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