North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.
Job Overview
The Director of Operational Development provides senior operational leadership for the Trust’s operational capital investment portfolio, working with the Chief Operating Officer to design and deliver a future‑proof operating model. The role leads major service change and operational redesign, developing long‑term strategy and translating it into actionable delivery plans. As Senior Responsible Officer for designated projects, the postholder is accountable for the full lifecycle of complex operational capital schemes and clinically led, digitally enabled models of care that support NHS constitutional standards and the Joint Clinical Strategy. They will lead the development of high‑quality business cases and oversee implementation to ensure schemes are delivered safely, on time and within budget, with a strong focus on realising operational and clinical benefits, including optimised patient pathways. An immediate priority is the delivery of a new Urgent Treatment Centre at Southmead Hospital to improve urgent care access, strengthen resilience and enhance patient flow. The role also contributes strategically to the Trust’s wider Estates Programme, working with senior leaders to shape an integrated estates strategy that enables service transformation and improved operational performance.
Main duties of the job
The Director of Operational Development provides visible senior leadership across the Trust’s operational capital portfolio, supporting the COO in setting strategic direction and ensuring alignment with organisational priorities. Acting as SRO for major schemes, the role oversees multidisciplinary teams, drives innovation, embeds strong governance and ensures capital investments deliver maximum value. The postholder is accountable for end‑to‑end delivery of complex projects, including the new Urgent Treatment Centre, leading business case development, programme governance, risk management, procurement compliance and financial oversight. They ensure robust planning and performance frameworks, using business intelligence to support delivery of milestones, budgets and benefits, with capital schemes improving operational performance, patient flow and NHS constitutional standards. The role ensures infrastructure enables service transformation, digital alignment and optimised pathways, contributing to the Strategic Estates Programme and long‑term clinical strategy. They lead high‑quality reporting, communication and engagement strategies, manage sensitive change communications, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships. The postholder upholds Trust values, promotes equality, and ensures the highest standards of corporate governance.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.
Chair by Ingrid Barker And Led By Maria Kane As Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Aims To Transform The Way Healthcare Is Delivered Locally With a Clear Focus On Making a Difference For What We Call Our Four Ps
- Better outcomes for our Patients
- More opportunities for our People
- Fairer more consistent care for our Population
- Best Value for Public Purse
Our Vision For Five Years From Now
- Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
- We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
- More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
- Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
- Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
- We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
- Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
- We will contribute to system financial balance
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
For a detailed job description, please see detailed job description for the main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge, skills and ability
Essential criteria
- Extensive Leadership and operational management experience in a large acute Trust
- High level of operational planning and organisational skill
- Experience of leading and managing substantial service change
- Strong communication skills both verbal and written
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Masters Level Qualification
- Evidence of continued professional devlopment
Desirable criteria
- Better business case writing qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical experience or credibility to to lead clinical teams
- Demonstratable experience of managing complex stakeholders to deliver to time
- Experience of effective partnership working
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
- As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
- The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support – developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
- BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
- To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
- If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
- The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
- By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Important
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification we may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…