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Job requirements
Essential
23 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills
Strong digital literacy, including use of operational and corporate systems to support performance management (e.g., finance systems, e-rostering) and assurance reporting
- Skills
Coaching & values led leadership style, encouraging engagement and empowerment amongst staff and stakeholders, and in developing high performing teams
- Skills
Excellent communication skills with ability to use personal influence to build and maintain credibility
- Skills
Ability to produce clear, concise assurance reports presenting complex information and recommendations to senior stakeholders
- Skills
Ability to interpret and communicate the Trust vision to key stakeholders, develop prioritised objectives and monitor a coherent delivery plan for designated area of responsibility.
- Knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of a range of issues across the NHS
- Knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of recent NHS policy and ability to translate this into action
- Knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of governance, assurance and risk management arrangements in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
- Knowledge
Experience of change management with proven and measurable results, based on and promoting positive culture and organisational values.
- Experience
Project Mgmt Experience
- Experience
Proven operational management experience within a large, complex organisation (ideally NHS), including delivering against performance standards/trajectories
- Experience
Demonstrable experience of performance assurance, including performance reviews, setting trajectories and agreeing recovery plans, managing escalation, and providing clear assurance reporting.
- Experience
Demonstrable knowledge of the NHS financial regime and probity, and proven experience of budgetary management
- Experience
Experience of financial management and delivering cost improvement schemes within agreed governance framework
- Experience
Experience of partnership working across boundaries, influencing stakeholders to deliver shared pathway and performance outcomes
- Experience
Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams
- Experience
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts and process of annual planning and ability to contribute effectively
- Personal Attributes
Resilient and adaptable, able to perform effectively in a high- pressure environment with rapidly changing priorities while maintaining appropriate judgement and governance
- Personal Attributes
Values-driven, inclusive leader who models constructive challenge, accountability and collaborative working across professional boundaries
- Personal Attributes
Developed leadership, negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to motivate and engage individuals.
- Education and Training
Masters or equivalent knowledge acquired through sig. senior management experience
- Education and Training
Evidence of CPD
- Education and Training
Service improvement/quality improvement training
Desirable
6 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Skills
Experience of using advanced analytics/BI and automation tools to improve performance reporting and insight, in line with information governance and organisational policy
- Skills
Experience using approved AI-enabled productivity tools (e.g., Copilot) in line with information governance and organisational policy.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of relevant NHS performance and assurance frameworks, regulatory requirements and good governance practice (quality, safety and finance), and the ability to apply these in operational delivery.
- Education and Training
Formal leadership development (eg NHS Leadership academy or similar)
- Education and Training
Relevant post grad. qual
- Education and Training
Project management qual
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and values-driven operational leader to join our team as Head of Operations and Performance for Integrated Urgent and General Paediatric Care. Working alongside senior clinical, nursing and operational colleagues, you will provide strategic and day-to-day leadership across the portfolio. You will drive operational performance, service improvement and transformation, while providing assurance across quality, safety, access, workforce and finance.
You will bring significant senior operational management experience, strong analytical and influencing skills, and a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex challenges and deliver sustainable improvements for children, young people and families
You will be confident working across professional and organisational boundaries, using data and insight to support decision-making, identify improvement opportunities and drive delivery. You will be an inclusive and compassionate leader, able to engage teams, build credibility with senior stakeholders and support a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a meaningful contribution to improving services and outcomes for children, while helping to shape operational delivery within one of the country’s leading specialist children’s trusts.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- Significant operational management experience in a complex organisation
- Experience of delivering against performance standards and recovery plans
- Strong financial, workforce and governance awareness
- Ability to lead service improvement, transformation and productivity programmes
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills
- A values-led, inclusive and collaborative leadership style
- Strong analytical and digital capability to support performance assurance and decision-making
If you are motivated by improving services, supporting teams and delivering high-quality care for children and families, we would welcome your application.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Head of Operations and Performance provides senior operational and strategic leadership within the System, working as part of the wider System and group management structure to deliver against agreed System priorities. The postholder is responsible for delivering operational plans within clinical group or area of responsibility, leading transformation and continuous improvement, and providing assurance on performance, quality, safety, workforce and finance. The role requires strong partnership working across organisational boundaries to improve pathways, reduce unwarranted variation and deliver sustainable outcomes for patients, carers and staff.
The Head of Operations and Performance is an integral part of the System management structure and works in partnership with Clinical Group(s) leadership team and reporting to the System Director of Operations and Performance or Deputy Director of Operations and Performance in accordance with specific System arrangements.
The postholder is responsible for the day-to-day general management of designated areas within the System. Working closely with the triumvirate and senior clinical and operational leaders, the Head of Operations and Performance provides oversight of performance, workforce and access standards, leads operational delivery and performance recovery activity, and ensures timely resolution and escalation of service issues.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Operations and Performance with Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Head of service role. The advertised salary is £66582.00 to £77368.00. The contract type is 9 months (Fixed term). The application deadline is 03 Nov 2026.
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