Operations Director - Children's Services

Operations Director - Children's Services

Full-Time 80000 - 85000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and oversee children's residential homes, ensuring high-quality care and compliance.
  • Company: Ambitious children's residential care provider with growth opportunities.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, long-term progression into C-suite roles.
  • Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on sustainable growth and excellent outcomes.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in children's residential services and strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 85000 € per year.

We're exclusively representing an ambitious and growing children’s residential care provider who is looking to appoint an experienced Operations Director to oversee a portfolio of children’s homes across the North West. This is a key leadership role in a well-established organisation entering an exciting phase of growth, with genuine long-term progression opportunities into future C-suite leadership.

About the Role

As Operations Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of children’s homes, ensuring high-quality care, strong compliance standards, and continued service development. You will work closely with senior leadership, Registered Managers, the RI, therapists, and central support functions to drive performance, maintain strong Ofsted outcomes, and support sustainable growth across the group.

The Person

This opportunity requires a strong operational leader with significant experience within children’s residential services and a proven track record of managing multiple homes successfully. Most importantly, the organisation is looking for someone with exceptional interpersonal skills who can build genuine buy-in from managers and lead collaboratively across the business. The right person will be approachable, credible, commercially aware, and capable of balancing strategy with hands-on operational leadership.

Requirements

  • Significant experience managing children’s residential homes
  • Strong understanding of Ofsted frameworks and compliance
  • Track record of maintaining “Good” or above outcomes
  • Experience overseeing multi-site operations
  • Strategic mindset with strong commercial awareness
  • Ability to lead, influence, and develop management teams
  • Excellent relationship-building and communication skills

To find out more, please contact Kate in the Soka Partners team - kate.field@soka-partners.com

Operations Director - Children's Services employer: Soka Partners

Join a dynamic and forward-thinking children's residential care provider that prioritises high-quality care and compliance while fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. With a strong focus on employee development, this role offers exceptional growth opportunities into future C-suite positions, making it an ideal place for passionate leaders looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children across North West England.

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Contact Detail:

Soka Partners Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Operations Director - Children's Services

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the children's services sector. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself to key players. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, recent developments, and challenges they face. This will help us tailor your responses and show them you’re genuinely interested in leading their operations.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed multiple children's homes. Highlight your interpersonal skills and how you’ve built strong teams. We want to see that you can lead with both strategy and heart.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate leaders like you who are ready to make a difference in children’s services.

We think you need these skills to ace Operations Director - Children's Services

Leadership Skills
Experience in Children's Residential Services
Understanding of Ofsted Frameworks
Compliance Management
Multi-Site Operations Management
Strategic Mindset
Commercial Awareness

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in children's residential services. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Operations Director, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. We love seeing genuine passion for children’s services and how you can contribute to our growth.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As an Operations Director, leadership is key. In your application, make sure to highlight specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and driven performance in previous roles. We want to know how you lead!

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. Don’t miss out!

How to prepare for a job interview at Soka Partners

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Ofsted frameworks and compliance standards. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you’re not just familiar with the requirements but also ready to lead a team that meets them.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed multiple children's homes in the past. Highlight your interpersonal skills and how you've built relationships with managers and teams, as this role is all about collaboration and influence.

Be Strategic Yet Hands-On

Demonstrate your ability to balance strategic thinking with operational leadership. Share instances where you've driven performance while ensuring high-quality care, showing that you can think big while still being involved in day-to-day operations.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions about the organisation's growth plans and how they measure success across their homes. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your career goals.