Director of Operations

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.

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.

• 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

• Responsibility for services generating £20m+ annual income
• Oversight of £15m operational budget
• Direct leadership of 4 senior operational heads
• National remit with regular travel

• 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

• 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