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Job summary

Main area
Operations
Grade
AfC: Band 9
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
432-HR825-25
Employer
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Ipswich/Colchester
Town
Ipswich/Colchester
Salary
£109,179 - £125,637 + additional responsibility payment
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/11/2025 23:59
Interview date
24/11/2025

Employer heading

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Directors of Operations

AfC: Band 9

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole.  The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

 

Job overview

We are seeking two exceptional and experienced  Directors of Operations — one based at Colchester Hospital and one at Ipswich Hospital — to join our senior leadership team.

These pivotal roles sit at the very heart of the Trust’s operational delivery. Working closely with the Managing Director, Chief Executive, and divisional leadership teams, each Site Director will provide visible, values-driven leadership to ensure safe, effective, and efficient services across their hospital site.

With significant senior leadership experience in hospital operations, you will be an inspiring and credible operational leader with the confidence and expertise to manage large, complex hospital services in a dynamic environment.

You will have a strong track record of achieving and sustaining operational, quality and financial performance

Main duties of the job

You will lead and manage all operational, clinical, and non-clinical support services across the hospital site, ensuring safe, high-quality, and efficient patient care.

Working collaboratively with clinical and divisional teams you will ensure we deliver excellent patient flow, access and experience, whilst ensuring compliance with national and local standards and targets.

You will build and sustain high-performing relationships with our system partners, supporting innovative models of care.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. 

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. 

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. 

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. 

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.   

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. 

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.   

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on the main responsibilities and duties of the role please see the attached Director of Operations applicant information pack

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Masters level standard or equivalent in relevant subject area and additional in-depth professional knowledge in a number of disciplines
  • Formal management or business qualification or equivalent relevant experience
  • Substantial senior level experience in a complex, highly regulated organisation

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Recent experience of working in a strategic leadership role
  • Experience of Board-level work in a complex organisation that operates within a highly-regulated sector
  • Experience of developing and influencing strategy, driving delivery and leading complex programmes of work at pace, and in situations of high ambiguity
Desirable criteria
  • NHS experience at a senior management level

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.NHS Pastoral CareDisability confident committedStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Georgia Shephard
Job title
Executive Assistant
Email address
[email protected]
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