Head of Operations

Location: Luton

Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date: 19 June 2026

Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 per year

Specific Hours: 40 hours per week

Head of Operations

Location: Home-based with travel across your region

Salary and benefits: £70,000-£75,000 basic salary plus car allowance, private health insurance, up to 20% bonus

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for delivering high-quality care services? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, multi-site environment where your leadership can drive real impact?

About the Role

As Head of Operations, you will oversee the delivery of safe, high-quality, profitable care services across your region. Reporting to the Divisional Director, you’ll lead Area Managers to deliver customer experience and growth, commercial business performance and effectively manage key operational risks & compliance requirements. This is a key leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future of care delivery.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and lead a high performing Area Management team to deliver consistent, high-quality care services.
  • Lead the seamless delivery of day-to-day operations and performance across the region.
  • Drive quality performance across the region ensuring plans are in place to mitigate risk and achieve strong regulatory inspection ratings.
  • Drive customer satisfaction and retention through data-led insights and service improvements.
  • Develop and implement regional business plans aligned with divisional goals.
  • Use data and insight to manage financial performance and identify opportunities for profitable growth.
  • Ensure strong people practices and plans are in place to build a skilled and well-resourced team.
  • Work collaboratively with a variety of internal stakeholders and represent the organisation with external stakeholders including regulatory bodies.
  • Be a point of escalation for risks across the region including customer complaints, complex ER cases, out-of-hours service and quality/safety incidents.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

  • Proven experience leading managers in a multi-site business.
  • Strong background in the care sector or a related field.
  • In-depth knowledge of care regulations and a track record of achieving high inspection ratings.
  • Quality first mindset, track record of delivering and maintaining best in class quality.
  • Experienced people leader able to coach and develop a high performing team including proven experience in recruitment, performance management and employee relations.
  • Excellent communication (both written and verbal), and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Commercial acumen with experience managing financial performance.
  • Ability to manage change effectively demonstrating resilience and the ability to adapt and continuously learn.
  • Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel with overnight stays.
  • IT literate, especially in Excel.

Desirable:

  • Experience in both private-pay and publicly funded care delivery.
  • Familiarity with care rostering systems (e.g., Access Care Planner, People Planner).
  • Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent).

Key Metrics You'll Influence

  • Customer satisfaction
  • Quality and compliance
  • Employee engagement and retention
  • Regional profitability

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-performing region within a values-driven organisation. You’ll have the autonomy to make impactful decisions, the support of a collaborative leadership team, and the chance to shape the future of care for thousands of people.

Apply Now to take the next step in your leadership journey and make a meaningful difference in care delivery.

 

Helping Hands is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce as we believe this develops a comfortable working environment for all our staff. All applications will be treated fairly in line with our Equality and Diversity Policy.

Apply now