Director of Central Operations, IPS Grow

We are seeking a Director of Central Operations to join the IPS Grow Senior Leadership Team at a pivotal stage of growth. This role will ensure the programme has the systems, infrastructure, and operational strength needed to deliver impact at scale.

Social Finance is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to tackling complex social challenges through innovative partnerships and solutions. A core focus is IPS Grow, a national programme supporting the expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) across England. IPS is an evidence-based model that helps people with severe mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, and other health needs to access and sustain employment. Over the past decade, IPS has transformed employment support within healthcare settings, helping thousands build confidence, independence, and long‑term wellbeing. As IPS expands nationally, IPS Grow plays a vital role in strengthening delivery, improving quality, and ensuring robust evidence of impact.

Working closely with senior colleagues, you will provide oversight across key operational areas including finance, governance, data and digital, and business support. You will drive organisational effectiveness through strong financial planning, risk management, workforce planning, and the development of systems that enable consistent, high‑quality delivery. Strengthening data and digital capability will also be a key priority as IPS Grow continues to mature into a nationally embedded and high‑performing organisation.

The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience across operational functions, alongside a strong track record in organisational strategy, planning, and continuous improvement. You will have excellent financial literacy and experience overseeing complex budgets to support effective decision‑making. A proven ability to lead inclusive, high‑performing teams and build strong relationships with stakeholders is essential. Experience in publicly funded or contract‑driven environments would be advantageous. Above all, you will be a collaborative and strategic leader who can foster a ‘one team’ culture, build trusted partnerships, and combine strategic insight with practical delivery.

The Director of Central Operations is a core member of the IPS Grow Senior Leadership Team, responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of IPS Grow’s finance, data and digital, business support, governance, project management and organisational development functions. The Director of Central Operations ensures IPS Grow has the infrastructure, systems, culture and operational excellence required to deliver high‑performing Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services across England. The postholder deputises for the Executive Director – IPS Grow as required.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic oversight of IPS Grow finance function: Liaise with SF Finance Director and finance team colleagues to ensure IPS Grow has accurate, up‑to‑date budgets. Ensure IPS Grow colleagues are involved in setting and reviewing budgets in line with our annual planning cycle. Check actual spend against profiles and ensure costs are allocated correctly against different IPS Grow projects and funders. Raise variances with the Executive Director – IPS Grow and agree budget reprofiles and/or remediation strategies. Use budget information to recommend cost efficiencies and quality improvements to the Executive Director – IPS Grow.
• Strategic lead for IPS Grow data function: Senior lead for IPS Grow data team. Work closely with the Executive Director – IPS Grow and other senior colleagues in Social Finance, including our data and digital team, to ensure effective oversight over our data and digital delivery. Line manage the Head of Data IPS Grow to ensure that data analysis and reporting meets the needs of internal and external stakeholders. Through line management of the Head of Data, ensure effective oversight of IPS Grow’s Customer Relationship Management system and ongoing development to provide required business intelligence. Task‑manage the Data Manager for IPS Grow to ensure developments to the IPS Grow Reporting Tool are appropriately prioritised, planned and budgeted and delivered within required timeframes. Work closely with commissioners and other senior stakeholders to monitor satisfaction with our delivery. Identify and implement improvements based on what we learn. Act as a point of escalation for concerns, complaints or issues with our data delivery, working with the Head of Data to ensure appropriate resolution. Lead responsibility for ensuring that contract KPIs and quality requirements in relation to data and digital are met.
• Strategic lead for IPS Grow annual planning, business support and governance: Line manage the Head of the Project Management Office (PMO) and other business support staff, as appropriate, to ensure IPS Grow has effective administrative functions, including travel and expenses. Lead the project management function in the team, ensuring that delivery and transformation projects are supported and delivered to the highest standards. Act as a key senior contact point with Social Finance’s HR team and ensure strong working relationships and processes for our people functions. Work closely with the Director of Delivery – IPS Grow to understand the key needs of our operational teams and ensure these are met. Senior strategic lead for the IPS Grow annual business planning cycle, coordinating with the Executive Director – IPS Grow and the Director for Research and Innovation – IPS Grow. Senior strategic lead for the IPS Grow strategy, as agreed with and working closely alongside the Executive Director – IPS Grow. Support the effective advice and governance of IPS Grow, including facilitating the Health Employment Partnerships Board. Senior IPS Grow lead with responsibility for risk management. Senior IPS Grow lead with responsibility for resourcing and for making strong links with Social Finance’s HR team and Resourcing Lead.
• Senior leadership within the IPS Grow team, including deputising for Executive Director – IPS Grow: Play a lead role in the IPS Grow senior team, involving data, finance and business support colleagues in decision‑making at key points. Act as the deputy for the Executive Director – IPS Grow in meetings, Communities of Practice and elsewhere. Act as the senior IPS Grow lead for learning and organisational development, supporting colleagues from across the team to set and realise learning goals. Engage closely with colleagues in other parts of the team to ensure consistency and quality of practice, help solve common challenges, and support a ‘one team’ culture. Make strong links and work collaboratively with colleagues across Social Finance, including Communities of Practice and Communities of Impact. Lead on agreed initiatives/workstreams to support delivery of the IPS Grow Strategy and key priorities, such as race equity. Build a positive team culture, responsive to individual and collective needs. Oversee the creation of regional and national reports for funders/stakeholders with accurate, up‑to‑date information. Continuously refine practice and skill by engaging with IPS experts and other stakeholders in the UK and internationally to bring the best and most up‑to‑date understanding of “what works” to programme delivery. Be an ambassador for Social Finance and for the IPS model. Reflect on own practice, including identifying own learning and development needs. Support the ongoing connection between the IPS Grow team and the wider Social Finance team.

Person specification

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• Prior senior leadership experience of broad operations functions (such as finance, data and digital, communications, business support or programme delivery).
• Experience shaping organisational strategy projects including annual planning cycles, organisational change and continuous improvement.
• Strong financial literacy, with experience overseeing complex budgets and using financial insight to support effective resource allocation and organisational decision‑making.
• Strong people leadership and organisational development capability, with a track record of building collaborative, inclusive and high‑performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership skills, with the ability to work effectively with commissioners, partners, senior leaders and cross‑organisational teams.

Desirable:

• Experience overseeing data, digital or performance functions, including systems such as CRM platforms, reporting tools and business intelligence used to monitor performance and impact.
• Experience working in publicly funded service delivery environments (such as health, social care), with an understanding of performance management, reporting requirements and accountability to commissioners or funders.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly collaborative, with a commitment to a “one team” culture.
• Solutions‑focused, with the ability to anticipate and resolve operational challenges.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and engage at all levels.
• Commitment to equity, learning and continuous improvement.
• Ability to act as a credible ambassador for IPS Grow and the IPS model.