Band 8d - Deputy Director of Operations, Medicine | West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Are you an ambitious operational leader who can combine strategic thinking with a practical focus on delivery? This is an opportunity to lead a broad and complex portfolio of medical services, shape the future of patient care and make a tangible difference to the communities we serve.

We are seeking a Divisional Director of Operations – Medicine to join our senior operational leadership team. Working alongside the Divisional Director and senior nursing leadership, you will provide visible, compassionate leadership and take responsibility for operational delivery, performance, financial management and service improvement across the Medicine Division.

Our division spans specialist medicine, care of older people and frailty, and interventional specialties including cardiology, respiratory medicine and gastroenterology. With services across Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals, alongside our Virtual Hospital model, the role offers scope to improve inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic pathways and develop care closer to home.

You will bring substantial senior operational management experience in a complex healthcare environment, with a track record of delivering performance improvement, managing resources and leading change. You will understand how to turn strategy into action and how to sustain improvement through effective teams, sound governance and constructive relationships with clinical colleagues.

We are looking for someone who is credible, collaborative and confident in making decisions; able to challenge constructively, navigate competing priorities and maintain focus under pressure. Just as importantly, you will be a visible and approachable leader who develops others, listens to patients and colleagues, and creates the conditions for teams to deliver their best work.

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

You will translate the Trust’s ambitions into clear divisional priorities and measurable improvements, balancing day-to-day operational pressures with longer-term service development. Working in partnership with clinical teams, corporate colleagues and system partners, you will strengthen access, improve patient flow and ensure resources are used effectively while maintaining a clear focus on quality and patient experience.

• Lead the operational running of the division, establishing clear accountability and effective performance oversight.
• Drive delivery of national and local access standards across planned care, diagnostics and cancer pathways, including robust waiting-list management and referral-to-treatment performance.
• Work across divisional boundaries to improve capacity, patient flow and discharge pathways, supporting timely care and service resilience.
• Lead business, capacity and workforce planning, aligning services and resources with demand.
• Deliver robust financial management, improved productivity and sustainable efficiency programmes.
• Lead service transformation and continuous improvement, using data, clinical insight and patient feedback to shape better pathways.
• Develop and support operational leaders, building a collaborative culture with clear expectations and a commitment to learning.
• Maintain effective operational governance, risk management and escalation, working closely with clinical and nursing colleagues.
• Build strong relationships with community providers, primary care and wider system partners to deliver joined-up care.
• For further details or an informal discussion, please contact our recruitment partners at Hunter Healthcare via the below details.

Please note applications made through trac will be shared with Hunter Healthcare.

This advert closes on Friday 13 Nov 2026