Job overview
York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management (YTHFM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We provide estates, facilities and medical engineering services that are essential to delivering safe, high‑quality patient care across the Trust’s hospitals and community sites. As a subsidiary organisation, we combine the values, purpose and scale of the NHS with the operational focus, responsiveness and flexibility needed to deliver reliable services and major transformation.
The Deputy Director of Operations is responsible for the safe, compliant and effective operation of the Trust’s built environment and facilities services. This is a high‑impact leadership role with responsibility for hard FM, soft FM and medical engineering services, operational compliance, assurance and risk management. You will oversee large, complex services operating 24/7, ensuring they consistently support high‑quality patient care. You will be a key member of the YTHFM senior leadership team and will deputise for the Managing Director as required.
Main duties of the job
You will lead operational delivery across estates, facilities and medical engineering services, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and NHS standards across all sites. You will oversee services critical to patient safety, including fire, water, ventilation, decontamination and equipment maintenance. You will manage significant operational budgets, driving efficiency and value, while leading and engaging a workforce of around 1,100 staff. You will set clear expectations, foster a high‑performance culture and provide assurance to YTHFM and Trust governance structures.
You will be an experienced senior operational leader, confident managing scale, complexity and risk. You will bring strong credibility in estates and facilities management, alongside financial and governance awareness, with the ability to influence clinicians, executives and external partners. You will lead with clarity, empathy and decisiveness, recognising the importance of reliable operational services in delivering excellent patient care.
The role operates across all Trust sites, supporting effective leadership, delivery and assurance.
As part of York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management within York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will embody the values of kindness, openness and excellence, demonstrating inclusive leadership, professional integrity, collaboration and a commitment to high standards.
Working for our organisation
To find out more about working for our Trust, please visit:
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
· Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
· 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
· A generous relocation package of up to 30% of salary (capped at £18k) to support with relocation expenses for hard to fill positions where relocation would be an expectation to undertake the role fully. If you would like to discuss a potential relocation package, please speak to the recruiting department/manager.
· A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
· Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
· NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
· An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
· Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers
For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.
Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: yhs-tr.
art of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Person specification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. Evidence of delivering operations in a complex environment, at scale and to demanding timelines.
2. Evidence of previous Senior Leadership roles in Facilities Management.
3. In depth and specialist knowledge of Facilities Management, Project Management, Asset Management, Engineering Management, Personnel Management.
4. Strong Facilities Management expertise together with extensive experience of developing complex built environments.
5. Significant experience of using Facilities Management digital platforms.
6. Substantial knowledge of Facilities management best practice.
7. Experience of developing alliances and partnerships within and across organisations.
8. Proven ability of staff management for large people organisations (c1,000), acquired through post gradudate training and experience over an extended period.
9. Track record of delivering Facilities Management within budget and to deadlines.
10. Demonstrate a high level of political awareness.
11. High level of organisational skills to manage and run large scale and highly complex operations.
12. Ability to make corporate financially astute decisions that affect the wider organisation.
13. Exceptional influencing and negotiation skills using a collaborative approach with proven experience of success with clinicians, Directors, external organisations.
14. Experience of complex engineering systems.
15. Experience of Total FM organisations operating inhouse and stakeholders.
16. Advanced interpersonal skills to deliver highly complex, sensitive and potentially contentious messages.
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of working within a Wholly Owned Subsidiary/Limited Liability Partnership within the NHS.
18. Experience of complex engineering systems.
19. Experience of Total FM organisations operating inhouse.
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
20. Masters degree in an Engineering or a Facilities Management related subject.
21. Postgraduate leadership qualification.
22. Chartered membership of a relevant professional institution (IHEEM, IET, IWFM). facilities discipline.
23. Significant experience in a senior Estates and Facilities Management role within a complex organisation.
Desirable criteria
24. Chartered professional registration / accreditation in relevant discipline.