Divisional Operations Director | Mental Health Services | Band 9
Are you passionate about shaping the future of mental health care and making a difference to people’s lives? We are seeking an experienced and motivated Divisional Operations Director to lead our Community and Inpatient Mental Health Services.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will provide strategic leadership, ensure high‑quality, safe and person‑centred services and develop them in line with our Trust’s Strategy and Annual Plan. You will drive service improvement, support innovation and lead the delivery of key performance, workforce, financial and governance priorities.
Working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team, clinical leaders and partners across the NHS, Local Authorities, ICs, NHSE, CQC and the voluntary sector, you will shape services that are responsive to the needs of our communities. You will champion staff wellbeing, patient and carer involvement, and foster a culture of learning, quality improvement & inclusion.
This is a pivotal role for an inspiring leader who can balance compassion with accountability, and who is committed to delivering excellence in care, experience and outcomes.
If you are driven by the opportunity to lead transformational change and support our teams to deliver the very best in mental health care, we would love to hear from you!
Join us in shaping the future of mental health. For an informal conversation, please contact the Chief Operating Officer.
Responsibilities
* Ensure clinical services are effectively managed, delivered and maintained;
* Oversee financial and quality performance of services;
* Develop operational resources, capabilities and services;
* Lead on operational and strategic improvement plans & projects;
* Contribute to corporate strategy, decision making and Trust development;
* Provide visible leadership that delivers for patients and their families, recognising the different needs across geographical areas;
* Ensure that adult services for mental health meet the needs of local people through patient and public involvement strategies;
* Establish and develop highly effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including third‑sector partners, other NHS organisations, commissioners, and local authorities to assist with the achievement of Trust goals and inter‑agency collaboration and effectiveness;
* Act as a member of the Trust Senior Management team.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
* Caring for and about you is our top priority;
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services;
* Working together with you to develop innovative solutions.
Benefits
* Flexible working options to support work‑life balance;
* 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell;
* Generous NHS pension scheme;
* Excellent learning and career development opportunities;
* ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles;
* Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services;
* Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants;
* Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality;
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave;
* Free parking across Trust sites.
Must‑Haves
* Confident, resilient, and motivated leader with a passion for improving mental health services;
* Proven track record of delivering organisational change at Director level;
* Strong expertise in finance, HR, governance and service management within complex organisations;
* Skilled in workforce planning, staff development and performance management;
* Acts with integrity, fairness and compassion, upholding NHS values;
* Excellent communication, problem‑solving and analytical skills;
* Master’s level qualification (or equivalent) with ongoing professional development;
* In‑depth knowledge of NHS regulations, CQC and healthcare governance;
* Commercially aware and politically astute;
* Flexible, IT‑proficient and able to travel across Trust sites.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact: Theresa Wyles, Theresa.wyles@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.
Please note we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
We kindly ask that candidates who previously applied for this role in the last three months do not reapply.
This advert closes on Friday 6 Mar 2026.
#J-18808-Ljbffr