Job summary
- Main area
- Community
- Grade
- Band 8d
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On call requirements - Happy to discuss flexible working)
- Job ref
- 437-8119706
- Employer
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- To be discussed with candidate
- Town
- Greater Manchester
- Salary
- £94,356 - £108,814 On call allowance provided, per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Associate Director of Operations
Band 8d
Job overview
The Associate Director of Operations for the community care group will work alongside an Associate Medical Director and an Associate Director of Nursing and Quality as a Trio to deliver safe and effective services.
The Trio work closely with the leads for psychological professions and allied health professionals.
The community care group covers services for:
Community Services for:
· Wigan
· Bolton
· Salford
· Manchester
· Trafford
· Later Life (community services)
Neighbourhoods and Physical Health Hubs
The community care group is progressing with community transformation and will require a motivated and experienced leader to support the transformation required.
We are delivering an ambitious programme of community mental health transformation, redesigning services to provide more accessible, integrated and person‑centred care closer to home.
Our model brings together primary, community and VCSE partners to deliver a consistent, trauma‑informed offer, with streamlined referral pathways, improved access to therapies and a stronger focus on early intervention and personalised care.
This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in shaping a modern, community‑first system, improving outcomes and experience for the people we serve.
Main duties of the job
The Associate Director of Operations holds responsibility for the operational management and leadership of a designated portfolio. Key duties include ensuring financial stability and robust performance management to meet national and local targets, while supporting the Trust’s strategic and business plans. The role involves contributing to continuous improvement, service development across Greater Manchester, and deputising for the Chief Operating Officer where required.
Strategic responsibilities focus on implementing service redesigns, developing business cases, and identifying opportunities for new or expanded services in line with Trust priorities. The postholder also leads or contributes to service reviews and major projects, utilising specialist knowledge and analytical skills.
The role requires effective communication and positive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, and representing the Trust at external forums. The Associate Director is also responsible for promoting service user, carer, and staff involvement in service development, and for ensuring strong on-call and escalation arrangements.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
- Pay Enhancements
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
- Excellent pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Wellbeing programme
- Blue Light Card Discounts
- fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A relevant health or social care qualification at degree level or relevant/ equivalent experience.
Desirable criteria
- Satisfactory record of continuous professional development
- Recognised management qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant track record of employment at a senior operational level delivering mental health services
- Considerable experience in operational leadership roles
- Evidence of leading service change with colleagues
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in partnerships with other organisations to deliver services with a wide range of Stakeholder working partnerships
- Experience of managing financial resources at a senior level
- Experienced appraiser and supervisor of staff
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Highly motivated individual with strong personal integrity Good organisational skills
- Good team leadership skills Ability to communicate with staff at all levels and with colleagues within and external to the organisation
- Ability to listen, analyse problems and seek solutions
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates a drive and passion to deliver to a standard of excellence adopting a continuous learning approach
- Resilient and able to perform effectively in pressurised environment
- Clear commitment to delivering quality user focused services
- Ability and commitment to work as part of a corporate team
- Demonstrates a leadership style which supports the development of positive relationships and effective team work
- Understands other functions e.g. Finance, HR
key Skills
Essential criteria
- Inclusive leadership and management style
- Effective motivator with strong influencing skills and personal credibility
- Ability to address difficult situations and problems including those relating to individual colleagues by using effective problem solving techniques
- Highly developed communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Proven skills in the development Experienced appraiser and supervisor of staff
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Up to date knowledge of current health agenda locally and nationally
- Sound knowledge of clinical governance and effective systems
- Effective motivator with strong influencing skills and personal credibility
Desirable criteria
- An understanding of the role and contribution to the overall Trust agenda
- Knowledge and/or experience of policy development at national level
Other Requirments
Essential criteria
- There is a frequent requirement to travel across the organisation to attend meetings and events relevant to the role
- Work hours necessary to meet deadlines and deliver on time
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Carmain Gibson-Holmes
- Job title
- Deputy Chief Operating Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07926700905
- Additional information
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