management to maintain safe, effective, and timely access to care.

Governance and Risk

• Ensure divisional compliance with governance, risk management, and quality frameworks.
• Maintain divisional risk registers, ensuring risks are assessed, mitigated, and escalated as appropriate.
• Promote a culture of learning, safety, and continuous improvement across the Division.

Finance and Resources

• Ensure that divisional workforce is continually developed and competent to undertake required roles.
• Provide line management to the Directorate Management Team and ensure effective management of services.
• Develop integrated workforce plans (medical and non-medical) aligned with the Service and Financial Frameworks, addressing recruitment, retention, and supply challenges.
• Ensure all areas are safe and appropriately staffed, liaising with senior colleagues for professional leadership support where required.
• Oversee organisational change and working practice changes in partnership with HR, ensuring compliance with the Trust’s Job Security and Change Policy.
• Ensure full compliance with appraisal, mandatory training, and other HR performance indicators, incorporating these within divisional objectives. Agree consultant job plans and appraisals with the DMD, Clinical Directors and Directorate Managers, ensuring engagement of doctors and clinical professionals in planning and managing services.
• Ensure all staff in the Division have an up-to-date Personal Development Review and Plan reflecting both core training and CPD requirements.
• Manage HR policies within the Division, including disciplinary, capability, and grievance, ensuring issues are managed fairly and consistently.
• Ensure robust systems are in place to identify and address poor performance and conduct, and ensure grievances and whistleblowing are handled in line with Trust policy.
• Promote flexible working practices that comply with the Working Time Directive and balance individual staff preferences with service needs.
• Ensure effective use of financial resources, budget management, delivery of cost improvement programmes, and sustainability of divisional services.

Communications and Relationships

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with divisional leaders, corporate colleagues, clinicians, and external partners.
• Represent the Division at Trust-wide forums and in external meetings with commissioners and partner organisations.
• Promote effective communication across divisional teams to ensure staff are engaged and informed about key priorities.

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.