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