Director of Operations – Mental Health Up to £85,000 + Performance Bonus
Shape national mental health services. Lead at system level. Deliver at scale.
Compass Associates has been selected to appoint a Director of Operations – Mental Health to take ownership of a large, complex, and fast-growing mental health portfolio delivering inpatient and community services across the NHS.
This is a senior leadership role for someone who understands how mental health services actually work - operationally, clinically, commercially, and within NHS systems - and who is motivated by improving access, quality, and patient flow at scale.
The opportunity:
You’ll be accountable for the operational performance of a national mental health division, working closely with NHS Trusts, ICBs, and system partners to deliver safe, high-quality services while supporting growth across new pathways and geographies.
You’ll lead senior operational leaders, oversee significant budgets, and play a key role in shaping service models that genuinely relieve pressure across the system.
Responsibilities:
End-to-end operational leadership of a multi-site mental health portfolio spanning inpatient and community services
Delivering operational strategy aligned to clinical quality, safety, and commercial performance
Leading and developing a senior leadership team across service delivery, mobilisation, and patient flow
Building trusted, senior relationships with NHS Trusts, ICBs, commissioners, and provider collaboratives
Mobilising new services and expanding existing contracts nationally
Ensuring strong performance management, governance, and KPI reporting
Managing operational budgets across staffing, mobilisation, and non-pay spend
Overseeing regulatory compliance (CQC, MHA, MCA, safeguarding, NHS contracts)
Identifying and mitigating operational and clinical risk
Contributing to executive-level decision-making and board reporting
Scale & Scope:
Responsibility for services generating £20m+ annual income
Oversight of £15m operational budget
Direct leadership of 4 senior operational heads
National remit with regular travel
This role will suit someone who:
Has senior operational leadership experience in mental health services
Understands NHS commissioning, provider collaboratives, and system-level delivery
Is confident balancing clinical quality, operational delivery, and commercial performance
Has led large, multi-site services with complex stakeholder environments
Is credible at executive and board level
Leads with compassion, clarity, and accountability
Thrives in environments where services are evolving and scaling
What’s on offer:
Salary up to £85,000
Performance-related bonus (linked to EBITDA or revenue)
National leadership role with genuine influence on mental health pathways
Opportunity to shape and scale services that make a real impact