Head of Clinical Operations - Norfolk & Waveney in Norwich

EEAST is a great place to work, offering great people and career opportunities. No two days are the same; if you are looking for a varied and supportive environment, EEAST can offer you that and more!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and experienced leader to join the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) as Head of Clinical Operations for Norfolk & Waveney. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our service. We are on a significant improvement journey, and we are seeking a candidate with the drive, vision, and passion to deliver change that truly enhances patient care.

This is a key leadership position at a crucial time for the organisation, supporting our ambition to provide outstanding care, delivered by exceptional people, every hour of every day. We are looking for a proven leader with experience in NHS or Ambulance Service management, who can inspire teams, build strong collaborations, and deliver high-quality operational performance. The role will require travel across the region as part of leading and supporting operational teams.

Contract Details

• Secondment or fixed-term contract until 31 March 2027
• Base: Norfolk & Waveney, with regular travel across the East of England

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Senior Management Team, you will lead and inspire a dedicated group of managers and clinicians to foster a strong culture of continuous improvement. You will champion efforts to make EEAST an exceptional place to work while ensuring the delivery of outstanding quality of care and consistently high performance across the Norfolk & Waveney sector.

You will hold responsibility for all quality, performance, and financial KPIs within the sector, working collaboratively with internal partners across the business unit. As a visible and influential leader, you will also play an important role in public and stakeholder engagement, representing the Trust with professionalism and credibility.

Success in this role requires the ability to translate Trust-wide strategy, priorities, and service development plans into clear, measurable actions and tangible results within your area of responsibility. Operating at both the strategic and tactical levels, you will balance long-term planning with the demands of day-to-day operational delivery.

As part of the Trust’s Strategic Command Team, you will contribute to Gold Support through participation in the on-call rota. While the standard working week is 37.5 hours, flexibility is essential, as the role may require working outside normal hours when operationally required.

Working for our organisation

You will be joining one of the most diverse and vibrant regions in the country, spanning everything from the energy of the capital city on our doorstep to the refreshing coastline of the North Sea. At EEAST, we combine our expertise and dedication to deliver urgent and emergency care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. We are committed to continually improving how we work and collaborating across our counties to provide the highest possible standard of patient care.

We are proud to serve communities with a rich mix of cultures and backgrounds, and we aim for our workforce to reflect this diversity. We therefore actively encourage applications from individuals who are under-represented within our organisation, including those from Black, Asian or other ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ colleagues, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

We recognise the importance of achieving a healthy balance between work and life outside of work. Whether you have caring responsibilities, are pursuing further study, or have personal commitments, we welcome conversations about flexible working to help support you in achieving that balance.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the role, including all its specific requirements and responsibilities, please consult the attached Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides an in-depth overview that will give you a clear and detailed picture of what the position entails.

Please note, should you be successful in your application, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks prior to receiving an unconditional offer. If full employment checks cannot be achieved (this will include existing and unserved disciplinary sanctions), then your offer may be withdrawn.

How to apply

• Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (attached)
• Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement - Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification.
• Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

Person specification

Management Skills

Essential criteria: Skills for delivering results through managing through others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility. Able to demonstrate senior experience.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Essential criteria: Master’s, or equivalent level, management qualification, or equivalent experience. Must have an understanding of relevant government policies in relation to health and social care policy. NARU occupational standards Tactical/Strategic Commander accreditation, or willing to complete within the next 12 months. Experience with embedding strategic plans across NHS and within the specific teams.

Desirable criteria: Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England, and individual provider and commissioning organisations. Member of relevant professional body.

Analytical Skills

Essential criteria: Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.

Communication Skills

Essential criteria: Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.

Equality & Diversity

Essential criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity, taking into account and being aware of how individual actions contribute to, and make a difference to, the equality agenda.

Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.

References and Employment History: All references from current and previous employers will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and email address of the Human Resources Department and indicate your current/previous line manager and their departmental details. All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.

Please be advised that a No Smoking Policy is in operation throughout the Trust.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - Under the Trust's commitment 'Positive about Disabled People', if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will get an automatic interview. By minimum selection criteria we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application form which demonstrates the essential requirements as set out in the person specification and advertisement for a post.

We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications, regardless of age, race, religion & belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity or disability.