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Job summary

Main area
Community
Grade
Band 8d
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Happy to discuss flexible working)
Job ref
437-7693022
Employer
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trust headquarters, Prestwich
Town
Prestwich
Salary
£91,342 - £105,337 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/02/2026 23:59
Interview date
20/02/2026

Employer heading

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Associate Director of Operations

Band 8d

Job overview

The Associate Director of Operations for the specialist care group will work alongside an Associate Medical Director and an Associate Director of Nursing and Quality as a Trio to deliver safe and effective services. 

The Trio work closely with the leads for psychological professions and allied health professionals. 

The specialist care group covers services for: 

  • Children & Adolescent  ​
    Inpatient  & Community
  • Early intervention services
  • University services 
  • Additions & Homelessness  ​
  • Deaf Mental Health 
  • Neurodiversity and LD 
  • Talking therapies 
  • Military Veterans
  • Specialist psychology
  • Eating disorders 
  • Perinatal

Main duties of the job

The Associate Director of Operations holds responsibility for the operational management and leadership of a designated portfolio. Key duties include ensuring financial stability and robust performance management to meet national and local targets, while supporting the Trust’s strategic and business plans. The role involves contributing to continuous improvement, service development across Greater Manchester, and deputising for the Chief Operating Officer where required.

Strategic responsibilities focus on implementing service redesigns, developing business cases, and identifying opportunities for new or expanded services in line with Trust priorities. The postholder also leads or contributes to service reviews and major projects, utilising specialist knowledge and analytical skills.

The role requires effective communication and positive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, and representing the Trust at external forums. The Associate Director is also responsible for promoting service user, carer, and staff involvement in service development, and for ensuring strong on-call and escalation arrangements.

 They work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, other directors, and the Executive Leadership Team, and supervise staff as required. Financial responsibilities include monitoring performance, supporting financial recovery, and managing service budgets in alignment with organisational policies.

 

Working for our organisation

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification

Staff benefits

  • Pay Enhancements
  • 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Excellent pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary sacrifice car scheme
  • Wellbeing programme
  • Blue Light Card Discounts
  • fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria
  • A relevant health or social care qualification at degree level or relevant/ equivalent experience.
  • Significant track record of employment at a senior operational level delivering mental health services
  • Considerable experience in operational leadership roles
  • Evidence of leading service change with colleagues
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in partnerships with other organisations to deliver services with a wide range of Stakeholder working partnerships

Essential

Essential criteria
  • Significant track record of employment at a senior operational level delivering mental health services
Desirable criteria
  • Clear commitment to delivering quality user focused services
  • Demonstrates a drive and passion to deliver to a standard of excellence adopting a continuous learning approach

Essential

Essential criteria
  • Up to date knowledge of current health agenda locally and nationally
  • Sound knowledge of clinical governance and effective systems
  • a leadership style which supports the development of positive relationships and effective team work
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge and/or experience of policy development at national level

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardWe are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyHSJ Best places to workDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerGM Good Employment Charter

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carol Harris
Job title
Chief Operating Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Carmain Gibson-Holmes

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]

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