Job overview

Are you ready to lead emergency and urgent care services at the highest level?

We’re seeking a visionary, compassionate, and strategic leader to join our Board of Directors as Director of Operations (North). This is a great opportunity to shape the future of care delivery across our Trust, driving innovation, performance, and cultural transformation.

You’ll lead the operational delivery of emergency services, champion clinical excellence, and empower a workforce of thousands to deliver care that’s safe, responsive, and person-centred. If you thrive in complex systems, believe in the power of compassionate leadership, and excel working as part of a team then this role is for you.

Join us in delivering our vision that together, we will deliver the best care when you need us most.

Main duties of the job

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST), we are committed to fostering a culture where equality, diversity, and inclusion are not just principles, but lived experiences for our staff, patients, and communities.

As Director of Operations (North), you will play a pivotal role in championing inclusive leadership across the Trust. We expect our senior leaders to actively promote equity in access, experience, and outcomes - both for our workforce and the people we serve. You will lead by example, ensuring that operational decisions reflect our commitment to reducing health and workforce inequalities, and that our services are culturally competent, person-centred, and responsive to diverse needs.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, and we particularly encourage those who bring lived experience, fresh perspectives, and a passion for inclusive transformation. If you share our values of One Team, Compassion, and Innovation, and are ready to lead with integrity and purpose, then we would love to consider your application.

The role will be hybrid based across the North of the Trust area with regular attendance at Trust HQ Exeter.  

👉 Apply now and help us lead with purpose.

Working for our organisation

Working for us is an experience like no other.  We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England of 10,000 square miles and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.  

At the heart of our beautiful and diverse region we employ over 6000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples’ lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills, resources and development you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

• Competitive NHS salary
• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
• Staff networks
• Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK