At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead adult services across Wales, driving performance and quality improvements.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on adult social care with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful role, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Step into a high-impact leadership role and shape recovery strategies.
- Qualifications: Proven senior leadership experience in adult social care and strong regulatory knowledge.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a challenging yet rewarding environment.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and resilient Assistant Director of Operations to lead adult services across Wales on a 12-month interim basis. This is a high-impact turnaround role, offering full regional accountability for operational performance, quality, safeguarding, and financial sustainability. You will take ownership of stabilising underperforming services, leading complex recovery programmes, and managing regulatory and commissioner relationships in challenging environments. This is a role for a confident senior leader who thrives under pressure and is comfortable making tough, high-stakes decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Regional Leadership
- Provide senior oversight across all adult services in Wales
- Drive performance, quality, safeguarding, and compliance
- Lead and hold Registered Managers accountable through robust governance
- Maintain strong onsite presence, particularly in services requiring intervention
- Turnaround & Transformation
- Lead recovery of failing or high-risk services
- Deliver improvement plans, workforce stabilisation, and financial recovery
- Manage service closures with care, ensuring continuity for individuals and families
- Quality & Regulatory Oversight
- Act as the senior lead for CIW assurance across the region
- Oversee inspection readiness and regulatory responses
- Embed strong governance, audit, and assurance frameworks
- Maintain rigorous attention to detail in compliance and documentation
- Risk & Safeguarding
- Lead on safeguarding, serious incidents, and complaints
- Manage complex investigations and multi-agency responses
- Escalate risk appropriately to Executive and Board level
- Financial Accountability
- Own regional budgets and cost control
- Deliver financial recovery plans for high-risk services
- Support fee negotiations and commissioner engagement
- Stakeholder Management
- Build and manage relationships with Local Authorities, including high-challenge environments
- Represent the organisation with authority in sensitive or adversarial situations
- Leadership & Culture
- Lead teams through change, instability, and pressure
- Address underperformance decisively
- Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and high standards
About You
You will be a proven senior operational leader with a strong track record in adult social care.
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience in adult social care, learning disability and/or autism services
- Proven success in turnaround and recovery environments
- Strong experience with CIW inspections and regulatory engagement
- Experience managing service closures or major redesign
- Track record of handling complex Local Authority relationships
- Strong safeguarding leadership experience
- Financial accountability for large, complex service portfolios
Key Attributes
- Exceptional attention to detail and governance discipline
- Strong risk assessment and decision-making capability
- Confident communicator at Executive and Board level
- Resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure
- High integrity and accountability
Qualifications
- Level 5 qualification in Leadership & Management for Health and Social Care (Wales) (or equivalent)
- Ongoing professional development aligned to senior leadership
Desirable
- Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience
- Registration with Social Care Wales
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior, high-impact interim leadership role where you can make a tangible difference across a regional portfolio. You'll be empowered to lead from the front, shape recovery strategies, and influence outcomes at scale.
Assistant Director of Operations in Port Talbot employer: Coburg Banks
Contact Detail:
Coburg Banks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Director of Operations in Port Talbot
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its challenges. Understand their operational needs and think about how your experience can help them turn things around. Tailor your responses to show you’re the confident leader they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your leadership style and how you handle high-pressure situations. Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your ability to lead teams through change and achieve results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Director of Operations in Port Talbot
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in adult social care and turnaround environments. We want to see how your skills align with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As an Assistant Director of Operations, your leadership experience is crucial. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully led teams through change and managed complex relationships with Local Authorities.
Be Detail-Oriented: Pay close attention to the details in your application. We value exceptional governance discipline, so ensure your documents are well-structured and free from errors. This reflects your commitment to quality and compliance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to make a difference in adult services across Wales.
How to prepare for a job interview at Coburg Banks
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the role. Brush up on your knowledge of adult services, turnaround strategies, and regulatory frameworks. Being able to discuss specific examples from your past experience will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but have practical insights to offer.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As an Assistant Director of Operations, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare to discuss how you’ve led teams through challenging situations, particularly in high-pressure environments. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your ability to foster a culture of accountability and professionalism.
✨Prepare for Tough Questions
Expect questions about your decision-making process, especially in complex or adversarial situations. Think about times when you had to make tough calls and be ready to explain your thought process. This will demonstrate your resilience and ability to handle high-stakes decisions effectively.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since stakeholder management is key in this role, prepare to discuss how you’ve built and maintained relationships with Local Authorities or other stakeholders. Be ready to share examples of how you’ve navigated challenging conversations and represented your organisation with authority.