Director of Operations in Bury St Edmunds

Director of Operations - St Edmunds Hospital

37.5 Hours & Permanent Salary: Competitive salary (depending on level of experience, training and qualification)

St Edmunds Hospital in Bury St Edmunds is part of Circle Health Group, Britain's leading provider of independent healthcare with a nationwide network of hospitals & clinics, performing more complex surgery than any other private healthcare provider in the country.

We have an opportunity for a Director of Operations to join their team of staff in the Senior Management Team. This is a full-time role for 37.5 hours a week. The role holder will be required to cover a flexible shift pattern.

Duties of this role include

• Lead the delivery of non-clinical operational services to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality support to clinical functions.
• Actively engage with patients, consultants, and visitors to promote a positive experience and identify areas for service improvement.
• Maintain daily visible leadership across hospital departments and lead daily communication cell meetings to support collaboration and problem-solving.
• Ensure all operational departments meet agreed service levels and performance KPIs, including compliance with NHS RTT 18-week standards.
• Oversee the effective use of labour and group tools to drive efficiency, ensuring adherence to CHG policies and best practice models.
• Maintain a robust governance framework for non-clinical services, ensuring incidents and complaints are recorded and investigated via the Riskman system.
• Set, manage, and monitor departmental budgets, ensuring costs are controlled and align with overall hospital financial targets.
• Attract, retain, and develop a high-performing operations team, fostering a positive culture of accountability, learning, and growth.

Applicants should meet the following criteria

• Proven experience in a senior operational management role within a healthcare or similar regulated environment.
• Educated to degree level or postgraduate leadership and management qualification or significant management experience and willingness to undertake a leadership and management qualification.
• Strong leadership, communication, and performance management skills.
• Financial and budget management expertise with an understanding of cost control and resource planning.
• Experience with governance frameworks, health and safety regulations, and incident/complaint management.
• Ability to work flexibly, including participation in on-call duties.
• Degree or formal qualification in Business, Healthcare Management, or a related discipline.
• Understanding of NHS RTT, NHS Standard Contracts, and private healthcare pathways.
• Familiarity with digital tools, systems reporting, and Lean or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience in managing estates, facilities, or contract services within a healthcare environment.

Salary & Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year + bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with service
• Management Bonus Scheme
• Private Pension Scheme
• Private Healthcare Scheme for treatment at our hospitals, covering pre-existing medical conditions
• Friends & Family Hospital Discounts
• Family Friendly policies, including enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption pay
• Non-contributory life insurance
• Staff engagement hub with access to discounts and extensive rewards and voluntary benefits
• Access to resources, tools and services to support your wellbeing
• Employee recognition programmes
• Industry leading training and development opportunities …and much more!

Circle Health Group is committed to creating a diverse workforce offering inclusive opportunities for all our colleagues.

Our definition of diversity goes beyond the established characteristics protected by the Equality Act, as we strive to attract candidates with diverse experiences, backgrounds, identities or expressions, skills, work styles…and more.

We’re passionate about creating an environment where our people can thrive, grow and develop professionally and personally.

Our principles and values guide our colleagues to be selfless, compassionate, committed, collaborative, brave, agile, tenacious and creative and are at the core of our purpose and culture.

To find out more about the Circle Health Group Philosophy: https://careers.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/why-circle/our-philosoph

At Circle Health Group, we believe healthcare should be personal, accessible and outstanding.

As the UK’s largest private hospital group, with over 50 locations nationwide, Circle Health Group bring world-class consultants, cutting edge facilities, and care without the wait.

Your health, your choice – we make it happen.

We’re also passionate about out people. With private medical cover, flexible working hours, wellbeing support and career development opportunities, being just a few of the fantastic benefits on offer, we give our teams everything they need to thrive.

Together, we’re shaping the future of healthcare